Spirit of Texas Relief

OTHER EAST TEXAS - Boy Scouts of America is matching evacuees with area residents willing to house them. Evacuees must fill out an application and have a background check 842-5240

OTHER TEXAS - HurricaneHousing.org – have set up a website for people to volunteer to provide free housing 1-800-638-4559 http://www.hurricanehousing.org/

OTHER TEXAS - Operation: Share Your Home is an organization founded in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina hit. Its purpose is to match people willing to share their homes with evacuees who need temporary shelter. 1-888-827-2525 http://www.shareyourhome.org/

OTHER TEXAS - Texas Homeless Network is building a massive database of services info. See their Web site http://www.thn.org

OTHER TEXAS - FEMA has set up a hot line for Hurricane Katrina evacuees looking for shelter. The number is 888-312-4567. People looking to volunteer also may call to get assignments. The service is a joint effort of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas radio

(Information on how you can help with home reconstructions will come soon. Habitat for Humanity is already making plans.)

BRIDGE CITY - The Bridge City Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department is asking the community to assist with clothing, especially for children. Basic hygiene goods such as soap, toothpaste, washcloths, towels and shampoo are needed. Blankets, sheets and pillows and non-perishable food or snacks and monitory donations will be accepted. Drop items at the Bridge City Volunteer Fire Department, corner of Bland and Roberts, or call Ms. Barbara Daigle at 735-7161.

PORT ARTHUR – Salvation Army/Philpott Motors - The dealership, 1400 U.S. 69 in Nederland, will be a Salvation Army collection site for clothing, donations, and non-perishable goods. Collections will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday. The Salvation Army will pick up items Tuesday morning.

PORT NECHES - American Steam-Away, 3161 Nall Street in Port Neches, is a drop off point for local residents to make donations. Items needed include, inflatable mattresses, diapers, pots and pans, games, videos, clothes, towels and any items that could keep children busy. Pet food for the Humane Society will also be accepted. Call 727-6469 for more information.

BEAMONT, PORT ARTHUR, ORANGE –Market Basket is setting up donation boxes at all Market Basket locations in Texas and Louisiana, Ciara Franz, director of community relations, said. Needs include: soap, shampoo, toothpaste, diapers, wipes, non-perishable food bars, plastic eating utensils, paper towels, baby food, baby formula and toilet paper. Collections are limited to those items because Red Cross is not able to sort items needed for evacuees.

PORT ARTHUR – Community Care-Prayer Outreach, The Outreach is seeking food and monetary donations for victims of the disaster. "Since the begining of the evacuation, we have already distributed 9,000 pounds of food to shelters in our area. The shelters are Procter Street Baptist Church, Trinity Baptist Church and Shepherd's Inn. We have also provided them with personal clothing items," Libby Arnold, Outreach coordinator, said. he service is at 2824 Nall Street in Port Neches and hours are from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

PORT ARTHUR - United Board of Missions, is seeking food, clothing and bedding, sheets, towels, baby food, formula, and toilet tissue. Wells Fargo Banks are drop sites. A Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund account is set up at the banks. For more information, call 962-5661.

PORT ARTHUR – Lamar State College PA - The college will collect non-perishable food items, especially bottled water, large canned goods and rice. The relief drive also is looking for such personal care items as diapers, toothpaste, tooth brushes, deodorant, soap, shampoo, hair conditioner, baby wipes and new towels and washcloths. Donations can be brought to the Student Activities Office on the second floor of the Lamar-PA Student Center, 1600 Procter Street, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

(tens of thousands of evacuees are without any private transportation and most have had their homes completely destroyed. Donations of automobiles, and eventually furniture and appliances will be needed).

BEAUMONT – American Red Cross - Because of area generosity, the group is currently taking monetary donations only at 706 Magnolia Ave., Beaumont. For information, call 832-1644.

PORT ARTHUR DONATIONS – Gulf Credit Union - Members are collecting monetary donations for the refugees of Hurricane Katrina. Checks should be made payable either to the Beaumont Chapter of the Red Cross or the Orange Chapter of the American Red Cross. Gulf Credit Union will match these funds up to $5,000.

PORT ARTHUR DONATIONS - The Port Arthur Salvation Army is accepting donations for refugees. Call 983-2229 or visit 3145 25th St. or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. To donate by mail, send checks, earmarked "disaster relief," to P.O. Box 4857 Jackson, Miss., 39296-4857.

BEAUMONT FUNDRAISER - BEAUMONT -- Country stars and Southeast Texas natives Mark Chesnutt and Tracy Byrd will headline the free Third Annual Labor Day Music Festival with Zona Jones and TruSoul starting at 6 p.m. today at Ford Pavilion, 5115 Interstate 10 South.

BEAUMONT (BLOOD) - In order to help the blood centers in the path of Hurricane Katrina, LifeShare Blood Centers must increase their collection of blood and blood components. Hours of operations at LifeShare, 4305 Laurel St., Beaumont, will be extended on the holiday weekend to 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

BEAUMONT (FESTIVAL TICKETS) - David Bellow, promoter of the upcoming 9/11 Music Festival set for Sept. 10 at Ford Midway, announced he is inviting any and all Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Southeast Texas to attend the concert for free. Bellow said evacuees could pick up their free tickets at Ford Park with a valid ID. Gates open at 8 a.m. Sept. 10 and music runs from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. The concert features The O.C. Supertones Farewell Tour, Kevin Max (DcTalk), Paul Colman, Shaun Groves, The Swift, Rock 'N' Roll Worship Circus, One Bad Pig and more.

BEAUMONT (ANIMAL FOOD) – Human Society - "We are taking names of those who would provide foster homes for hurricane victims pets. Some victims have two to three animals and would like for their pets to stay together. So, we need as many volunteers as we can possibly get to take care of gerbils, birds, dogs and cats," Peggy Ruddy, director of the Humane Society of Southeast Texas, said. People can make donations of dog food and cat food - preferably in dry food form. Call 722-0605 for more information or visit the Human Society at 2050 Spindletop Ave. in Beaumont.