Real American Heroes

I'm calming down now, so you don't have to worry about another rant because I realized that the only hero stories are the rescuers (Coast Gaurd and Nat'l Gaurd) and the American People. We are nothing if not generous! And because I don't feel like a check to the Red Cross is enough, if you want to do more check out these links. You can donate to these places that have smaller numbers of people, schools with evacuees' children. If you know anyone you trust near Houston, call them and ask them to donate to these places. Hey, it's something...

The following is from www.Click2Houston.com I couldn't get the link to work so I cut and pasted.

Here's How To Help Katrina Victims
Monetary Donations Preferred

POSTED: 12:30 pm CDT August 30, 2005
UPDATED: 9:27 am CDT September 3, 2005

Houstonians can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina through the following agencies and companies. Most charities would prefer monetary donations because it is the easiest and quickest way to meet victims' immediate needs.

Volunteers Needed At Astrodome, Convention Center

Volunteers are needed at the Astrodome. They should go to the Main Street Yellow Lot. Volunteers will work 10-hour shifts covering all hours after a one- to two-hour training session.

Donations are no longer needed. Please do not drop them off at the Dome until requested.

City officials also asked for volunteers at the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston, which is being readied for evacuees. Those interested should go to the Polk Street parking lot. Volunteers will work four-hour shifts.

The following items are also needed. Donations should be dropped off at Exhibit Hall E.
Toiletry Items
Towels
Blankets
Sheets, Bedding
Cots
Air Mattresses

How To Volunteer
Volunteer Houston, (713) 965-0031
American Red Cross: (281) JOIN-NOW

American Red Cross Shelters Accepting Donations

Items Needed:
Food and drinks
Clothing
Disposable diapers
Games and toys
Sheets and blankets
Monetary donations

Shelter Locations:
Baytown Community Center, 2407 Market Street, Baytown
Fairmont Park Baptist Church, 10401 Belfast, La Porte
First Baptist Church, 1229 Avenue J, Huntsville
First Baptist Church, 906 Avenue A, Katy
First United Methodist Church, 4308 W. Dallas, Conroe
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 18220 Upper Bay Road-Nassau Bay, Houston
Memorial Baptist Church, 600 W. Sterling, Baytown
Mont Belvieu Senior Center, 11607 Eagle Drive, Mont Belvieu
Moody Methodist Church, 2803 53rd Street, Galveston
New Life Central, 2104 Underwood, La Porte
Spring Tabernacle, 3034 F.M. 2920, Spring
St. Mary's Catholic Church, 701 Church St., Brenham
St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 6005 N, Wayside Drive, Houston
Complete Shelter List From Red Cross

For more information from the American Red Cross, call (866) GET-INFO or (713) 313-5480.

Donate To Houston Food Bank

The Houston Food Bank, 3811 Eastex Freeway, (713) 223-3700, is in need of the following items to help Katrina victims. To volunteer at the Food Bank, call (713) 547-8609 or (713) 547-8657.

Paper goods such as plates, cups, diapers and tissue
Cleaning supplies, such as bleach, Top Job, Mr. Clean
Bottled water (no glass containers)
Single serving snacks such as Pop-Tarts and cereal bars
Peanut butter
Heat and eat foods such as chili, stew, canned pasta with sauce and canned vegetables
Any other single serving foods that don't require refrigeration
MREs (Meals Ready To Eat)
Baby formula
Personal hygiene products

Offer, Receive Housing
Make A Home: Houston Association Of Realtors, (713) 748-GIVE (4483)
Crawford Cares: Small businesses adopt evacuated families.
Houston Apartment Association, (281) 933-2224, will offer reduced rent to evacuees at certain properties, depending on availability.
Harris County Housing Authority, 8410 Lantern Point, (713) 578-2150, has 500 units available for evacuees who received "HUD Section-8 Housing-Choice Vouchers."
HurricaneHousing.org: Refugees can search for free housing and residents can offer free housing.
City Wide Club of Clubs Adopt-A-Family/Share-Your-Home Project, (713) 752-CLUB (2582)
Operation Share Your Home
Harris County Housing Resource Center

Missing Person Registries
National Registry From MSNBC.com
American Red Cross Missing Person's Hot Line: (713) 313-1628
Gulf Coast News

Job Information
Global Strategic Sourcing Job Bank:
Evacuees who need work: (713) 583-9867 Submit resumes: apply@globalstrategicsourcing.com
Employers wanting to hire: (713) 583-9866 or e-mail employers@globalstrategicsourcing.com.
www.katrinajobrelief.com

Seeking Help
FEMA, Disaster Help Line: (800) 621-FEMA
FEMA Hotline For Evacuees To Find Shelter: (888) 312-4567
Louisiana State Police, (800) 469-4828
Texas United Way: Evacuees in need of food stamps should call (713) 957-HELP or (800) 500-4266
WIC benefits for evacuees: (713) 794-9090 or (800) 942-3678
Find a School: (713) 892-6699
Evacuees can get mail forwarded to their shelter by filling out a change-of-address form at (800) ASK-USPS.
Evacuees at the Astrodome can receive mail at this address: Evacuee's Name, General Delivery, Houston, TX 77230. Make sure to include the evacuee's name.
Houston Humane Society To Shelter Evacuees' Pets: (713) 433-6421
SPCA Emergency Pet Hot Line: (713) 802-0555
Displaced businesses seeking office space: www.houstondowntown.com

Helpful Information
Better Business Bureau: Check out charity before giving
Texas Attorney General's toll-free complaint line for price gouging: (800) 252-8011
NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellite Images

Accepting Monetary Donations
American Red Cross, (800) HELP NOW (435-7669)
Salvation Army: (800) SAL-ARMY (725-2769) or (800) 253-1868
Greater New Orleans Foundation
Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, Donate Online
America's Second Harvest: (800) 344-8070
Adventist Community Services: (800) 381-7171
Catholic Charities, USA: (703) 549-1390
Christian Disaster Response: (941) 956-5183 or (941) 551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee: (800) 848-5818
Church World Service: (800) 297-1516
Convoy of Hope: (417) 823-8998
Lutheran Disaster Response: (800) 638-3522
Nazarene Disaster Response: (888) 256-5886
Operation Blessing: (800) 436-6348
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: (800) 872-3283
Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief: (800) 462-8657, ext. 6440
United Methodist Committee on Relief: (800) 554-8583

Companies, Organizations Accepting Donated Items

Note: Many religious organizations are holding their own collection and/or donation drives. Please check with a church, synagogue or facility near you. Due to the huge number of places organizing drives, Click2Houston regretfully cannot post every location.

Children Caring For Children Drive: Donate new school supplies, backpacks, tennis shoes and T-shirts to any local fire station to be given to evacuees attending school.
Toys R Us, Kirby at OST
First Methodist Church, (832) 668-1800: Downtown Campus (1320 Main Street at Clay); Westchase Campus (Westpark at Sam Houston Tollway)
Houston Intown Chamber of Commerce, 3015 Richmond Ave., 77098, (713) 524-8000
Holiday Inn Select, 2712 Southwest Freeway, 77098, (713) 523-8448
Four Points By Sheraton, 2828 Southwest Freeway, 77098, (713) 942-2111
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 2403 Holcombe Blvd., (713) 741-8234
Baytown Junior High, 7707 Bayway Drive, (281) 420-4560
Sugar Creek Baptist Church, 13213 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, (281) 242-2858
Park at Voss Apartments, 2424 S. Voss Road (at Westheimer), (713) 268-3000
Alvin Community College, 3110 Mustang Road, Alvin, 77511
Houston Humane Society, 14700 Almeda Road, (713) 433-6421
Houston-Area Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals, 900 Portway Drive
West University Baptist Church, 6218 Auden Street, (713) 668-2319
Crosspoint Church, 4601 Bellaire Blvd.
Bumbera's Performance Associates, 630 Highway 6 South, 77079, (281) 493-9300
Wesley Gardens Apartments, 8700 Gustine Lane, 77031, (713) 270-5555
Julia C. Hester House, 2020 Solo, 77020, (713) 672-2573
Westlake Fire Department, (281) 960-5014
Lakewood Church, 3700 Southwest Freeway, Accepting donations Sept. 1 and 2, (713) 635-4154
Church of Christ, 1704 Weber, (713) 864-5667
Lansdowne-Moody, (713) 672-8366, is collecting food and clothing at the four locations below.
8445 East Freeway, 77029
11810 S. Sam Houston Parkway West, 77031
1600 FM 528, Webster, 77598
23738 Hempstead Highway, Cypress, 77429
Houston-area YMCAs and KSBJ FM are collecting gift cards to help victims pay for gas, food and other items.
Impact Houston Church of Christ, 1704 Weber, (832) 641-5900
Consignor's Club, 22704 Loop 494 Ste D, Humble, 77339, (281) 359-9090

Coast Guard Asks For Donations For Rescuers

The U.S. Coast Guard in Houston is asking for donations to help about 50 workers in New Orleans on rescue efforts who are running out of basic supplies. Donations can be dropped off at the Coast Guard office at Ellington Field.

Items in need include:

T-shirts, underwear
Toilet paper, wipes
Soap
First Aid kits, bug spray, foot powder
Bottled water, sports drinks, coffee
Power bars, granola bars, cups of dry soup
Sleeping bags and pillows
D and AA batteries

For more information, call (713) 578-3080.

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School supplies needed at Houston Independent School District where over 500 child victims are registered

Shelters housing evacuees

Check them out maybe there's something we can do even far away...