RosieKat
Drama Llama
PeaJect #12
Posts: 5,690 
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Post by RosieKat on Aug 29, 2017 18:08:37 GMT
She told me that they have been looking for a place to rent for their crew with a plan to stay for 10-20 days at least. The cheapest hotel room they got a quote on was $11,000 for 20 days! Isn't that price gouging? Isn't that illegal? That may or may not be price gouging. You said she's looking for a place for her crew - how many people/rooms does that mean? The quoted price comes out to $550/day, which is definitely outrageous for one room - but not for 5. Also, I know they've suspended hotel tax for evacuees, but I don't know if that is also the case for people looking to help. I can vouch for them as an organization in general. Tthey are a very good organization, in regular times they take a lot of the "unadoptable" animals from kill shelters and find homes for them. They have definitely been actively working throughout this whole crisis to find safe places for the animals, etc. In general, unless you know of a very specific need, money is best. I work for a very small food pantry and people don't register that it requires sorting, checking, stocking, etc. and they will often just clean out Aunt Betsy's closet and send it in to us. For the small scale of our operation, it's doable - but magnified by thousands and millions, it almost all ends up wasted because it takes too much space to store and too much manpower and time to sort and distribute. |
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Post by KikiPea on Aug 29, 2017 18:50:51 GMT
We will be donating to JJ Watt's fundraiser. Thanks, y'all!
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Post by cadoodlebug on Aug 29, 2017 19:46:00 GMT
I read in our morning paper that a non-profit group named Red Rover from our area in CA is on their way to help rescue animals until they can be united with their owners.
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QueenoftheSloths
Drama Llama
Member Since January 2004, 2,698 forum posts PeaNut Number: 122614 PeaBoard Title: StuckOnPeas
Posts: 5,955
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Aug 29, 2017 23:11:08 GMT
Several animal rescue groups in my area are collecting money to transport animals currently in animal shelters in the affected areas to our area for adoption, to make room in the shelters for the incoming animals affected by the hurricane. By keeping the hurricane animals in the local area, it increases the chances their owners will be able to reunite with them, while the longer term residents of the shelters move out of state to find new homes. I'll be donating to this effort, as I already know and trust these organizations, and they in turn have the contacts to help in Texas.
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Post by annaintx on Aug 29, 2017 23:33:01 GMT
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Post by ~KellyAnn~ on Aug 30, 2017 1:11:15 GMT
We will be donating to JJ Watt's fundraiser. Thanks, y'all! I donated to JJ Watt's fundraiser, which is now at almost four and a half million dollars! |
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Post by agengr2004 on Aug 31, 2017 14:04:48 GMT
I heard this morning that they need diapers and formula [snip]. I posted this a couple days ago: "We're also donating $$ to the Texas Diaper Bank. They provide diapers and baby supplies to babies, and diapers and incontinence supplies to seniors and disabled children/adults. From what I read, these supplies are not routinely included in the big relief organization distributions. Sounds like an initiative a lot of RefuPeas could get behind. Good campaign for kids to understand, too." (In addition to the Red Cross, I like to direct cash to a specific goal/mission.) This is close to where I live and my family is going to volunteer down there this weekend. They are doing a lot of great work, thanks for helping out. |
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georgiapea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,846
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Post by georgiapea on Aug 31, 2017 14:31:28 GMT
My Hubby's union is sending food, and he plans on getting pet food and diapers as well. I'm guessing they will fly the items there.
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Post by mrssmith on Aug 31, 2017 17:38:04 GMT
YES. Please make a cash donation. |
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TXMary
Pearl Clutcher
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean. God, I wish I was sailin' again.
Posts: 3,410
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Post by TXMary on Aug 31, 2017 17:53:56 GMT
Here in the Temple/Belton area we have taken in thousands of evacuees. The churches and buildings around town that are participating are at capacity with donations. The animal shelter and local vets offices are at capacity with pet food donations. My sister went for her shift this morning at the local church that is a shelter and was sent away. They are moving everything- evacuees and donations- to the Killeen/Ft Hood area. Right now, money is best. I know people want to help. I understand. I have taken many loads of items they were requesting over to the church. It's very appreciated but at this point, they just can't handle anymore. And please...when you are making your monetary donations...please, please, please don't forget Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass and all the other small, coastal towns that took a direct hit from the eye when Harvey was a Cat 4 hurricane. They are pretty much completely destroyed and do not have the resources that the bigger cities have. Most of those people have lost everything, including jobs. It's total destruction and the media has forgotten all about them.  |
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snugglebutter
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,566
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Post by snugglebutter on Aug 31, 2017 18:13:11 GMT
Here in the Temple/Belton area we have taken in thousands of evacuees. The churches and buildings around town that are participating are at capacity with donations. The animal shelter and local vets offices are at capacity with pet food donations. My sister went for her shift this morning at the local church that is a shelter and was sent away. They are moving everything- evacuees and donations- to the Killeen/Ft Hood area. Right now, money is best. I know people want to help. I understand. I have taken many loads of items they were requesting over to the church. It's very appreciated but at this point, they just can't handle anymore. And please...when you are making your monetary donations...please, please, please don't forget Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass and all the other small, coastal towns that took a direct hit from the eye when Harvey was a Cat 4 hurricane. They are pretty much completely destroyed and do not have the resources that the bigger cities have. Most of those people have lost everything, including jobs. It's total destruction and the media has forgotten all about them. Agreed. |
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Post by beebee on Aug 31, 2017 19:22:41 GMT
CAPS (Citzens for Animal Protection) is a great shelter located in West Houston near Katy. Our last 2 cats were CAPS kitties. I am sure they will be having a large influx due to their proximity to the reservoirs that are being released. SPCA Houston is another good shelter. They also take in farm animals (horses, etc), which is something many of the other shelters are not able to do. MAM (Memorial Area MInistries) is another excellent local charity to consider. They are very highly rated by Charity Navigator. These are all local organizations that I have personal knowledge/experience with and support. Anyone wanting to donate directly to the community should consider these. I've linked their websites so that you can read more about their missions. Is Caps a no-kill? I just did a quick google search and found a site that says their kill rate is 52%. I have no idea if the information is accurate or not. I do think I would rather give to a no-kill shelter. I have tried to do a paypal donation to the Austin shelter, but I can't seem to get it to work. We gave to the JJ Watt fund for the people. |
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Aug 31, 2017 21:24:40 GMT
CAPS (Citzens for Animal Protection) is a great shelter located in West Houston near Katy. Our last 2 cats were CAPS kitties. I am sure they will be having a large influx due to their proximity to the reservoirs that are being released. SPCA Houston is another good shelter. They also take in farm animals (horses, etc), which is something many of the other shelters are not able to do. MAM (Memorial Area MInistries) is another excellent local charity to consider. They are very highly rated by Charity Navigator. These are all local organizations that I have personal knowledge/experience with and support. Anyone wanting to donate directly to the community should consider these. I've linked their websites so that you can read more about their missions. Is Caps a no-kill? I just did a quick google search and found a site that says their kill rate is 52%. I have no idea if the information is accurate or not. I do think I would rather give to a no-kill shelter. I have tried to do a paypal donation to the Austin shelter, but I can't seem to get it to work. We gave to the JJ Watt fund for the people. I am glad you were able to find a place to donate to that worked for you. You don't provide a source for the 52% but the number that CAPS gives is that 65% of animals are saved, which would leave 35% that are euthanized. Some of those will be due to illness or inability to rehome due to temperment. While I understand the desire to donate only to a no-kill shelter because it make us feel better, people in general need to understand that it takes quite a bit of money to keep all the animals alive. When funds are funneled away from places like SPCA, CAPS or other large shelters, that means less money to keep animals alive. It becomes a vicious cycle. |
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Post by supersoda on Aug 31, 2017 21:37:42 GMT
I think a lot of people just don't want to give cash because you just never really know where it's going. There have been so many negative stories over the years of charities skimming or paying their executives insane salaries.
At least If you buy a case of formula, you know it has to go to feed a baby.
And I think there some fulfillment to shopping for things. It feels more like you're doing something when you have to leave your house to do it.
I'm not disagreeing that cash is best, but I can definitely see the reasoning behind wanting to give something tangible instead.
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Post by laurasw on Sept 1, 2017 1:34:58 GMT
This is an animal rescue that I've worked with personally. Young girls with a true heart for animals. You can read the Facebook post from one of them from a few days ago where she and her family and dogs were in a house with rising water waiting to be rescued and were told they couldn't take the dogs. They were pleading for help and luckily were picked up by someone that would bring the dogs. They do daily feeding routes in some of the worst areas of Houston and work tirelessly to help animals in the area find furever homes. www.bluebellesrescue.org/www.facebook.com/BluebellesRescue/ |
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Post by Skellinton on Sept 1, 2017 1:50:04 GMT
CAPS (Citzens for Animal Protection) is a great shelter located in West Houston near Katy. Our last 2 cats were CAPS kitties. I am sure they will be having a large influx due to their proximity to the reservoirs that are being released. SPCA Houston is another good shelter. They also take in farm animals (horses, etc), which is something many of the other shelters are not able to do. MAM (Memorial Area MInistries) is another excellent local charity to consider. They are very highly rated by Charity Navigator. These are all local organizations that I have personal knowledge/experience with and support. Anyone wanting to donate directly to the community should consider these. I've linked their websites so that you can read more about their missions. Is Caps a no-kill? I just did a quick google search and found a site that says their kill rate is 52%. I have no idea if the information is accurate or not. I do think I would rather give to a no-kill shelter. I have tried to do a paypal donation to the Austin shelter, but I can't seem to get it to work. We gave to the JJ Watt fund for the people. This is the one I donated too. Also www.friends4life.org/about/ Friends For Life is another one with a good reputation that is trying to help people care for their pets as well. |
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Post by lisacharlotte on Sept 1, 2017 1:54:11 GMT
Unless you are close enough to donate items directly, I think money is what they need. The charities have the ability to purchase items in bulk at much cheaper prices so your monetary donation will go farther. Our local Baker's stores are asking customers if they'd like to round up their purchase and that money is going to the Red Cross for Harvey relief. They've raised over $33K in my city alone just from the rounded up change.
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FurryP
Prolific Pea
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 7,797
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Sept 1, 2017 6:09:29 GMT
For those wanting to donate to the animal shelters and in case no kill is important to you, Houston . Humane Society is not a no kill and doesn't have a great reputation in that regard, Austin Pets Alive is a no kill and has a very good reputation- www.austinpetsalive.orgAlso www.friends4life.org/about/ Friends For Life is another one with a good reputation that is trying to help people care for their pets as well. Both of the ones I linked have Gold ratings on Guide Watch, Houston Humane has silver. Thank you for that info.... we are having fundraisers at work and the woman coordinating selected the Houston Humane society. I am sure she did not do much research. I wasn't exactly thrilled with the choice because they seem so "big box" like to me. I was wishing for a smaller local place. I will let her know. The fundraising starts tommorrow! |
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Post by auntkelly on Sept 1, 2017 13:46:29 GMT
I absolutely think cash is best, but if I wanted to donate something tangible it would be work gloves.
Work gloves are light and easy to transport and essential for anyone who is trying to restore a business or home.
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Post by leftturnonly on Sept 1, 2017 14:12:55 GMT
I remember when Houston was housing Katrina refugees, they got way more clothing donations than they could use and it became a burden to get rid of them all. I do remember reading problems with clothing is that so much is donated it ended up being so much basically that they had to throw the clothing away.. ended up in piles and no one to take charge.. the clothes ended up rotting.. We know several convoys headed that way, so transporting/sorting is not an issue. clothing has to be sorted by type, size, etc and it's so time consuming that a lot will just go to waste. so much of what was donated was just junk. someone was asking to drop off expired food I think a lot of people just don't want to give cash because you just never really know where it's going. OMG! I wrote a very long, detailed post quoting y'all and all that showed up were your quotes! |
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Post by leftturnonly on Sept 1, 2017 14:22:48 GMT
To summarize what I wrote before:
As Louisiana literally shares the border with SE Texas, we welcomed a great many survivors of Katrina. My church was phenomenal, housing, feeding & clothing evacuees. I spent a little time working in a large activity room with tables and tables and tables of donated clothes and it was a mess. It was a blessing and a curse.
IF you donate clothing, donate clothing that is needed and in good shape.
DO NOT DONATE EXPIRED FOOD. EVER.
IF you know that near-expiration food WILL be used immediately - as in the soup kitchen will serve it before it goes bad - than you can ask them what they WILL use and donate.
Otherwise, DO NOT DONATE NEAR-EXPIRATION FOOD. It will do no one any good if the can has expired already when they do go to use it.
I'm telling you now, as I have been telling you for days. The scale of the disaster in SE Texas is not being shown yet. The news crews are blocked from entering the area due to severe road flooding just as everyone else is, and in some places, the water is still rising.
Save some of your giving for SE Texas. Don't earmark everything for Houston and then get burned out. The needs in SE Texas will be staggering. More than Houston.
Bless all who donate their time, their money, and their prayers. Thank you.
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Sept 1, 2017 15:22:35 GMT
I'm telling you now, as I have been telling you for days. The scale of the disaster in SE Texas is not being shown yet. The news crews are blocked from entering the area due to severe road flooding just as everyone else is, and in some places, the water is still rising. An ABC New York news crew was helping with evacuations from shelter to shelter in Beaumont, TX. I don't know where you are, but we are getting news on our stations in the northeast, not 24 hours but a lot. When it is not on TV it is online. |
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Sept 1, 2017 15:48:23 GMT
For those wanting to donate to the animal shelters and in case no kill is important to you, Houston . Humane Society is not a no kill and doesn't have a great reputation in that regard, Austin Pets Alive is a no kill and has a very good reputation- www.austinpetsalive.orgAlso www.friends4life.org/about/ Friends For Life is another one with a good reputation that is trying to help people care for their pets as well. Both of the ones I linked have Gold ratings on Guide Watch, Houston Humane has silver. Thank you for that info.... we are having fundraisers at work and the woman coordinating selected the Houston Humane society. I am sure she did not do much research. I wasn't exactly thrilled with the choice because they seem so "big box" like to me. I was wishing for a smaller local place. I will let her know. The fundraising starts tommorrow! While it may seem "big box" to you, please keep in mind that the animals at those "big box" shelters here in Houston need the assistance just as much as the animals that were sent to Austin. The large shelters here evacuated as many of the adoptable pets available to other shelters before the storm in order to free up space and services for animals that would be directly effected (affected?) by Harvey. The stories of animals being rescued are just heartbreaking. And please keep in mind that not all those animals were pets left behind. Houston has a huge stray animal problem and they need assistance as well. |
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Post by leftturnonly on Sept 1, 2017 15:49:04 GMT
I'm telling you now, as I have been telling you for days. The scale of the disaster in SE Texas is not being shown yet. The news crews are blocked from entering the area due to severe road flooding just as everyone else is, and in some places, the water is still rising. An ABC New York news crew was helping with evacuations from shelter to shelter in Beaumont, TX. I don't know where you are, but we are getting news on our stations in the northeast, not 24 hours but a lot. When it is not on TV it is online. They aren't down in Port Arthur yet. They aren't in a lot of rural areas yet. They will be as soon as they can but some of these areas are submersed in many feet of water still (with the water still rising for some). The sheer massive size of the landmass involved going from beyond the surrounds of the far western side of Houston to over the Louisiana border and the amount of water still covering so much of it means that the full story is yet to be told. Because so much of the area is cut off by flooded highways, it's going to take that much longer for people to get back into flooded homes to haul out the wet, and the temperature is hot. Highway foundations have been undermined. Major highways that connect one side of the country to the other. Refineries are still shut down. The destruction is far more massive than Katrina was. |
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Post by leftturnonly on Sept 1, 2017 16:16:14 GMT
Copied from KFDM News Beaumont site
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Post by revirdsuba99 on Sept 2, 2017 1:34:47 GMT
Here in the Temple/Belton area we have taken in thousands of evacuees. The churches and buildings around town that are participating are at capacity with donations. The animal shelter and local vets offices are at capacity with pet food donations. My sister went for her shift this morning at the local church that is a shelter and was sent away. They are moving everything- evacuees and donations- to the Killeen/Ft Hood area. Right now, money is best. I know people want to help. I understand. I have taken many loads of items they were requesting over to the church. It's very appreciated but at this point, they just can't handle anymore. And please...when you are making your monetary donations...please, please, please don't forget Rockport, Port Aransas, Aransas Pass and all the other small, coastal towns that took a direct hit from the eye when Harvey was a Cat 4 hurricane. They are pretty much completely destroyed and do not have the resources that the bigger cities have. Most of those people have lost everything, including jobs. It's total destruction and the media has forgotten all about them. Can you share some groups in the area? |
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Post by leftturnonly on Sept 2, 2017 3:50:31 GMT
I just remembered another good idea I heard.
People can use wedding registries to list the things that they need at particular stores. Anybody can use them.
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inkedup
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,837
Jun 26, 2014 5:00:26 GMT
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Post by inkedup on Sept 2, 2017 3:54:44 GMT
I'd make a monetary donation to a reputable relief organization in lieu of purchasing physical items. large, charitable organizations can make money go a lot farther than the average person.
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Post by leftturnonly on Sept 2, 2017 13:15:26 GMT
HelpSalvationArmy.org -- Salvation Army has food trucks deployed throughout Houston and south Texas.
They need donations, too. I would limit it to money unless they were asking for something else in particular.
(Interviewed on the Weather Channel.)
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Post by leftturnonly on Sept 3, 2017 8:12:51 GMT
Places like Port Arthur need animal kennels.
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