Archive for the ‘Volunteer’ Category

Laura Bush has said that she will continue much of the same volunteer work she’s done as first lady after leaving the White House in January.

Bush, speaking Saturday at an American Red Cross event, said “I’m going to do a lot of volunteering” after she and President George W. Bush step down in less than two months and move to Dallas.

Bush, who has championed the rights of Afghan women, said she’ll continue to help the women through the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council, which was set up to help women gain the skills and education deprived them under the Taliban.

She also said some of her volunteer work will be done through her husband’s presidential library and public policy institute at Southern Methodist University. The Dallas complex is under construction not far from the couple’s North Dallas neighborhood home.

The first lady, who has been a frequent, public critic of Myanmar’s military government, indicated she will continue helping the people there. The former librarian and teacher isn’t ruling out some school time either. “Hopefully, I’ll be able to go back to some schools and volunteer,” Bush said.

The North Texas Food Bank has committed to building and transporting 4,000 family food boxes to the Houston and Beaumont Food Banks for distribution to families as they come back to the area and we need your help. They are now seeking food donations. Items needed are:

1. Fruit Juices
2. Canned Meats
3. Beef Stew
4. Chunk Light Tuna in Water
5. Pork and Beans
6. Canned Soup
7. Canned Vegetables
8. Canned Fruit
9. Spaghetti in Tomato Sauce
10. Dried Beans
11. Dried Rice
* No glass containers please.

You can purchase these items in pre-packaged bags at your neighborhood Kroger, Tom Thumb and Albertsons. Customers can simply leave their bags at the store and they will be donated to the NTFB.

You can also drop off donations at the NTFB located at 4500 S. Cockrell Hill Rd., Dallas, 75236

Call 214-330-1396 if you want to schedule a food or fund drive. Or donate online at ntfb.org.

The North Texas Food Bank is working in a strategic partnership with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and the Volunteer Center of North Texas to assist with mass evacuation as a result of Hurricane Ike. So far the NTFB has distributed over 80,000 pounds of water and snacks to shelters. Here’s how the organizations are coordinating the response:

• The North Texas Food Bank is currently providing water, juices and snacks and will provide food for meal preparation when needed. Monetary donations are needed too.
• The Salvation Army is providing meals at all mass shelter locations.
• The American Red Cross is managing and overseeing shelter operations.
• The Volunteer Center of North Texas is coordinating volunteer placement for the relief effort.

With the most recent track change for Hurricane Ike, North Texas area counties have learned that there are 288 bus loads of people in the storm’s path are being sent to North Texas. The Counties are working with area cities, school districts and universities to find additional shelter sites for the increased number of people expected to arrive this evening.

The City of Dallas is reconfiguring its main shelter location at the Dallas Convention Center to accommodate an additional 450 guests. The Dallas Convention Center will be able to accommodate 1,450 people.

DONATIONS
Dallas residents should NOT drop donations at the Dallas Convention Center shelter location nor should they come to the Dallas Convention Center shelter location to offer volunteer assistance. Donations and volunteering should be routed through the North Texas Food Bank, the Salvation Army, the Volunteer Center of North Texas, or by contacting your favorite local charity.

FOOD
Donations to help purchase food can be made to the North Texas Food Bank through their Web site: www.ntfb.org

OTHER ESSENTIALS
Donations to help purchase other essentials can be made to the Salvation Army through their Web site: www.salvationarmydfw.org

VOLUNTEERS
May register for assignments with the Volunteer Center of North Texas through their Web site: www.volunteernorthtexas.org or by calling 1-866-797-8268.

CASH DONATIONS
To help provide other assistance can be made to the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or at www.redcross.org.

Galveston Island, as of Friday morning, should be a ghost town. State officials are concerned that storm surges up to 20′ could hit the low lying coastal areas and ordered mandatory evacuations of the entire island. Island officials have shut off electricity and water services ahead of the storm. Galveston was the scene of the nation’s deadliest hurricane in the 1900 when approximately 6,000 people were killed.

>>>>> To keep track of Hurricane Ike’s approach, click here.<<<<<

Ike is currently a Category 2 storm with 105-mph winds and likely will come ashore late on Friday or early on Saturday as a potentially dangerous Category 3 storm on the five-step intensity scale with winds of more than 111 mph, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center .

The State of Texas has issued this map showing the Gulf Coast escape route with areas noted that might be implemented with contraflow. I-45 between Houston & Dallas could have all lanes northbound as far north as Ennis (which is just 20 miles south of downtown Dallas).

Dallas officials now say North Texas is prepared to host up to 15,000 evacuees fleeing the Gulf Coast from Hurricane Ike.

Dallas area hotels are currently booked at 90% occupancy. Most budget hotels are completely sold out.

The Volunteer Center of North Texas has made an urgent appeal for help to deal with as many as 15,000 evacuees from Hurricane Ike. The center schedules volunteers to work at shelters throughout the area. Phone bank and clerical help is also needed. Call 866-797-8268 for more information.
• LINK: The Volunteer Center of North Texas

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott today launched Operation Safe Shelter, a new emergency service that will provide registered sex offender information to evacuation shelter personnel. To aid emergency shelters, raise awareness and protect evacuees, the Office of Attorney General has established a 24-hour a day, toll-free emergency hotline that will allow shelter personnel to inquire whether evacuees are registered sex offenders. When evacuation shelters contact the Safe Shelter Hotline at (866) 385-0333, law enforcement officials with the Office of the Attorney General will access and share information from the state’s registered sex offender database.

As of Tuesday evening, we still do not know where along the Gulf Coast Hurricane Ike will hit though at this point it does appear to be further south than the Houston / Galveston area.

At of now, the Dallas Convention Center is still scheduled to a shelter for up to 1,000 people IF the Ike heads towards the Houston area. If it continues south towards Corpus Christi, then San Antonio & Austin will be the evacuation cities.

Early estimates stated that an estimated 25,000 Gulf Coast residents would make their way to the Dallas area. Should this become necessary and you want to assist, contact the Volunteer Center as they are handling all volunteers for the Red Cross, Salvation Army, etc.

>>>>>>You can track Hurricane Ike by clicking here.<<<<<<<

It’s getting to be that time of the year when people are looking for tax deductions.

Central Dallas Ministries offers an auto donation program but they will also accept RV’s, boats, trucks and other running vehicles whether they are running or not.

Typically, a vehicle is picked up within the greater Dallas area within 24 hours of your call. The vehicle is sold at auction and you are sent a receipt for the purchase price.

Contact CDM at www.CDMcars.com to arrange your donation today and help a worthwhile charity.