More than 30,000 people have been displaced and dozens have died in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, a category 4 tropical cyclone that’s been called “the worst disaster in Texas history” by Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Brock Long.
Though Texas is more than a thousand miles from Michigan, metro Detroiters are stepping up to donate money and supplies desperately needed by Hurricane Harvey’s victims. Along with supporting national relief efforts like the American Red Cross, or organizations local to Texas, like Houston Humane Society and the Houston Food Bank, the local charities and organizations listed below are collecting a range of things, like cleaning supplies to help Texans empty their flooded basements or refugee relief items like toiletries, pillows, and sheets.
Create a “flood bucket”
The First United Methodist Church of Ferndale is helping flood victims remove water from their homes by collecting necessary cleaning and water removal supplies you might not think of, like insect repellent and dust masks. Collected items will be used to create “flood buckets,” which will be donated to the emergency relief organization United Methodist Committee on Relief. See the entire list of accepted supplies here. Drop off your supplies from noon to 6 p.m. on Sept. 4 at the church’s south lawn, located at 22331 Woodward Ave.
Dance for a cause
A Night for Dancing, a monthly dancing event, is using its next get-together to collect monetary donations for those affected by the hurricane. The charity is to be determined. The event will take place at 10 p.m. on Sept. 1 at Temple Bar, located at 2906 Cass Ave., Detroit.
Fill a backpack
Detroit resident and frequent Houston visitor Sherrie Handrinos, owner of Boost 1 Marketing, has organized an event to put together backpacks filled with supplies to help those located in Houston. Accepted donations include diapers, baby wipes, towels, and small first aid kits (see the full list here). Monetary donations will also be accepted, with all proceeds going to the Houston Flood Relief Fund. Drop off supplies or donations from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 2 at the Airtime Trampoline and Game Park, located at 662 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy.
Donate nonperishable food items
The city of Warren is collecting nonperishable food items, including canned and dry goods, to donate to Hurricane Harvey victims. Citing the record-level of flooding Warren saw in 2014, the City of Warren Mayor Jim Fouts says he understands how helpful volunteers can be. “We know what it’s like to have most of a city underwater,” he says. Items can be dropped off at the mayor’s office on the second floor of Warren City Hall, located at 1 City Square, or at the Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden Ave.
Dine at The Royce
The Royce, a Detroit wine shop and wine bar located at 76. W. Adams Ave., will donate 10 percent of its sales on Friday to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. The donation will help with emergency disaster relief and long-term recovery support to those in Houston. As part of its fundraiser, The Royce will also raffle off two tickets to its upcoming wine tasting. Learn more, here.
|
|
|
