Harvey Volunteer Opportunities

Posted by The Buzz | August 30, 2017

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Michelle Sacks and her daughter Olivia, along with another volunteer, helping out at Lakewood Church. (Photo: Dylan Aguilar)

Our hearts and prayers go out to all affected by Hurricane Harvey. If you would like to, and can safely do so, here are some opportunities to volunteer that we’ve heard about:

Recovery Houston

Recovery Houston is seeking volunteers to clean up flooded houses, remove wet sheetrock and carpet, etc. They are sending crews of 8-10 people to each house. To volunteer, call 832-548-0974 or just check their Facebook page for announcements of shifts, typically at 9 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Report to 398 Garden Oaks Blvd, 77018

George R. Brown Convention Center is open as an emergency shelter to the public. Items needed for donation include:

Toiletries (travel-size shampoo, conditioner & soap)
Wheelchairs
Bottled Water
Individually-packaged foods (not prepared)
Pillows

For those who can safely drop off donations, the drop-off spot is now at BBVA Compass Stadium.

If you would like to volunteer, apply here. For questions, call 713-853-8001.

Volunteers working together to help at Lakewood Church. (Photo: Dylan Aguilar)

Lakewood Church is open to anyone needing shelter. They are seeking volunteers and collecting diapers, baby formula and baby food and other shelter supplies. See here for more information.

Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center

The JCC is opening a supply and distribution center in the JCC's Tennis Center, which did not flood. Jewish Family Service will also be on site starting Thursday to offer assistance. Please plan to enter off Braeswood.

On Weds., Aug. 30, donations will be accepted from 12-5 p.m. Donation supplies will be accepted Thursday-Sunday (Aug. 31-Sept. 3), 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Below is a list of supplies they are collecting:

bottled water
work gloves
packing supplies (boxes and tape)
plastic storage bins
heavy trash bags
masks
heavy duty razor blades to rip out carpet
sheetrock cutters
sharpies
cleaning supplies, including old towels, mops, buckets, bleach and Lyso
gift cards from home repair stores and grocery stores

Bellaire Recreation Center: Bellaire Rec Center will be a drop- off/pick up location for cleaning supplies. (They don't yet have supplies to pick up yet; this is fully a volunteer operation.) They will be there 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Wednesday. They are in need of volunteers as well.
If your home flooded and you need assistance, please send your name, address and needs to [email protected].

They are taking the following supplies:

Mops and brooms
Buckets
Spray bottles
Cloth and paper towels
Gloves
Face masks
Boxes
Box cutters
Packing tape
Contractor trash bags
Tarps
Bleach
Hand sanitizer

Lawyers who Want to Volunteer

The Houston Bar Association’s Houston Volunteer Lawyers (HVL) is working with other local and state legal services providers to coordinate legal aid for low-income individuals affected by the storm. HVL will set up legal advice clinics to meet the needs of the community in various locations across the city. Attorneys interested in volunteering to help victims of the storm with legal needs should register on the HVL Portal.

School Supplies Drive

West U Elementary families are collecting items for Herod Elementary families at West U Methodist Chapel. School-related items will be collected Fri., Sept. 1, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Items needed:

Uniform Clothing (red, white and navy tops; khaki and navy bottoms)
New Socks and Underwear
Shoes
Backpacks
Lunch Boxes
Reusable Water Bottles
New School Supplies, including Single Subject Notebooks, Notebook Paper, Pencils, Erasers, Crayons, Markers, Scissors, Glue and Folders
Gift Cards (Target, Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot)

Volunteers with Pets at NRG:

Barrio Dogs has been asked to recruit volunteers to handle pets that people will be bringing. They are in need of volunteers and pet items. Text Bo Fraga at 713.446.9365.

The shelter is in need of pet items including:

Crates
Pet carriers
Leashes
Dog/cat food
Cat litter
Towels
Poopy pads
Water bowls

Volunteers can start arriving at NRG Center (not the stadium); please enter via Kirby. Gate 10, Red Lot 2 or 4.

At the gate, please be sure to state "I am volunteering with BakerRipley/Neighborhood Centers."

Disaster Relief Drive-Through at Evelyn's Park

ACME Party & Tent Rental Center trucks will be at a drive-through donation site in the Newcastle parking lot at Evelyn's Park from 6 a.m.-10 p.m. on Wednesday to collect disaster relief items for delivery to the George R. Brown Convention Center - Emergency Center for Hurricane Harvey shelter (GRB) and to Ben Taub Hospital. See the donation list and more information here.

Houston Food Bank

Houston Food Bank is seeking volunteers beginning at 1 p.m. on Weds., Aug. 30. Volunteers need to be registered in advance via the Houston Food Bank website here.

Registered volunteers will be needed on an on-going basis. Children as young as age six are welcome for kid-friendly projects. Volunteers ages 16 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult parent/guardian. Closed toe shoes and sleeved shirts are required.

Donations are also being accepted and curbside drop-off is now in effect.

Items needed:

Canned ready-to-eat items with pull tops: vegetables, fruit
Protein in pouches or pull-top cans: tuna, beef stew, chili, canned chicken
Peanut butter
Snacks: granola bars, breakfast bars, etc.
Toiletries
Paper goods
Diapers
Cleaning supplies: mops, mop buckets, brooms, bleach wipes, bleach, garbage bags, bug spray

Saint' Thomas Episcopal School

Approximately 70 percent of STES was affected by floodwater. They are still assessing their needs but donations are appreciated. If you'd like to donate, click here and include the school's name.

Crayon Drive for Kids

ArtMix Houston is collecting items such as toys and art supplies for children in shelters, including:

New and gently used crayons
Paper
Beads
Pipe cleaners
Books
Puzzles
Legos
Board games

Contact with questions: [email protected] or 713-552-9028

Donation drop-off days: Weds.-Fri. (Aug. 30-Sept.1), 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Volunteer Houston: Apply to volunteer.

Jewish Family Service: Apply to volunteer.

Food Banks: Food banks are asking for nonperishable items as well as cleaning supplies. See The Houston Food Bank.

Airbnb: Airbnb is helping connect evacuees with homes that weren’t flooded.

Amy Anton volunteered at George R. Brown Convention Center. She decided to help in the kitchen because she has a cooking school out of her home; she chopped lettuce and tomatoes for 10,000 people.

Other ways to help:

Offer to help flooded neighbors do laundry or tear out carpet/drywall or anything wet. Amy Anton said her kids were part of a large group that went to neighbors’ homes to help remove anything that was wet.

If you would like to donate: