POST-HURRICANE REQUESTS AND NEEDS FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
In response to the impact of Hurricane Ike on the Greater Houston area, many nonprofit organizations are reaching out to help our communities. This is an enormous task as many of these organizations have to respond to their own organizational needs as well as ministering to the needs of our community. As part of continuing our efforts to assist organizations throughout the affected areas, the Greater Houston Community Foundation (GHCF) will be disseminating information as it comes in regarding what donors can do to assist organizations in need. Listed below you will find further information on specific organizations and their needs at this time. The First Response Team of America – Armed with logistical expertise and more than
$1,000,000 of specialized heavy equipment, The First Response Team of America aids those in need by clearing debris, providing emergency power, rescuing those at risk, and recovering critical government documents and equipment—free of charge.
To make a donation: The First Response Team of America: Disaster Relief Fund c/o Greater Houston Community Foundation 4550 Post Oak Place Houston, Texas 77027
Due to high call volume please contact via email:
Phone: Website: Most pressing needs at this time:
donations@FirstResponseTeam.org www.firstresponseteam.org Donations
Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries (ACAM) – Community Assistance Ministries
(CAMs) in the Houston area are working hard to help those in need post-Ike. CAMs are located throughout the region and have served neighbors in need since the early 1980’s. As distribution centers for resources gathered from local congregations, community groups and neighbors-helping-neighbors, CAMs are a local, coordinated community effort experienced in helping persons having trouble meeting their basic needs. Our members are seeing anywhere from two to three times as many persons needing assistance since Hurricane Ike struck last week.
To make a donation: Valerie Ellis Alliance of Community Assistance Ministries of Greater Houston (ACAM) c/o Rockwell Fund 770 S. Post Oak Lane, suite 525 Houston, TX 77056 (713) 341-5335 www.acamweb.org Monetary contributions to help those with limited means who have been impacted by the hurricane and are now faced with home repairs, car repairs, and lost wages -- funds that would otherwise pay for their rent, utilities, and other basic needs Non-perishable food items: peanut butter, jelly, nonrefridgerated milk, canned tuna + chicken, canned pasta, canned fruits and vegetables, boxed fruit juices, baby formula and baby food, rice and beans, saltines, cookies, dry cereal. Clothing that is clean, pre-sorted into three-day packs (3 underwear, pants and 2 tops) and marked for size and gender Disposable diapers in sizes 1-6 (infants and toddlers) Personal toiletry items Volunteers are also needed for processing donations and assisting clients.
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POST-HURRICANE REQUESTS AND NEEDS FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Houston Food Bank – Sustained roof damage over the distribution offices and dock, had two bay
doors and one of the floor to ceiling front windows were blown out and lost power. The distribution offices are still unusable but everything has been patched and the generator was turned on Sunday. Houston Food Bank is still at only 50% capacity on phone lines and the system has developed some glitches, but otherwise despite being on generator we are fully operational. Houston Food Bank’s Kroger donated facility had significant roof damage and 1 to 2 inches of water throughout (very little product loss though – most was shipped to pre-supply shelters and refuges of last resort). The roof has been tarped and on Monday staff cleaned up most of the building to make ready for operations. Houston Food Bank established the goal of distributing 500,000 pounds of relief supplies per day over the next six weeks (tapering down after that but continuing for an extended period in the coastal areas). Houston Food Bank has secured two additional donated facilities (the 99 Cent warehouse in Katy and HISD’s cooler facility), an additional 10 trucks and drivers, 30 temporary staff forklift/pallet jack operators, several other support personnel and volunteer supervisors and other skilled positions from their network. They have set up phone banks, a command room and systems for handling and recording this very large (and rapid) increase in operations. They are attempting to secure another 10 trucks and drivers (donated or paid by FEMA).
To make a donation: Phone: Website: Most pressing needs at this time:
Houston Food Bank 3811 Eastex Freeway Houston, TX 77026 713-223-3700 www.houstonfoodbank.org Donations Volunteers
The University of Texas School of Health Information Sciences at Houston –
DISABILITY EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROJECT To assist people with disabilities who “sheltered in place” during Hurricane Ike. Number of calls required and potential follow up is estimated at 30,000 in Houston and significant additional numbers in other parts of Southeast Texas. This includes thousands of people who registered with Texas’s 211 emergency assistance system and may have yet to be reached. The range of assistance will include: an initial call to determine the person is being cared for; emergency delivery of gasoline or batteries to power crucial medical assistance devices; provide generators; and delivery and assistance with insulin, oxygen, catheters, and medicines. When no one can be reached, a referral to an appropriate agency or local police will be made. This will be a public/private effort in close coordination with city, state and federal entities. Collaborators include: The University of Texas School of Nursing and Medical School at Houston; TIRR/ Memorial Hermann; The City of Houston Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities; Houston Department of Health and Human Services
To make a donation: Make your check payable to “The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston” Specify that your gift is for the “Disability Emergency Assistance Project” - School of Health Information Sciences Mail your check to: Office of Institutional Advancement University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston P.O. Box 203366 Houston, TX 77216-3366 Credit card donations can also be made online at: http://giving.uthouston.org/disability_assist 713-500-3912 www.uthouston.edu
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POST-HURRICANE REQUESTS AND NEEDS FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Most pressing needs at this time: Immediate funding in the range of $200,000 over three months is needed to: Staff an 800 phone number with a mix of professional staff and volunteers; Provide direct community outreach, including home visits, by a mix of professional staff and volunteers including some with medical training; Purchase and deliver supplies (beyond those that have been donated); Support faculty and graduate research associates at UT Houston to coordinate and manage the project for optimal short and long term community benefit.
Houston Galveston Institute – The Houston Galveston Institute (HGI) is a private, non-profit
organization that is nationally and internationally known for family therapy innovation. Our therapists have training in marriage and family therapy, psychology, social work and counseling. We are experienced in working in various settings with a wide range of clients who face many difficult circumstances including family tensions, immigration and displacement, trauma, depression, suicide, grief and loss. We provide research, consultation and training to individuals and organizations locally, nationally, and internationally. The Houston Galveston Institute has been at the forefront of the mental health response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Houston, and in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike quickly formulated services and programs for the community.
To make a donation: Susan B. Levin, Ph.D., Executive Director Houston Galveston Institute 3316 Mount Vernon Houston, Texas 77006 713 526-8390 www.talkhgi.com $25,000 for hurricane-related services and operations
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Open Door Mission – At Open Door Mission, we were fortunate to have electricity restored late Sunday, the 14th. Our phones, internet and email were restored on September 18. We sincerely thank all of our friends who have called to check on us. Like many we lost a few of our trees and had some roof leaks. Now though, our focus is on helping the community get back on its feet. We are currently serving food to East End neighbors without power and our primary focus has been on helping clear debris in our East End Neighborhood by Hurricane Ike.
To make a donation: Becky Heath Director of Development Open Door Mission 5803 Harrisburg Houston, TX 77011 713-921-7520 www.opendoorhouston.org Cash donations Produce Dairy Sugar Flour Cleaning Supplies (Pine-Sol, Windex, Dishwashing Liquid….etc.) Heavy Duty Tree Saws Large Tree Limb Trimmers
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Star of Hope Mission – Our residents have already lost their first homes. As we evacuated nearly
900 of them during Hurricane Ike, our fear was that they could possibly lose their current one. Thankfully, that did not happen, but clean-up and expenses needed to truly make it ‘home’ again are substantial. Besides removable of debris, we must replace lost food, recover the evacuation cost of temporary
POST-HURRICANE REQUESTS AND NEEDS FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
relocating our clients from our facilities, and more. The most recent cost assessment, over and above what our insurance will cover, is about $100,000
To make a donation: (Donations can be made via mail, by telephone – with credit card, or via website) Phone: Website: Most pressing needs at this time: Mail checks to: Star of Hope Mission 6897 Ardmore Street Houston, TX 77054-2307 713.440.5387 www.sohmission.org Cash Donations - for clean-up, food replacement and fuel for transportation and generators Sheets Towels Toiletries Baby Wipes Non-perishable food items New Undergarments/Underwear (all sizes)
Mental Health America of Greater Houston (MHA Houston) – MHA Houston is working to
organize private therapists that would like to volunteer at various disaster recover locations. We have created and are distributing thousands of tip sheets about coping with disaster and recovery to Red Cross and city shelters, churches, schools, disaster recovery centers and WIC clinics. Our Information and Referral Helpline and website are disseminating information about community resources. We are here to help and ask for your support.
To make a donation: Phone: Website: Most pressing needs at this time: Mental Health America of Greater Houston 2211 Norfolk Ave., Suite 810 Houston, TX 77007 713-523-8963 www.mhahouston.org Cash Donations
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) – offices to reopen September 22nd with staff available to assist with
clients’ regular and storm-related needs.
To make a donation or drop off items during normal business hours: Phone: Website: Most pressing needs at this time: Kelly Klein 4500 Bissonet, Suite 350 Bellaire, TX 77401 (713) 838-9050 www.ucphouston.org Formula Child and adult diapers Medical and feeding supplies for g-tubes Gift cards (particularly gas and Walgreens/CVS to fill prescriptions) Monetary donations will also allow UCP the ability to address emerging needs, provide respite, durable medical equipment, mental health intervention and social workers.
Historic Houston – Educational Facility at 1214 Joe Annie where they also store their flooring,
sustained substantial roof and electrical damage which resulted in flooding in the front room. Historic Houston is trying to remain operational while the building is repaired and trying our best to assist the community in need of items to repair their homes.
To make a donation: Lynn Edmundson, Executive Director 1307 W. Clay Houston, TX 77019 (713) 522-0542 www.historichouston.org Historic Houston was in the process of moving their 29th house which was scheduled to move Wednesday before Hurricane Ike's arrival. At the last minute the move was delayed by some permitting issues and
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POST-HURRICANE REQUESTS AND NEEDS FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
so in addition to preparing our offices, salvage warehouse and yard for the storm, Historic Houston had to prepare the house that was already lifted, cut in half and had the roof taken out in anticipation of the move, to weather the storm. Substantial cost was incurred by Historic Houston in not only securing and preparing the house to withstand the storm, but also to clean up the entire site of any and all material that was removed from the house during the preparation for the move so that this material and debris would not become airborne during the hurricane. The site clean up and preparation of the storm has completely depleted Historic Houston's cash reserves so any financial assistance to help cover our ongoing operational expenses and costs associated with the repairs to our educational facility and flooring warehouse are desperately needed.
Galveston Historical Foundation (GHF) – temporary headquarters at Preservation Texas in Austin. The 1861 U. S. Custom House, GHF's headquarters, was flooded by as much as 8 feet of water, causing damage to files, archives, equipment, systems and inventory. Structural damage seems to be limited to an upstairs door onto the gallery, although the extent of roof damage if any is not yet known. Additional information regarding the first round of assessments to historic Galveston locations can be found at the GHF website.
To make a donation: Phone: Website: Most pressing needs at this time: Please contact Dwayne Jones, ED of Galveston Historical Foundation at Preservation Texas or make a donation online at the GHF website. Preservation Texas – (512) 472-0102 www.galvestonhistory.org Financial assistance to Galveston Historical Foundation can be made ONLINE AT: www.galvestonhistory.org through membership in the foundation or through direct donation. Donations made online will be put to work immediately as GHF staff and volunteers begin working to assess and repair Galveston's incomparable historic fabric--from its modest working-class bungalow and shotgun house neighborhoods to the grand East End and the Strand downtown district.
The Society of American Archivists – National Disaster Recovery Fund for Archives
SSA and SAA have expanded the original scope of the Fund to provide grants that support the recovery of archival collections from major disasters, regardless of region or repository type. Any repository that holds archival records or special collections is eligible to apply for a grant. The repository need not be a member of SSA or SAA. Grant monies may be used for the direct recovery of damaged or at-risk archival materials; such services as freeze drying, storage, transportation of materials, and rental facilities; supplies, including acid-free boxes and folders, storage cartons, cleaning materials, plastic milk crates, and protective gear; and to defray the costs for volunteers or other laborers who assist with the recovery.
To make a donation: https://www.archivists.org/katrina/contribute.asp Society of American Archivists 17 North State Street Suite 1425 Chicago, IL 60602-3315 toll-free (866)722-7858 http://www.archivists.org/news/NDRFA.asp Cash donations
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Special Pals Animal Shelter – currently serving as temporary host to Bay Area Pet Adoptions Shelter, Special Pals is responding to an influx of Bay Area staff and 100 animals that the Bay Area shelter was housing for adoption. These animals are not lost or stray due to the storm.
To make a donation: Yvonne David, Executive Director Special Pals 3830 Greenhouse Road Houston, TX 77084
POST-HURRICANE REQUESTS AND NEEDS FOR NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
Phone: Website: Most pressing needs at this time: (281) 579-7387 www.specialpalsshelter.org Cash donations Grocery store gift cards Gasoline gift cards for animal rescue transportation due to a 120 mile round trip Donated lunches or restaurant gift cards for volunteers Furniture dollies to move animal crates Heavy-duty dollies to move pet food bags and litter Rubber gloves Cat litter (clay only) Pressure washers New Commercial Washers and Dryers Lawn & garden carts (wagon style) Roof repairs Plumber – drain cleaning Minor building and kennel repairs
Bay Area Pet Adoption Shelter – evacuated San Leon location to Katy-area pet shelter. Three of
five buildings destroyed by Hurricane Ike and the remainder maybe uninhabitable.
To make a donation: Bay Area Pet Adoption Shelter c/o Special Pals 3830 Greenhouse Road Houston, TX 77084 (281) 559-1359 www.bayareapetadoptions.org Storage containers Mini Mobil Buildings with A/C Land and tree removal
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