Delaware stepping up for Hurricane Harvey victims
As communities in Texas and along the Gulf Coast begin recovering from one of the worst storms to hit the United States in the last decade, Delaware residents and organizations are ramping up efforts to help those hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey.
Dewey Beach Town Hall will collect donations until 4 p.m., Friday, Sept. 8, to deliver to Houston. Organizers of the driver are looking for bottled water, nonperishable food, tarps, trash bags, cleaning supplies, flashlights, batteries, pet food, hygiene items, first-aid items, new pillows and dry goods such as paper towels. For more information, call 302-227-6363 or email ashleigh@townofdeweybeach.com.
Local poultry companies have headed Texas to feed volunteers, first responders and survivors. On Sept. 1, Allen Harim Foods sent a refrigerated truck with 40,000 pounds of chicken to Houston, while Perdue Farms has committed to donating 1 million pounds of poultry to support relief efforts.
Efforts also are underway to help four-legged friends.
On Sept. 2, Brandywine Valley SPCA's Georgetown Campus welcomed 43 animals rescued from a Louisiana shelter devastated during the storm. The 22 dogs and 21 cats will be available for adoption in early September.
Brandywine Valley spokeswoman Linda Torelli said the shelter may be getting a second shipment of pets Tuesday, Sept. 5.
The Division of Public Health also is encouraging residents to prepare for emergencies that may arise during hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Delawareans should go to PrepareDE.org for suggestions on how to prepare for storms and severe flooding.
Dover International Speedway and Dover Downs Hotel and Casino are looking for donations of baby items, personal hygiene items, canned goods, water, pet supplies and cleaning materials. Items must be donated from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 5, and Wednesday, Sept. 6. For more information, call 302-883-6555 or email Karen Ptak at kptak@dovermotorsports.com.
Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School at 11242 Racetrack Road in Berlin, Md., will collect donations during school hours through Friday, Sept. 8. Call 410-208-1600 for more information.
Joshua House Ministries and CHEER Inc. are partnering to collect donations for storm victims in Texas and Louisiana. For the next couple of weeks, people can drop off donations at CHEER centers in Georgetown, Greenwood, Lewes, Long Neck, Milton, Ocean View and Roxana. For more information, call Carolyn O'Neal at 302-515-3044 or 302-515-3040. H20 PRO is also working with Joshua Ministries and additional drop-off sites are at its office at 34407 Dupont Highway, Suite 8 in Frankford, the Millville Fire Department, the Millsboro Fire Department, Lewes Fire Department, Selbyville Dollar Tree and GiggleBugs Early Learning Center in Millsboro.
The Hampton Inn locations at 100 Lighthouse Estates Drive in Milford and 18826 Coastal Highway in Rehoboth Beach also are accepting donations. The Milford location is looking for nonperishable food items and other emergency supplies, while the Rehoboth location is looking for dog-related items to help Grass Roots Rescue with more than a dozen animals from areas affected by the hurricane.
The Blood Bank of Delmarva is urging local residents to donate blood as blood banks in Texas and across the Gulf coast meet the demand of displaced victims. Donors with O-Positive, O-Negative, A-Negative and B-Negative blood types are urged to donate. Call 888-8-BLOOD-8 or go to donate.bbd.org to book an appointment.
The Salvation Army of Delaware plans to send local officers and volunteers to Texas in the upcoming weeks to provide food, shelter and support for victims. They are not accepting physical donations, according to a press release. To make a monetary donation, go to disaster.salvationarmyusa.org, call 800-SAL-ARMY or send a check to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301 and note “Hurricane Harvey” on the check.
The American Red Cross is seeking donations that will help thousands of people displaced by the storm and flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey. To donate, go to redcross.org/donate/hurricane-harvey.
The Delaware Association of Realtors and the Sussex County Association of Realtors have each donated $5,000 to the National Association of Realtors' Realtor Relief Foundation to provide housing-related assistance in the wake of the disaster. To donate to their effort, go to nar.realtor/programs/realtors-relief-foundation.
For more information about how to help, go to fema.gov/news-release/2017/08/29/how-help-disaster-survivors-texas.
Email newsroom@capegazette.com or maddy@capegazette.com to include other local efforts to support Hurricane Harvey victims.
