TARRANT County compiliation of ways you can help.

[crispini]

>From Kay Sallee
[e-mail] <mailto:[e-mail]>
Note: This information is from an official media (press) release from
the City of Fort Worth, transmitted on Saturday Sept. 3. I personally
have no more information, as to the logistics of the assistance, which
has been organized officially by the City and agencies.
However, Displaced Katrina Americans were brought into the City on
Friday afternoon/evening and will continue arriving for shelter in
centers in Fort Worth and Arlington. If you want to help, do not appear
in those locations until you are called on to do so.
Donate money, items, and you--volunteers are needed--only thru the
avenues that have been set up to handle the logistics.
However, my personal thoughts are that neighborhood banners, signs,
etc., "Welcome to Fort Worth (Arlington, etc.), Katrina Americans,"
ribbons around trees or whatever -- certainly would show a Texas
welcome
and a Texas heart.
My neighborhood association is considering this suggestion in its
advisory council. My impetus for this was having seen Greta Van Sustren
on Fox News last night as she broadcast from the Houston Astrodome, and
was praising Texas and Houston for its huge, efficient and warm
reception for the "refugees." (Let's face it, that is what they are --
right here in America!.)
Certainly we want the Katrina Americans to feel blessed to have arrived
here. A personal note: a friend of mine writes that her husband, a
Tarrant County judge, went over to the state school yesterday to
volunteer, just before 18 buses rolled in. She had sent some donations,
including some purses she had never used. Her husband said at the time
that he didn't think that they wanted purses. However, when he got back
home, he reported that they were the first things taken. As she wrote:
"they want something to put their things in."
Remember that blood is urgently needed, and also medical help has been
asked to assist in Houston at the Astrodome, as local medical
professionals are in short supply because so many went to the Gulf
Coast
areas. I do have information about that for anyone who wants to send me
an e-mail. I will not be able to send back that info, however, until
much later tonight, as my own mother is in the hospital here.
Notice that donations can be taken to all citry golf courses. Do not
take donations to our local Salvation Army on E. Lancaster.
-=-=-=-=-=

From: "City of Fort Worth" <[e-mail]
<mailto:[e-mail]>>
Sent: Saturday, September 03, 2005 9:03 AM
Subject: City of Fort Worth Update - Hurricane Katrina evacuees

Update: Katrina evacuees flee to Fort Worth shelters.

More than 18 buses carrying evacuees from Louisiana began arriving in
Fort
Worth Friday evening. More evacuees are expected to arrive throughout
the
day on Saturday.

About 2100 evacuees have been processed at the Wilkerson Grienes
Athletic
Center (5201 C.A. Robertson Blvd. at I-20 and Wichita) which is serving
as
the receiving/intake area for evacuees. All evacuees must go to
Wilkerson
Grienes Athletic Center to receive assistance. Evacuees are receiving
food,
showers, clothing and medical services.

Currently, more than 350 people are calling the Wilkerson Grienes
Athletic
Center their temporary home. Once the facility reached capacity on
Friday
evening, evacuees were sent to other shelters throughout Fort Worth and
Tarrant County.

Fort Worth, Arlington, Tarrant County and other local emergency
organizations will continue to partner to provide sheltering assistance
for
evacuees displaced by hurricane Katrina. The City of Fort Worth and
Tarrant
County have established shelter management teams to manage shelter
operations including staffing and supplies as well as planning for
transition housing for the evacuees.
Residents who want to help:

Residents who want to help are strongly encouraged to make a monetary
donation to the following non profit organizations:

• Salvation Army at 1-800-SAL-ARMY or 1-800-253-1868

• Red Cross at 1-800-HELP-NOW

• Tarrant Area Food Bank, 2600 Cullen St., Fort Worth, 76107,
817-332-9177 or
www.tafb.org <http://www.tafb.org>

• City of Fort Worth Parks and Community Services' Administrative
Office,
4200 South Freeway, Suite 2200 and City of Fort Worth Municipal Golf
Courses
Non-monetary donations:
Non-perishable food, personal hygiene items, bottled water, diapers and
other baby products can be taken to the following Salvation Army
locations:

• Fort Worth: Salvation Army Warehouse, 1555 North Cherry Lane
• Arlington: Arlington Family life Center, 711 W. Border
Tarrant County Disaster Relief Fund, 100 E. Weatherford, Suite 404
(non-perishable foods only)
Remember also the animals:
o Fort Worth Animal Care and Control: 817-392-3737
o North Texas Humane Society: 817-891-6203