Community steps up to offer storm relief
United Way of the Ouachitas will open a collection site Tuesday morning for donations to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts in the Houston area, Executive Director Jane Browning said Friday.
Local emergency response agencies have been meeting regularly at the United Way of the Ouachitas to coordinate local hurricane relief efforts.
Browning said in a news release Friday that donations will be accepted Tuesday during office hours, 8 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., at the United Way building,
233 Hobson Ave. Parking is available at the rear of the building.
The following donations will be accepted: ready-to-eat snack food; diapers; infant formula and baby food not in glass jars; hygiene kits, especially feminine hygiene products; pet food; unopened packages of new underwear, especially for children; and gift cards.
Browning said United Way will arrange transport of the items to the disaster areas for delivery to prearranged destinations in Harris County, where the city of Houston is located.
Household items and used clothing will not be accepted at United Way. “These items should be taken to thrift stores operated by Jackson House and Salvation Army,” the release said.
To assist hurricane refugees from Texas and Louisiana who will be seeking low-cost housing at area hotels and
motels, lodging owners are asked to direct them to Cooperative Christian Ministries and Clinic at
133 Arbor St. to check in and get referrals to other agencies for food, clothing and other services.
CCMC also provides free medical and dental services by appointment.
Evacuees checking in with CCMC can get vouchers to purchase clothing of their own selection at the thrift stores, the release said.
The Intensive Care Unit at National Park Medical Center also began efforts this week to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
The ICU is currently asking for donations to send with Operation Harvey’s Heroes, a group of locals who have stepped up to help in the past with catastrophic events, including Hurricane Katrina, Daniela Davis, RN, BSN, said in a news release.
“Cheri Farmer (RN) and I were talking about needing to do something,” Davis said. “As nurses, I believe we all have an innate need to help others. In times of crisis, this is amplified. Watching the news and seeing all the devastation and destruction, you put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself ‘What would I need?’
“I feel it is our job as Americans to band together in these times and help each other. It’s just what we do.”
Items have been stored in one of the empty patient rooms in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, and according to Davis more than
$2,000 was also donated for nurses from the ICU to purchase needed items. Davis also said $1,000 came directly from the National Park Medical Center Auxiliary Volunteers.
Items include bottled water; pet food; hand sanitizer; hygiene items; baby items; canned foods; convenient snacks; blankets; first aid kits; and flashlights.
Janet Willis, coordinator for Harvey’s Heroes, said in the release a team of seven to 10 individuals will be taking donations directly to disaster relief centers coordinated by the Texas District of the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod.
“They already have disaster relief areas set up to help the families,” Willis said. “I am waiting to hear about a drop off location as it becomes available,” adding that the Houston area is still seeing rain and flooding at this time.
“We plan on leaving Saturday, and staying until Monday to help anywhere we can. We will make one trip this Saturday, and continue trips every Saturday depending on donation volume,” she said.
Willis said this is a community effort and that Harvey’s Heroes “is not a one man show.”
“It’s an entire community, all contributing to make this time of devastation a little bit easier,” she said. “Our goal is to help and collect for as long as needed. We are dedicated and committed until the end.”
Red Cross training
While there are currently no plans to open a shelter for victims of Hurricane Harvey in Hot Springs, the American Red Cross announced Friday it will hold a training session for current and potential volunteers in Garland County from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today at the Garland County Library, Gordonelle Williams Hall, 1427 Malvern Ave.
“Event Based Volunteers Shelter Deployment Training is designed to recruit and train volunteers who are interested in responding to local Disaster Response assignments,” the Red Cross said in a news release.
“Currently, we do not have plans to open a Red Cross shelter in our area; however, we are being proactive in training volunteers who will be ready when the time comes to respond to a disaster,” it said.
Hot Springs Village relief effort
Chef Johnna’s at DeSoto Club, 100 Clubhouse Drive, will serve free hot dogs and accept contributions for Hurricane Harvey relief from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday. Any and all donations such as clothing, nonperishable food items, and diapers will also be accepted and delivered to the Red Cross.
The event is sponsored by Chef Johnna’s at DeSoto Club, Village Shell Garage, McCann’s Auto Sales, and Walmart.