To the people of Greater Lewisville: The stark television images and written descriptions coming out of Louisiana and Mississippi these past few days have made an impression on me and my family that will likely never fade. I am sure that many of you have family members or friends directly affected by this awesome natural disaster, and of course we all will be affected in many ways during the coming weeks and months. The preamble to the United States Constitution starts with the words, “We the people of the United States.” Sometimes we seem to forget that we all truly are one people, especially when political or social

differences divide us. But it is during times of suffering and need most of all that we must remember that basic truth – we are, indeed, one people with one common goal of human dignity and well-being. Our brothers and sisters along the Gulf Coast are suffering terribly right now. Thousands – possibly millions – have lost their homes, possessions, livelihoods and even loved ones. For many of them, life will never be the same again. They need our help. I have been impressed in the past by how this community responds to a call for help from our neighbors around the world. The Lewisville area was tremendously generous in stepping forward after the September 11 attacks, and again last December after the devastating tsunami in South Asia. Local charities depend upon the generosity of our people, and our people rarely let them down. We must all step forward once again to do the right thing – the human thing – and lend a helping hand to neighbors who are in great pain and need. All of us can help in some way. Some can donate money, some can pick up a few extra cans of food or a package of socks during a shopping trip, some can find gently worn clothing in the back of a closet or drawer that could be put to much better use. All six Lewisville fire stations are accepting food and other donations for evacuees. There are as many ways to help as there are needs to be filled, and I am upon calling each and every one of you to show your heart and to live up to the Lewisville spirit. Let us all work together to lift up our grieving neighbors and to remind the entire world that the people of the United States really are united. Sincerely, Gene Carey Mayor

Ways to Help With the Relief Effort

Current Relief Efforts in Lewisville	Cash Donations	Blood Drives
Relief Organizations	Shelters	Beware of Charity Fraud
Volunteer	Evacuee Health Services

Relief Efforts in Lewisville

Christian Community Action
Hurricane Food Relief Effort


Date: Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Contact: Michael Ramsey
Christian Community Action
Contact: 972-219-4318

Lewisville—Christian Community Action is organizing a community food drive to benefit victims of the hurricane Katrina.

Non-perishable food donations and bottled water may be dropped off at the following locations:

This Saturday!
Old Town Western Days, Saturday September 3
Look for the CCA truck in Old Town Lewisville, in front of City Hall.
151 W. Church Street
Lewisville, Texas 75057
10 AM-4 PM, Saturday, Sept. 3rd

Christian Community Action Donation Drive Through
128 South Mill Street
Lewisville, Texas 75057
Hours: 8:30 AM -7 PM Monday Through Saturday
12 PM - 5 PM Sunday

Resale by CCA Business 121 Lewisville, Texas
2202 Business 121
Lewisville, Texas 75067
972-315-6544
Hours: 10 AM-8 PM Monday-Saturday

Resale by CCA—The Colony
5000 Main Street, Suite #270
The Colony, Texas 75056
972-625-6641
Hours: 10 AM-8 PM Monday-Saturday

Lewisville Fire Station:
All Lewisville fire stations are serving as dropoff sites for the relief effort. Click for fire station locations

For other locations, visit CCA on line at www.ccahelps.org.

Requested items:
· Bottled water and sports drinks.
· Boxed and bagged food items—Hamburger helper, rice, macaroni and cheese, sugar.
· Canned meats—tuna, stews, chili, etc.
· Hygiene items—Toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, razors, shampoo, and deodorant.
· Paper goods—Toilet and tissue paper, paper towels.
· Baby items—Diapers, formula, baby food, powder, lotion.

About Christian Community Action
Christian Community Action is a grass-roots nonprofit organization that has met the urgent needs of tens of thousands of poor people for more than 30 years. CCA provides food, clothing, shelter and vital personal services, including job and financial counseling as well as medical and prescription services, to destitute families in 40 communities throughout North Texas. For more information, visit www.ccahelps.org.

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Vista Ridge Mall

American Red Cross Donation Site

Vista Ridge Mall serves as a donation site for the American Red Cross and that organization's efforts to assist those affected by Hurricane Katrina. A collection canister is located at the mall's Customer Service Center, and we hope to have donation envelopes available throughout the mall very soon.

Blood Drive This Weekend:

Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday: noon – 6:00 p.m.

Carter BloodCare will be on site this weekend to in an effort to help ease the serious blood shortage in the Gulf Coast area. They will be located on the upper level (center court area, near Bombay. The event is being promoted by NBC Channel 5.

Relief Organizations

SALVATION ARMY

Greater Dallas Metroplex Area Command (Lewisville)
207 Elm Street
Lewisville TX 75057
Office: 972-353-9400
Fax: 972-353-2386

Collecting clothing, food, bottled water, toiletries, ESPECIALLY baby products, financial assistance (put "Katrina Disaster" in the memo line). When the trucks can get through, local donations will be taken to Louisiana/Mississippi. Salvation Army also is providing materials to some local shelters and to people who have been stopping by the local office.

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DALLAS AREA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS

The Dallas area chapter of the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The Red Cross is offering free volunteer training at its main headquarters at 4800 Harry Hines in Dallas. Volunteers are needed for this weekend to help with shelter setup and operations in Dallas. For more information, call (214) 678-4368.

American Red Cross Donation Site

Vista Ridge Mall serves as a donation site for the American Red Cross and that organization's efforts to assist those affected by Hurricane Katrina. A collection canister is located at the mall's Customer Service Center, and we hope to have donation envelopes available throughout the mall very soon.

Dallas Area Red Cross - Denton Branch
412 S. Carroll Blvd., Ste. 1001,
Denton, TX 76201): (214) 678-4800

For Relief Donations: 1-800-HELP-NOW (English); 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)


For Cooke County:
Cooke County Red Cross Office (Cooke Co. Courthouse, 100 S. Dixon St., B6,
Gainesville, TX 76240): (940) 665-4365
There is a Shelter area at the Bonham Armory for individuals in Cooke County
(1100 W. 5th Street, Bonham, TX 75418)

Blood Donations (Text provided by Carter Blood Care as of 9/1/05)  Carter BloodCare has been asked by The Blood Center in New Orleans and Mississippi Blood Services to provide support. Due to the current and lasting impact of Hurricane Katrina, these centers anticipate needing assistance for up to three weeks as the areas recover.  Additionally, the blood testing for The Blood Center in New Orleans has redirected to Blood Systems Laboratory, located at Carter BloodCare's Bedford campus.  Link for a Carter BloodCare Blood Drive near you:  Carter BloodCare Donor Locations.   American Red Cross Link to Red Cross information page with capabilities of searching for blood drives in this area.  www.givelife.org

Blood Drive This Weekend:

September 3-4, 2005 - Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Sunday: noon – 6:00 p.m.

Carter BloodCare will be on site at Vista Ridge Mall in Lewisville this weekend to in an effort to help ease the serious blood shortage in the Gulf Coast area. They will be located on the upper level (center court area, near Bombay. The event is being promoted by NBC Channel 5.

Volunteer The Dallas area chapter of the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The Red Cross is offering free volunteer training at its main headquarters at 4800 Harry Hines in Dallas.  Volunteers are needed to help with shelter setup and operations in Dallas. For more information, call 214-678-4368.   Reunion Arena, in downtown Dallas, has been converted to an emergency shelter for Hurricane Katrina victims.  The Dallas Area Red Cross chapter is offering volunteer training at their main headquarters at 4800 Harry Hines in Dallas.   To sign up for an upcoming training course offered by the Dallas Area Red Cross call 214-678-4800 or visit  www.redcrossdallas.org for more information.

Available Health and Human Services for Evacuees Dallas County Health and Human Services (Text provided by Dallas County Health & Human Services as of 9/1/05)  In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Dallas County Health and Human Services (DCHHS) has made resources available to those persons who have evacuated to Dallas from the impacted areas.  "Dallas County Health and Human Services has been working with the American Red Cross, the city of Dallas and other agencies to coordinate our efforts to provide necessary services during the evacuation," stated Zachary Thompson, DCHHS Director. In an order to help evacuees establish a sense of normalcy, Dallas County Health and Human Services is offering various health and human services. DCHHS asks that you call 214-819-6001 for additional information and assistance if you meet any of the following criteria:     *  If you are receiving treatment for tuberculosis;   *  If you have tested positive for HIV or AIDS;   *  If you are currently receiving WIC benefits;   "We recommend that adult evacuees receive Tetanus and Hepatitis A vaccinations and that all children have their immunization records reviewed and brought current to Texas state standards," state Dr. David Buhner, Dallas County Medical Director.   Parents should be aware that the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has temporarily waived the normal immunization requirements for attending school or child-care facilities for children displaced by Hurricane Katrina.  This waiver provides for a 30-day provisional enrollment that may be extended depending on the recovery progress.  Parents who want to ensure their children are fully immunized can contact DCHHS and arrange for a review of their child's immunization records and to receive any needed vaccinations.   DCHHS offers low-cost immunizations at its building on 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway daily from 8a.m. to 4 p.m. with extended hours until 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. The cost is $10 for a child's first visit, $5 for each subsequent visit. Children on Medicaid receive their shots for free. No appointment is necessary and parents are asked to bring their children's shot records when they visit a clinic. DCHHS also has community walk-in immunization clinics in Balch Springs, Carrollton, Grand Prairie, Irving, Lancaster, Rowlett and Seagoville. Days and hours vary at these community clinics. The adult immunization clinic is located at 2377 N. Stemmons Freeway and is open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

RENTAL/FEDERAL ASSISTANCE (LONG-TERM)
Contact FEMA to make them aware that you are a hurricane victim. Contact
will not facilitate meeting immediate needs but will allow for information
regarding Rental Assistance and other Federal Assistance (if they qualify):
1-800-621-FEMA

Cash Donations August 31, 2005 - The U.S. Conference of Mayors is working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina.  At this time, FEMA is encouraging CASH DONATIONS instead of donated goods.  FEMA has compiled a list of volunteer agencies that are trained and ready to provide a wide variety of services after disasters have struck.  These services include, but are not limited to, clean up, childcare, housing repair, crisis counseling, sheltering and food.  "It is important that volunteer response is coordinated by the professionals who can direct volunteers with the appropriate skills to the hardest hit areas where they are needed most," states Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response.  FEMA website and their list of volunteer organizations accepting cash donations.   For Relief Donations: 1-800-HELP-NOW (English); 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)

Area Shelters

The Dallas Office of Emergency Management as the local sheltering agency 214-670-4275.
For Shelter/Resources: (214) 678-4354

Arlington
Salvation Army Family Life Center
712 W. Abrams
817-860-1836
(holds 100)

Fort Worth
Worth Heights Center
3551 New York Ave.
817-871-8722
(holds 200)

Fort Worth
Resource Connection
1100 Circle Dr.
817-531-7600
(holds 250)

Dallas
Dallas Reunion Arena
777 Sports St.
(holds 1000)

Dallas Grauwyler Recreation Center 7780 Harry Hines Blvd 214-670-6303 at capacity   Dallas Samuel Grand Recreation Center 6200 E. Grand 214-670-1383 at capacity

Possible Resources:

American Red Cross Dallas
1-877-505-4800
www.redcrossdallas.org

FEMA
1-800-621-FEMA

Feed the Children
1-888-582-4453
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Immediate Needs

SBA Disaster Assistance Office

The SBA Disaster Assistance Office in Fort Worth is looking to hire 300 to 400 people immediately to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Positions are loan officers, attorneys, paralegals and customer service reps. The fax numbers for resumes are 817-684-5621 or 817-684-5799.

Beware of Charity Fraud Beware of charity fraud. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) resources on how to make donations wisely.  You may have contributed some of the $212 billion raised for charities in 2001. Unfortunately, a portion of that amount may have been misused or ended up in the pockets of fraudulent solicitors. With more than 700,000 federally recognized charities soliciting for charitable contributions, it pays to be cautious when making a donation.   Your charity dollars are an investment in your community, the nation and the world. It's wise to use just as much caution when making your charitable giving decisions as you do when making other decisions affecting your overall financial picture.   Consider the following precautions to ensure that your donation dollars benefit the people and organizations you want to help. They're good practices whether you're contacted by an organization's employees, volunteers or professional fund-raisers, soliciting donations by phone, mail or in person. Be wary of appeals that tug at your heart strings, especially pleas involving patriotism and current events.   * Ask for written information about the charity, including name, address and telephone number.   * Check out the charity's financial information.   * Ask for identification.   * Call the charity.   * Watch out for similar sounding names.   * Know the difference between "tax exempt" and "tax deductible."   * Be skeptical if someone thanks you for a pledge you don't remember making.   * Ask how your donation will be distributed.   * Refuse high pressure appeals.   Federal Trade Commission Advice For Giving to Charities - Federal Trade Commission Charity Advice