ANIMAL
On Aug. 31 Fort Worth Zoo employees will travel to the Texas Zoo in Victoria, which was affected by Hurricane Harvey. The Zoo will transport boats, ATVs, trailers, chainsaws and other equipment, and will help the local team assess the damage and begin cleanup efforts. They also have access to a helicopter if needed.
Many Fort Worth Zoo supporters have asked how they can participate in helping affected zoos. Members of the public who would like to help in this recovery effort are invited to give online.
“Your monetary donations will help us as we identify other needs,” said Fouraker. “The waters are just beginning to recede, so there is some damage yet to be discovered.”
Donations can be made online here.
Additionally, now through Sept. 30, the Fort Worth Zoo is offering free admission to Hurricane Harvey evacuees. Guests from the following zip codes are asked to present a valid photo ID at the front gate to receive a ticket: 770XX, 773XX, 774XX, 775XX, 779XX, 783XX, 784XX, 785XX.
Beginning Sept. 1 the Weatherford Roger Williams Dealership and Weatherford College Trucking Academy will team up to provide hurricane relief for animals. Their “Fill the Semi” program will collect and deliver supplies to pets and their owners in Southeast Texas.
The semi-truck will be parked at the dealership located at 1102 Washington Drive in Weatherford. Drop-off will occur from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day and people are encouraged to bring supplies specific to pets, including collars, leashes, crates, pet food, towels, blankets, flea and tick prevention, food bowls, treats, toys, waste bags and more.
“We are proud to do our part to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey,” Roger Williams Dealership President Patty Williams said. “Many of the victims have animals. We’ve all seen the images on TV of dogs, cats and other animals struggling to survive the heavy water. This is a relief effort designed to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey and their pets.”
One the truck if filled it will be immediately driven to Houston to make a drop-off. For more information, please call (817) 596-0050
The American Paint Horse Association is teaming up with the Texas Equine Veterinary Association to aid horses and horse owners affected by Hurricane Harvey and subsequent flooding.
TEVA is coordinating large-scale distributions of feed and veterinary supplies, securing temporary animal housing and more. APHA members interested in helping can donate tack, feed and supplies to TEVA or make monetary donations to TEVA here.
“There are many incredible organizations dedicated to helping the victims of Harvey—both animal and human,” APHA Executive Director Billy Smith said. “TEVA, specifically, is already on-site helping victims, knows the needs of horse owners and they have the necessary resources to carry out those needs.”
TEVA has established multiple hubs throughout the affected area to distribute feed supplies, buckets, halters, shavings, wound care and more to those in need, the Dallas-Fort Worth area hub is located at Animal Imaging, 6112 Riverside Drive, in Irving.
Private horse owners have also stepped up, offering their facilities to those stranded by the floods. Visit APHA’s Official Facebook for a collection of postings.
CHILD CARE
Child Care Associates has arranged with the federal government to be able to add children evacuated from flood stricken areas to available spaces in the CCA classrooms as Fort Worth receives families affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Child Care Associates will provide early childhood education, mental health services and health services, a dedicated family service advocate to help them transition, and care for homeless families seeking refuge in Tarrant County. Child Care Associates is set up to take 175 preschoolers in the Head Start program, and sixty-seven infants and toddlers in the Early Head Start program and is looking to open additional classrooms as needed to assist the displaced families with their child care needs.
“For young children impacted through a trauma such as becoming homeless and relocated, the daily routine and support of an early education program can be invaluable,” states Child Care Associates CEO Kara Waddell.
To contact Child Care Associates use the local 211 database. For more information regarding Hurricane Harvey plans, visit the Child Care Associates Facebook page.
DONATIONS
The Texas Rangers to donate 10 percent of all proceeds for ticket sales — including all tickets already sold — merchandise sales and concession sales at all three games of its weekend series versus Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Park in Arlington to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.
The Rangers and Angels play on Friday, Sept. 1 at 7:05 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 2 at 6:15 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 3 at 2:05 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at texasrangers.com.
Additionally, the Texas Rangers Foundation will donate proceeds from its Texas 2 Split 50/50 Raffle to the American Red Cross for all three games of the same series.
On Aug. 29, the Rangers Ownership, the Rangers and the Rangers Foundation announced they have pledged at least $1 million to support areas affected by Harvey.
The Texas Rangers and FOX Sports Southwest also have plans to conduct a telethon in late September for those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
The Dallas Wings will play their final regular season home game this week at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3, against New York Liberty for Fan Appreciation Day.
The Wings have partnered with Dallas Women’s Foundation to support the foundation’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. All donations to the fund will be used for grants to agencies in North Texas who are actively involved in Hurricane relief efforts.
The Wings will donate a portion of ticket revenue from the Sept. 3 game to the fund and encourage all fans to join them by donating online and on-site.
“Our hearts are with everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey” said Wings President and CEO Greg Bibb. “This tragedy has not only impacted our neighbors in Southeast Texas, but has also impacted members of our organization. We want to do everything we can to help those in need and provide an opportunity for our fans to help as well. Teaming up with Dallas Women’s Foundation allows us to do that while supporting communities throughout the state of Texas.”
The Kimbell Art Museum is having a donation drop for those in need Monday, Sept. 4, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd. in Fort Worth.
The Kimbell, the Amon Carter Museum of American Art and the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, have partnered to host this effort.
Volunteers will be on hand to accept needed items such as diapers, baby formula, toiletries, baby wipes, underwear and socks for men, women and children in new packaging, dog food, blankets, towels and nonperishable food.
They ask that participants use the Van Cliburn Way entrance. All you’ve got to do is drive up to the curb and they’ll accept your items, you don’t have to leave the car.
Also, a food truck from Houston-based Cousins Maine Lobster will be there and will donate a portion of its proceeds to the recovery effort.
Petclix is hosting a pet photography fund raising event Saturday, Sept. 9, for the victims of Hurricane Harvey.
“Instead of charging for photos, we’ll be accepting donations,” states Paul Brough founder of Petclix. “One hundred percent of the donations will go to support people impacted by the storm.”
Petclix is encouraging people to bring their pets and families out to their fund raising event. Donations of any amount will be accepted, and all donations will go to support United Way of Greater Houston, Humane Society of Houston, The American Red Cross, and the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston.
The event is being held at the Clearfork Food Truck Park located at 1541 Merrimac Circle in Fort Worth, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Tarrant Area Food Bank is actively seeking financial donations, specific food items and volunteers to help pack and sort food for distribution to local food pantries in support of Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
Financial gifts allow TAFB to invest the resources where they’re needed most and to source and distribute exact quantities of the most needed items. Financial gifts can be made at www.tafb.org/donate or by calling 817-857-7100.
Residents who want to collect food for TAFB can drop their collections off at 2600 Cullen St. in Fort Worth Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The following items are needed most: canned soup or chili with pop-top, canned meat with pop-top (Ex: tuna), packaged nuts, trail mix or dried fruit, peanut butter in plastic jars or packets, individual cups of applesauce or fruits with plastic or pop-top, shelf-stable milk, canned fruit or vegetable juice with pop-top, rice and dry beans.
Volunteers are needed to help sort and pack food arriving from area food drives and food donation partners. Volunteers need to be at least 12 years old with a parent or guardian and everyone is required to wear closed toe shoes.
To sign up, go to www.tafb.org/volunteer.
Main Event Entertainment, which has five centers in the Houston area, has mobilized their other 33 centers to collect supplies essential to the recovery effort.
From Friday, Sept. 1, to Monday, Sept. 4, the 33 Main Event Centers outside the affected areas will serve as collection points for non-monetary donations. Relief agencies have specifically requested new and unopened socks, pillows, pillowcases, sheets, blankets, towels and washcloths.
All items will be collected and delivered to a leading relief agency.
“Hurricane Harvey has affected hundreds of our Main Event team members and a countless number of our guests, so we are trying to do as much as possible to help them in their time of need,” said Becky Johnson, Chief Marketing & Sales Officer of Main Event Entertainment.
For the location nearest you, visit mainevent.com.
TGI Fridays is distributing meal vouchers to area shelters, offering free entrées at any DFW-area Fridays restaurant for displaced hurricane victims. Fridays will also donate $10,000 to Feeding Texas, a non-profit organization that provides relief to local food banks. Fridays CEO Aslam Khan will also be matching that contribution with a $10,000 donation.
Now through the end of September, corporate Team Members may take off any Friday to volunteer with relief efforts. This includes assisting evacuees in Dallas, or traveling south to help with cleanup efforts once the waters recede and conditions are safe.
“We stand with our neighbors in Houston and throughout the Gulf Coast and will continue to support these communities as they recover and rebuild,” Khan said. “If we’ve learned anything over the past few days, it’s that Texas is strong, but its people are stronger.”
Anheuser-Busch is donating $1 million to the American Red Cross’ Annual Disaster Giving Program to help ensure the Red Cross can take immediate action for communities in need.
“We are all inspired by the work that the American Red Cross does and are humbled to play a small part in their relief efforts around the country through this donation and our efforts to provide clean, safe drinking water to communities in need,” João Castro Neves, President and CEO of Anheuser-Busch said.
Anheuser-Busch responded to the American Red Cross’ urgent request for emergency drinking water by sending 11 truckloads –or over 560,000 cans– of clean, safe drinking water to affected communities in Texas and Louisiana.
Three additional truckloads are being sent to Beaumont, which has suffered severe shortages of clean water.
Anheuser-Busch’s Cartersville Brewery in Georgia periodically pauses beer production to produce canned water so as to be ready to act quickly when disasters strike. The company will pause beer production on Monday, Sept. 4, to produce additional drinking water to help meet the ongoing needs of communities hit by Hurricane Harvey.
Rock & Brews at The Colony is holding a “Hurricane Harvey Relief Day” on Thursday, Sept. 7 to aid victims in need from Houston’s disastrous hurricane. Guests dining in-restaurant will have 25 percent of their bill donated to SPCA TX and the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. Additionally, $1.00 from the cost of each Karbach Beer will be donated. A donation box will also be set up for toiletries, canned goods, clothing and more, and a silent auction will occur during the fundraiser.
The Business Aviation — made up of owners and pilots of small business airplanes and more — are mobilizing to gather, transport and distribute essential supplies for Harvey victims in the greater Houston area and other areas affected by the catastrophic storm.
Janine Iannarelli, founder and president of Houston-based Par Avion Ltd, and Robin Eissler, chief operating officer of Austin-based jetAVIVA, are working together to coordinate Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.
“In addition to creating a bridge to cover the gap between aid from the Red Cross and that of FEMA, the collective effort is to deliver essentials to the smaller agencies and charitable institutions that are offering shelter and ultimately a way for people to rebuild their lives,” Iannarelli said.
Relief efforts include working with nonprofit organizations such as Clean the World and Keller Williams KW Cares program to provide supplies and ground volunteers to support the airlift.
Support is also coming from the National Business Aviation Association, which represents more than 11,000 entrepreneurs and companies that rely on business aviation. NBAA operates an Humanitarian Emergency Response Operator (HERO) information database that is updated in real time.
Supplies for air-and-ground delivery include non-perishable food items; baby formula and diapers; cleaning products; personal hygiene products for men, women and children; adult and children’s undergarments and socks; linens and bedding; and gift cards for access to fuel, super stores, and home improvement stores. Pet supplies are also welcome.
Items in smaller, flexible packaging are better suited for transporting on business airplanes due to cabin and cargo space limitations.
Some of the many supporters of the business aviation community’s relief efforts include Conroe North Houston Regional Airport; Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles, Louisiana; Houston Executive Airport; and Gary Greene/Better Homes and Gardens realtors branch office in the Clear Lake area.
EDUCATION
Thousands of University of Texas at Arlington students and their families have been affected and many have contacted us to say they have lost everything they had to Hurricane Harvey and the flooding that followed.
UTA is helping through the Emergency Assistance Fund (EAF) for students who are currently enrolled and require immediate financial assistance due to unforeseen circumstances.
To donate and learn more about the EAF, please visit giving.uta.edu/Give. All proceeds will be given to students in need.
Students who have been affected by recent storms are asked to contact studentaffairs@uta.edu or call 817-272-6080 during business hours for assistance.
“Please remember that UTA is a Community that Cares. We provide a number of programs and services to assist with your needs, including counseling services,” the University said in a release. “Students may seek assistance through Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) and faculty and staff may seek assistance through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).”
The University of North Texas has set up an emergency fund for students who require immediate assistance due to catastrophic circumstances. Funds can be used for textbooks, travel expenses, supplies, personal items, etc., but cannot be used to pay tuition, fees or other payments to UNT. For more information, visit https://one.unt.edu/studentemergencyfund.
Additionally, UNT is offering immediate enrollment for displaced students and collecting donations of food and supplies.
UNT will also host a blood drive Saturday, Sept. 2. Three Carter Blood Center donation buses will be set up in the Murchison Performing Arts Center parking lot at the corner of I-35E and North Texas Boulevard. to accept donations for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. They will begin setup around 11:30 a.m., open at noon and collect donations starting at 1 p.m. Donors will receive a free t-shirt.
All Texans Can Academies throughout the state are providing open enrollment to any ninth through 12th grade students who have been displaced by Hurricane Harvey. The schools, located in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio, offer flexible schedules and accelerated learning at no cost. New students can enroll and begin classes the same day. The schools provide students with three meals per day and transportation assistance as needed.
“Texans Can understands the importance of providing students with a sense of normalcy after tragedy strikes and welcomes all students to continue classes so there is not a gap in their school year,” a company release stated.
Additionally, Texans Can Academies established a relief fund to assist students and employees of the three Houston campuses who have been affected by the storm. Any student or faculty member of any of the Houston campuses can email harveyrelief@texanscan.org if they are in need of bus passes, clothing, food, toiletries or any assistance. The public may donate to the school’s relief fund, here.
A $20,000 contribution has been made by Cars for Kids, a nonprofit organization that benefits all Texans Can Academies campuses, for the employees of the three Houston Can schools that are displaced by the effects of Hurricane Harvey.
More information on all campuses and enrollment can be found, here.
EMPLOYMENT
The U.S. Department of Labor has announced an update on employee benefit plan compliance for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Visit the official United States Department of Labor news release detailing the changes here.
“Our deepest and most immediate concern is for those who are in harm’s way, and for the first responders who will work tirelessly to help those affected,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta. “We also realize that employers and employees impacted by Hurricane Harvey will need assistance in dealing with employee benefits issues arising from disruptions in banking and payroll processing.”
In response to the widespread devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, Regus, the world’s largest provider of flexible workplaces, is opening its business lounges at hundreds of locations across Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, to companies and entrepreneurs displaced by Hurricane Harvey.
Those affected by the storm can drop in and work from any Regus lounge during standard business hours. Business professionals can get back online with internet access and charge their devices in order to minimize business interruption and downtime.
Interested business owners can download the Regus app, visit www.regus.com, or call 1-800-633-4237 and press option 3 to access a list of locations.
Under Texas law, TxDOT is prohibited from using Texas taxpayer dollars to provide financial assistance to its employees affected by disasters such as Hurricane Harvey.
Almost 200 TxDOT employees were affected by Harvey. Many have suffered a complete loss of their home, leaving them, their spouses and children without shelter, food and clothing.
Because state funds are not available for these impacted people, the company encourages those who can to donate to the San Antonio Area Foundation, an IRS 501(c)(3) tax exempt public charity, and direct donations to the TxDOT Cares – Hurricane Harvey Employee Relief Fund.
San Antonio Area Foundation’s instructions for charitable contributions to TXDOT Cares – Hurricane Harvey Employee Relief Fund: https://gallery.mailchimp.com/37904699b5c5ea5a2cfbda4f9/files/829875a9-103c-4d2d-bdc2-2bb08b63d947/SAAF_instruction.pdf
ENTERTAINMENT
TITAS Presents, in association with AT&T Performing Arts Center is inviting Harvey evacuees currently staying in Dallas-operated emergency shelters to two family-friendly concerts this week.
Four official city shelter locations in Dallas, the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Samuell Grand Recreation Center, Tommie Allen Recreation Center and Walnut Hill Recreation Center, will provide vouchers that serve as a ticket and a parking pass.
“As everyone pitches in to do what they can, we at the Center hope to provide some much-needed moments of entertainment and solace through the arts,” said Doug Curtis, president and CEO of AT&T Performing Arts Center.
MOMIX: Opus Cactus will play at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 at the Winspear Opera House, located at 2403 Flora St. in Dallas.
Colt and the Old 45s will play at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2 at the Wyly Theatre, located at 2400 Flora St. in Dallas.
ENVIRONMENT
A team from the Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research at Tarleton State University will work with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas General Land Office to begin sampling along the Gulf Coast next week to assess Hurricane Harvey’s environmental impact.
The TIAER team will measure hydrocarbon and bacterial contamination levels to assess water quality in south Texas communities.
“As flood waters wash down streets, through garages and kitchens, across thousands of acres of farmland and through industrial areas, an A-to-Z list of toxic chemicals is flushed into the environment,” Quenton Dokken, Ph.D., TIAER’s executive director said. “In addition, tons of manure and raw sewage are incorporated into this rancid brew.”
Dokken said that while hydrocarbon sheens are visible on the surface of floodwaters, chemical analysis is required to detect the majority of toxins.
GOVERNMENT
Small Business Administration Administrator and member of President Trump’s Cabinet, Linda McMahon will be in Fort Worth Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. to visit the Disaster Assistance Processing and Disbursement Center located at 14925 Kingsport Road. McMahon will deliver opening remarks and then take questions.
The Office of Disaster Assistance mission is to provide low interest disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters to repair or replace real estate, personal property, machinery & equipment, inventory and business assets that have been damaged or destroyed in a declared disaster.
MEDICAL
Medical City Healthcare hospitals have received 13 acutely ill adult patients with a wide range of conditions, ranging in age from 30s to 80s, who were evacuated from Gulf Coast hospitals impacted by Hurricane Harvey. Additional patients are anticipated and will be sent to North Texas Medical City Healthcare hospitals for high level and specialized care.
Additionally, six members of the Medical City Healthcare nurse strike team were deployed to the Houston area disaster zone Wednesday morning to relieve some of the 20 Medical City Healthcare emergency medical task force colleagues deployed for emergency response prior to the storm.
Family members looking for loved ones can call the toll-free Patient Unification Number at (844) 674-743. Periodic updates will be posted on the Medical City Healthcare Facebook page.
The North Central Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, can offer evacuees with dementia and Alzheimer’s the following resources:
1) Care counseling and work with family members to help with care-planning by phone at 800-272-3900 or in person.
2) The chapter offers an Information Referral List of different physicians, care communities, memory care help, assisted living, skilled nursing facilities in the DFW area.
3) Support groups to connect with those dealing with the transition for each stage of the disease to help with their needs.
4) The chapter also aims to help family members access services for medicaid or case management services.
For more information visit http://www.alz.org/northcentraltexas/ or call 800-272-3900.
The chapter’s website offers a Community Resource Finder. Type in your area code and it will send you to all the resources we offer in that area.
“We can give these evacuees the care and information that they need during this devastating time, but also empower them with the resources and critical information needed during this type of crisis,” Laura McEntire, family care services manager for the North Central Texas Chapter said. “We want them to feel safe.”
Texas Health Resources is working with local and state officials to address the needs of individuals displaced by the storm. To date, more than 300 individuals from the Gulf Coast region have sought medical care at Texas Health facilities. But Texas Health is going beyond its facilities and meeting those in need, right where they are – in shelters all across Tarrant and Dallas counties.
At the local level, Texas Health continues to provide medical support at the Tarrant County shelter located at the Wilkerson-Greines Athletic Center in Fort Worth. Texas Health Physicians Group physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and medical assistants, along with Texas Health nurses, are working collaboratively with the Tarrant County Office of Emergency Management and Fort Worth Fire Department to support shelter operations.
In the Dallas area, Texas Health is offering expertise in operations management at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, the North Texas-area Mega Shelter.
“We’re working in collaboration with UT Southwestern and the Dallas Medical Operations Center to support shelter operations and address the needs of Gulf Coast residents staying in the Dallas County shelter,” said William Craig, vice president of System Preparedness at Texas Health.
Several staff members have been called to state active duty with the Texas Military Forces, and one individual has been working at the State Operations Center to assist with managing state-wide response operations.
Along with offering medical assistance inside and outside our hospital and clinic doors, Texas Health has also launched a page on the organization’s website, www.TexasHealth.org/HoustonStrong, to help community members find ways to get involved.
RESTAURANTS
With support from all their Goodnight for a Good Cause partners across the country, September’s beneficiary for all Hopdoddy locations will be the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.
From Sept. 4 – 5, all Hopdoddy Burger Bar locations will donateall sales from the Goodnight/Good Cause Burger ($8.25-$9.25 each).
Additionally, Tito’s Handmade Vodka will donate $1, up to $10,000, for every drink Hopdoddy Burger Bar sells made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
All month long, all Hopdoddy Burger Bar locations will donate $1 from every Goodnight/Good Cause burger to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.
For more information or to donate to Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, click here or visit any Hopdoddy location through the month of September.
Snappy Salads, an eco-friendly, social cause supporting salad restaurant, is holding a week-long fundraiser through Monday, Sept. 4, to benefit the victims of Hurricane Harvey. All 13 North Texas Snappy Salads locations will collect donations via its “Change for Change” program. Snappy Salads will match donations up to $10,000. All monies will be donated to the American Red Cross.
For more information, please visit www.snappysalads.com, call (866) 991-1467, or follow Snappy Salads on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.