JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As recovery efforts continue in Houston and other flood-ravaged parts of Texas, donation drives from across the country have been collecting items to help those in need.
Florida Emergency Management officials warn, though, that Texas is ill-equipped at the moment to accept such donations because emergency officials there have yet to identify needs or set up ways to handle donated items.
Some local groups are stepping in, though, and partnering with churches and charities in Texas to get the ball rolling now on providing supplies for Hurricane Harvey's victims.
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The Jumbo Shrimp offices at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville are being filled with unopened hygiene products, which will be shipped through local churches to the American Red Cross in Texas.
“We have gotten phenomenal feedback. We have fans that have come from all over Jacksonville to drop off items,” said Andrea Williams, community relations director for the Jumbo Shrimp.
Organizers said they already have enough body wash and shampoo, but still need baby wipes and diapers, if anyone is interested in donating at Friday night's game.
If you can't make it to the game, Angie's Subs in Jacksonville Beach will be collecting items through Sept. 9 or 10 and is partnering with local churches to deliver items to churches in rural areas like Beaumont that are desperate for supplies.
The sub shop is also offering a Texas-style BBQ sandwich for $10 that is helping to cover the costs of transporting the items to Texas.
“It's one of our most popular specials,” Angie's Subs owner Ed Malin said. “We're donating $4 of that to the relief effort, basically paying for our trucks and food and expenses for our drivers on the way over and back.”
Boxes and bins filled with canned food, diapers and shampoo have taken over the waiting area next to the register. Malin said they've had a tremendous turnout of donations, but they're hoping to see less bulky bedding items and more food and other necessities.
“They're just bulky, you know? I mean, how much more food could we get in this much space? And it's a necessity,” Malin said. “We have enough clothes. What we need is food, drinks and personal hygiene stuff, and medicine, aspirin and toothpaste.”
Families who have lost their homes likely won't have a place to store things like blankets, bed sheets and clothing.
Organizers encourage donors to think about the things they use on a daily basis and bring those items for the flood victims.
Also, make sure the group or organization you're donating to locally has a plan for getting those items into the hands of those who need them in Texas.
Florida emergency officials also recommend giving cash donations to a recognized charity. For a list of charities helping after Harvey, click here.