Call your closest Red Cross office and see if they will accept the items you gather--I can't imagine they would turn you away. I am not in Houston but am in Louisiana. I will send you an e-mail. We have numerous shelters in our city.
Here's a little more info (straight out of our newspaper) as to what they are needing:
diapers, wipes, packaged baby food, air mattresses, bedding, bottled water, toiletries, cleaning supplies, pet food, open and serve meals (such as chili, beef stew, etc), blankets, linens,trash bags, pillows.
Obviously, some things you would not want to collect if they had to be shipped a long way but this should give you a general idea.
where can we send things other then money?
I know my school could gather things this coming week even though its the first week of school.
but where should it be sent? red cross? i feel kind of ignorant for not knowing.
if you are volunteering at the astrodome
i would send it in care of you to deliver
feel free to emailme This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
One of our local hospitals is taking in children, and their families, from a New Orleans hospital, we were asked to send used clothing to these places. Our school district has employees from the area who are leaving to help and collecting supplies as we speak. If you want to know where to send items, contact the Red Cross.
The irony of commitment is that it’s deeply liberating-in work, in play, in love. The act frees you from the tyranny of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life. --Anne Morris
I am in Louisiana and am hearing on the TV that besides the tens of thousands that are pouring into Houston that thousands more are heading to San Antonio and Dallas. You, as PTO leaders, can start your campaign for supplies and it needs to be done immediately. May I suggest passing out a flyer saying we are collecting:
baby formula
diapers
bottled water
toiletries: shaving cream, razors, shampoo, soap, feminine products, etc--smaller sizes are better because they are making "bags" for each individual person with toiletries.
hand sanitizer, kleenex,small sizes
small sizes of snacks (peanut butter crackers, etc)
I would not ask for used clothes, toys, books--our shelter was deluged with way too much of this and it was almost a burden.
This morning we had our Boy Scouts out in our morning carpool line collecting items and money and our collection of supplies will be ongoing.
I have worked at our local Katrina shelter for the past 3 days and the air mattresses are shoulder to shoulder. I cried watching them huddle around the TV.
This is a disaster of "Biblical proportions" and I know that all of you who are in and near these cities will step to the plate and pitch in.
