Hurricane Harvey: How you can help victims
Buckner International President and CEO Albert Reyes announced that Buckner has initiated relief efforts to help storm victims both in Southeast Texas and those who have evacuated to North Texas and called for aid from supporters to help those efforts.
“We’ve identified a few distinct ways we can best shine hope to affected families,” he said, “and we need Buckner supporters to partner with us to help these families.”
He detailed three ways you can respond immediately to the tragedy:
1. Collect hygiene and personal aid to send to Buckner through Amazon.com. Buckner has initiated a collection for personal and hygiene items for victims through the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid. Jackie Belt, director of domestic aid and assistance for Buckner, said his team is collecting several items to help families and asked for immediate donations to be sent to the Buckner Center.
Belt said one of the best ways to send aid is by going to Amazon.com, buying the requested items and shipping directly to the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid. Donations should be sent to the Buckner Center for Humanitarian Aid at 5405 Shoe Drive, Mesquite, TX 75149.
“My experience from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita tells me families will be living with relatives here and displaced people will be deciding to make Dallas their home. They will be calling us for assistance,” he said, adding his team will be providing gift cards, meat, dairy and produce to evacuated families. He called for donations of the following items:
New Hygiene items
- Soap, body wash
- Shampoo, conditioner
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Razors
- Deodorant
- Laundry Detergent
- Fabric softener
New Personal Items
- Packages of underwear (all sizes)
- Diapers and baby items
- Pots and pans sets
- Paper towels
- Paper plates
- More backpack/school supplies (for elementary and junior high-aged children)
2. Collect or donate shoes through Buckner Shoes for Orphan Souls.® Buckner will be donating 10,000 pairs of shoes collected in partnership with South Main Baptist Church in Houston directly to Houston families. We feel this is absolutely the best use for these shoes. Supporters also can give cash directly to purchase shoes here.
3. Give a cash donation at buckner.org. Reyes said this is often the best way to respond to relief needs, “because it gives us the flexibility to meet needs as they develop.”
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