Press Release: Houston’s Commitment to Disaster Relief Shines in Third Round of Grant Applications Opening to Artists and Nonprofits

Houston’s Commitment to Disaster Relief Shines in Third Round of Grant Applications Opening to Artists and Nonprofits

(HARF Grant Recipient Brian Ellison at Project Row Houses)

Houston, TX, April 26, 2018-  In the artistic communities hit hardest by Harvey, relief can be as simple as a new theater wardrobe and as critical as replacing revenue lost from cancelled performances. Recent months have seen Houston rallying around the vulnerable arts professions to restore what was lost irreparably to the hurricane. The Harvey Arts Recovery Fund (HARF) has launched a third and final round of grants to keep artists and arts and culture organizations on their feet, an intervention essential to preserving the place of creative expression in Houston’s vibrant social fabric.

The application for the third round of grant will be open from April 19 to May 11, 2018 and awards will be distributed in late May. The application can be found at www.harveyartsrecovery.org.

HARF supports Houston artists, performers, musicians, writers, and arts and culture organizations in need of disaster assistance. Applicants to the second round of HARF funding reported staggering need, with 92% reporting losses for opportunities to teach, perform or show their work and 68% confirming a loss of necessary tools or equipment to make their art. Since launching in the fall of last year, HARF has awarded more than $84,000 to local artists and arts, heritage and cultural organizations who suffered personal and professional losses due to Hurricane Harvey.

"The support of just knowing that there is a group out there that believes in the arts in Houston and that wants to see us all get back on our feet, that means a lot in a lot of other ways and we are thankful for that," said Shannon Emerick, Director of Marketing and Communications at Main Street Theater and 2018 Grant Organization Recipient.

Individuals and nonprofit institutional applicants that are 18 years and older must be able to demonstrate, through appropriate documentation, their cultural or artistic practice and how they pursue this creative mission professionally. They must also prove that their artistic practice was negatively impacted by Hurricane and Tropical Storm Harvey. So long as both the need and the reasoning behind the need are clearly present, HARF will not restrict the use of funds to any purpose or category. Those who received funding in the first or second rounds of grants are not eligible to apply this  time.

HARF was created as a volunteer collaboration among multiple organizations to meet the substantial needs of the Houston arts and cultural sector during Hurricane Harvey. Funds were raised with the support of local nonprofits, donations through the online advocacy platform www.harveyartsrecovery.org and seed money provided by the Houston Endowment. Creatives within a 10-county region of Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Liberty, Waller, Chambers, Austin and San Jacinto have been able to apply for funding since the fall of last year.

Members of the Local Action Group manage the Fund with leadership provided by Galveston Historical Foundation, Fresh Arts, Dance Source Houston, CultureWorks Greater Houston, The Center for Arts and Social Engagement at the University of Houston, Houston Arts Alliance and the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs for the City of Houston.

Recovery for the Houston arts and cultural community is an ongoing process. To help individual artists and small to medium-sized arts, culture and heritage organizations, please donate to Harvey Arts Recovery Fund at harveyartsrecovery.org.

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Press Release: Helping Hurricane Harvey’s Young Victims Sydney Paige Runs Backpack and School Supply Drive

Helping Hurricane Harvey’s Young Victims

Sydney Paige Runs Backpack and School Supply Drive

The victims of Hurricane Harvey have lost so much: homes, cars, belongings. Right now, their immediate needs are food, water, and shelter, but in the coming days and weeks, they’ll need even more.

When schools are able to re-open, many children will be without pens, notebooks, backpacks and other school supplies. Sydney Paige has partnered with Roonga to change that by running a school supply and backpack drive. The goal is to provide 3,000 packs to Hurricane Harvey’s school age victims and their teachers.

The need is anticipated to be large. Low-income children make up more than 75% of the Houston Independent Public School District. Other districts in the area have similar economic conditions making it difficult for families to afford replacing basic school supplies lost in the hurricane.

A backpack and school supplies certainly won’t fill all the needs of child victims, but it’s a start. Letting children know people care can go a long way towards healing while going back to school can provide a small semblance of normalcy in a world that’s been turned upside down.

To help: https://www.roonga.com/hurricaneharveydrive/

About Sydney Paige: Sydney Paige manufactures high-quality backpacks from eco-friendly materials: 100% cotton canvas, natural leather, nickel free hardware and recycled polyester. Its mission has always been to provide a backpack filled with supplies to a child in need for every backpack purchased.

About Roonga: Roonga partners with non-profits to provide the right quantities of necessary supplies to those who need them.

For more information, please visit www.sydneypaigeinc.com or contact Susana at Susana@chicexecs.com.

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Press Release: 750 Prescriptions Filled for Displaced Houstonians in Need at the George R. Brown Convention Center

  

Dr. Marla Fielder Regional Head of Pharmacy for Kroger Co.

750 Prescriptions Filled for Displaced Houstonians in Need at the George R. Brown Convention Center

Kroger’s Mobile Pharmacy Trailer is on-site at the George R. Brown Convention Center to serve displaced Houston families affected by Hurricane Harvey. Hundreds of guests each day are having prescriptions filled. There are no restrictions re: the originating pharmacy--the team can fill prescriptions from any pharmacy, as well as prescriptions written by the on-site DMAT team (disaster medical assistance transport).

These essential services are the latest in Kroger’s efforts to support recovery, rescue, and relief in Houston. The Kroger Co. Foundation recently announced their commitment of $100,000 to the Houston Food Bank. This donation will supply operational support and meals to Houstonians.

The mobile Kroger Pharmacy is 50 feet long and spacious enough to accommodate 5 pharmacists simultaneously. Kroger’s compassionate pharmacists ensure families have access to essential prescriptions and health services. Over the last two days, they have already filled approximately 400 prescriptions for Houston residents in need. The pharmacy is stocked with over 200 different types of medicine to treat a wide range of medical conditions.  

“This storm has ravaged our city, but I know the heart and resilience of Houstonians: we can and will overcome this,” said Marlene Stewart, Kroger’s president of the Houston division. “Kroger is working tirelessly to help support recovery, rescue and relief efforts. We will be here every step of the way.”

Across the country, customers can visit select Kroger Family of Stores to make a cash donation that will benefit the American Red Cross. Kroger is also inviting its 443,000 associates to join the cause as well as support fellow associates in the Houston area affected by the storm through Helping Hands, an internal fundraising effort. 

Along with monetary giving, Kroger will continue to aid rescue organizations, shelters and first responders with food, water and toiletries. For a list of open store locations in Greater Houston, as of today, call 1-800-KROGERS or visit TheKrogerCo.com.

PLEASE NOTE: At this time, 108 of the 110 Houston-area Kroger Stores are open. They will close at 9pm or earlier to comply with local municipality curfews where such exist. All unaffected outlying stores will close at their normal time or earlier to comply with local municipality curfews.

About Kroger

Kroger operates 110 stores, 104 pharmacies and 82 fuel centers in Greater Houston, Southeast Texas, Bryan-College Station and Southwest Louisiana and is part of one of the world’s largest grocery retailers serving customers in 35 states and the District of Columbia with 2,778 stores. For more than 125 years, Kroger has emphasized a customer-first approach to providing quality products, value pricing, outstanding service and an exceptional shopping experience. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kroger is recognized as one of America's most generous companies for its support of more than 100 Feeding America food bank partners, breast cancer research and awareness, the military and their families, and more than 145,000 community organizations, including schools. For more information about Kroger, download the free Kroger mobile app or connect on kroger.com, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

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Press Release: PUERTO RICO FEDERAL AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

PUERTO RICO FEDERAL AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATION

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

Government of Puerto Rico sends brigade of rescue workers to Texas after passage of Hurricane Harvey

(August 28, 2017 – La Fortaleza, San Juan) The governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rosselló, arrived this morning at the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport to thank and support a brigade composed of 15 Puerto Rican rescue workers who will collaborate in the recovery work following Hurricane Harvey’s passage through Texas.

The group is coordinated by Abner Gómez, director of the State Agency for Emergency and Disaster Management (AEMEAD, per its Spanish acronym) and is composed of five firefighters, a paramedic of the Medical Emergencies Corps, and nine volunteers and staff of the agency's municipal offices.

Gómez thanked the availability of these rescue workers with experience in search and rescue in collapsed structures and water rescue.

"The people of Puerto Rico stand in solidarity with the residents of Texas and the thousands of Puerto Rican families living there. I would like to thank this skilled brigade for its commitment. Without a doubt, its experience in this type of emergencies will help in the recovery and rescue after the passage of this atmospheric phenomenon," expressed the governor.

Governor Rosselló informed that Texas Governor Greg Abbott communicated his gratitude for the Puerto Rican brigade.

Approximately 155,000 Puerto Ricans live in Texas, most of them in Tarrant, Dallas, and Denton counties.

Yesterday, the governor signed an Executive Order to authorize the provision of humanitarian aid services to the state of Texas and use up to $25,000 from the Emergency Fund to finance the mobilization, groceries, and any other expenses related to the brigade's mission.

American Airlines donated the transportation of the luggage and equipment of the brigade of rescue workers that left for Dallas, Texas to then move to the affected zone.

Contact: Pedro Cerame

Email: pcerame@prfaa.pr.gov

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Guest Post: Guardians of Rescue Use Boat to Help Save Stranded Animals in Texas

Guardians of Rescue Use Boat to Help Save Stranded Animals in Texas

Animal rescuers risk their own lives to save animals in need

SMITHTOWN, New York – (September 2, 2017) There’s no mistaking the fact that the people in Southeast Texas need help, and in a big way. One look at what has happened in places like Beaumont, Texas, and it’s easy to see that there is devastation on a grand scale, as people have lost their lives, homes, and the city is largely under water. In fact, it’s estimated that since the beginning of the Hurricane Harvey storm, the city of Beaumont got over 45 inches of rain, leaving thousands of people underwater. This has created a situation that is also leaving thousands of animals stranded and in critical need of being rescued. The animal rescue group Guardians of Rescue has deployed to the city to help rescue as many of the pets as they possibly can.

“Guardians of Rescue members are in Beaumont and Houston where animal rescues are overwhelming — from dogs, cats, birds, horses, and livestock, the animals needing help are insurmountable,” explains Robert Misseri, founder and president of Guardians of Rescue, an animal rescue organization. “Some animals are frightened, some are half alive and many are barely holding on, fighting the exhaustion of trying to survive.”

While being able to reach the stranded animals is an enormous challenge, the Guardians of Rescue are taking it on and have brought a dedicated team for the effort. Their rescue team consists of former military personnel, along with several experienced members to help, all of whom will be rescuing animals using flat-bottomed boats, as well as wading in over 5 feet of water to reach animals in need.

Beaumont was one of the cities hit the hardest by the hurricane, leaving many people in shelters. With a population of over 118,000 people, they also lost their main and secondary water sources. Much of the city remains underwater, with boats being used to make rescues of people and animals. As people flee to go to shelters, any pets are often left behind. Being stranded, they end up lost, scared, hungry, and many are clinging to life if they have made it this far.

Guardians of Rescue also helped with the animal rescue effort last year during the Louisiana floods. Many people don’t realize that pets are also left behind and in need of being rescued following hurricanes and floods. During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, it is estimated that around 250,000 animals were displaced or had died.

Rescue groups currently in Texas are helping to rescue displaced animals will find temporary shelter for them, and work to try and reunite as many as possible with their owners, and provide them with the care and medical attention they need along the way.

“Guardian members are working through the night —everything is minute by minute, but rescue doesn’t stop at sun down — the animals won’t survive,” added Misseri. “We are hopeful that our efforts will save many animals and that we will be able to reunite them with their families. This is a devastating situation that calls for the assistance of people around the country.”

Guardians of Rescue are in need of financial donations to help cover costs of the operation. To learn more and make a donation, visit their site at: https://guardiansofrescue.org/donate.

About Guardians of Rescue

Based in New York, Guardians of Rescue is an organization whose mission is to protect the well-being of all animals. They provide aid to animals in distress, including rehabilitation, assisting other rescue groups, and providing support to families, both military and not, who need assistance due to economic factors. To learn more about Guardians of Rescue, visit the site at www.guardiansofrescue.org.

 Image source: Pixabay

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In the Aftermath of Harvey

We have been very blessed here in our immediate area.  Our neighborhood is, for the most part, drying out.  We have water in the yard, but not in the house.   However, not all of our town has been this fortunate.  

Please view this video on Facebook that shows our downtown, which is about a mile from our house.  The closest part of the river to our house is only 1/4 mile from us.

Flood Video




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Instagram Today

Later, Harvey! Taken 26 August 2017. A new day dawns, post-Category 4 landfall. Praise Heavenly Father, we were spared the direct hit. Please pray for those who were not as fortunate. This water is at the end of our driveway. Only 5 houses in our neighborhood have power right now. Ours is one of them. Have a blessed day!😊

via Instagram