Houstonians can help the victims of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita through the following agencies and companies. Most charities would prefer monetary donations because it is the easiest and quickest way to meet victims' immediate needs.

Help Available For Evacuees

FEMA, Disaster Help Line: (800) 621-FEMA | How To Register For FEMA Debit Card
Red Cross Financial Assistance For Evacuees: Call (800) 975-7585
Insurance Questions? Texas Department Of Insurance or call (800) 252-3439
Neighbors2Neighbors.org -- City of Houston/Harris County initiative to provide hospitality services for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Star Of Hope Men's Center, 1811 Ruiz, near Minute Maid Park: The designated center for evacuees to pick up donated clothing. "Operation Pick-Up" is a drive-through facility open seven days a week, 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information, call (713) 227-8900.
Salvation Army, 5950 Fairmont Parkway in Pasadena: Evacuees can receive food, clothing and household items from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Free, Discounted Services, Attractions
FEMA Hotline For Evacuees To Find Shelter: (888) 312-4567
Louisiana State Police, (800) 469-4828
Texas United Way: Evacuees in need of food stamps should call (713) 957-HELP or (800) 500-4266
WIC benefits for evacuees: (713) 794-9090 or (800) 942-3678
Find a School: (713) 892-6699
Evacuees can get mail forwarded to their shelter by filling out a change-of-address form at (800) ASK-USPS.
Houston Humane Society To Shelter Evacuees' Pets: (713) 433-6421
SPCA Emergency Pet Hot Line: (713) 802-0555
Lost Pet Hot Line In Louisiana: (225) 578-6111 or (800) 486-2631
Houston Independent School District
Displaced businesses seeking office space: www.houstondowntown.com
Elves & More Donate Bikes To Katrina Victims

Helpful Information

Better Business Bureau: Check out charity before giving
Texas Attorney General's toll-free complaint line for price gouging: (800) 252-8011
NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Satellite Images
Harris County News Releases, Information
HISD: Become A Teacher, Donate
Web Site Helps Track Environmental Effects Of Katrina

How, Where To Volunteer

Star of Hope, 1811 Ruiz, which is in charge of distributing donated clothes to evacuees, has an urgent need for volunteers to answer phones and sort clothes, as of Sept. 8. If you can help, please call (713) 440-5322.
Salvation Army, 5950 Fairmont Parkway in Pasadena: Volunteers are needed to sort and help distribute donated food, clothing and household items for the following shifts seven days a week: 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 12:30 p.m.-4 p.m., 4 p.m.-8 p.m. To volunteer, call (832) 201-8018.
Houston Food Bank, 3811 Eastex Freeway: To volunteer, call (713) 547-8609 or (713) 547-8657. Visit www.houstonfoodbank.org or call (713) 223-3700 to find out what donations are needed.
Volunteer Houston, (713) 965-0031
American Red Cross: (281) JOIN-NOW
Healthcare Professionals Needed As Volunteers: (713) 654-8071

Job Information

U.S. Labor Department's Job Search For Katrina Evacuees
The Houston Rockets set up a job bank for evacuees. Companies with jobs available should send an e-mail about the position(s) to employment@rocketball.com or call (713) 758-7444. Officials will post the available jobs on the Rockets Web site.
Global Strategic Sourcing Job Bank:
Evacuees who need work: (713) 583-9867 | Submit resumes: apply@globalstrategicsourcing.com
Employers wanting to hire: (713) 583-9866 or e-mail employers@globalstrategicsourcing.com.
KatrinaJobRelief.com
CareersInHouston.com

Housing Help

Houston and Harris County Hurricane Housing Task Force
City of Houston Housing Office: City to reimburse residents housing evacuees.
Make A Home Project (to donate or request housing): Houston Association Of Realtors, (713) 393-8732
Crawford Cares: Small businesses adopt evacuated families.
Houston Apartment Association, (281) 933-2224, will offer reduced rent to evacuees at certain properties, depending on availability.
Harris County Housing Authority, 8410 Lantern Point, (713) 578-2150, has 500 units available for evacuees who received "HUD Section-8 Housing-Choice Vouchers."
HurricaneHousing.org: Refugees can search for free housing and residents can offer free housing.
City Wide Club of Clubs Adopt-A-Family/Share-Your-Home Project, (713) 752-CLUB (2582)
Operation Share Your Home
Harris County Housing Resource Center

Missing Person Registries

FEMA List Of "Find Your Family" Web Sites
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
National Registry From MSNBC.com
CNN's Hurricane Katrina Safe List
WDSU's Message Board
American Red Cross Missing Person's Hot Line: (713) 313-1628, (877) 568-3317 or Red Cross Missing Person Web Site
Gulf Coast News
New Orleans Police and Fire Department Registries
www.VictimFind.org

American Red Cross Shelters

Shelter Locations:

Baytown Community Center, 2407 Market Street, Baytown
Fairmont Park Baptist Church, 10401 Belfast, La Porte
First Baptist Church, 1229 Avenue J, Huntsville
First Baptist Church, 906 Avenue A, Katy
First United Methodist Church, 4308 W. Dallas, Conroe
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 18220 Upper Bay Road-Nassau Bay, Houston
Memorial Baptist Church, 600 W. Sterling, Baytown
Mont Belvieu Senior Center, 11607 Eagle Drive, Mont Belvieu
Moody Methodist Church, 2803 53rd Street, Galveston
New Life Central, 2104 Underwood, La Porte
Spring Tabernacle, 3034 F.M. 2920, Spring
St. Mary's Catholic Church, 701 Church St., Brenham
St. Peter Claver Catholic Church, 6005 N, Wayside Drive, Houston
Complete Shelter List From Red Cross

For more information from the American Red Cross, call (866) GET-INFO or (713) 313-5480.

Accepting Monetary Donations

Houston Katrina Relief Fund.org
Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund
American Red Cross, (800) HELP NOW (435-7669)
Salvation Army: (800) SAL-ARMY (725-2769) or (800) 253-1868
Greater New Orleans Foundation
Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, Donate Online
America's Second Harvest: (800) 344-8070
Adventist Community Services: (800) 381-7171
Catholic Charities, USA: (703) 549-1390
Christian Disaster Response: (941) 956-5183 or (941) 551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee: (800) 848-5818
Church World Service: (800) 297-1516
Convoy of Hope: (417) 823-8998
Lutheran Disaster Response: (800) 638-3522
Nazarene Disaster Response: (888) 256-5886
Noah's Wish: Rescuing Pets In Evacuated Areas
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: (800) 872-3283
Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief: (800) 462-8657, ext. 6440
United Methodist Committee on Relief: (800) 554-8583

Companies, Organizations Accepting Donated Items

Note: Many religious organizations are holding their own collection and/or donation drives. Please check with a church, synagogue or facility near you. Due to the huge number of places organizing drives, Click2Houston regretfully cannot post every location.

St. Agnes Missionary Baptist Church, 3730 S. Acres Drive, 77047, 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Northwest Church, 7126 Spring Cypress Road, Spring, 77391 ATRS, Roxburgh, Building 12, Suite 1000, Houston, 77041
Children Caring For Children Drive: Donate new school supplies, backpacks, tennis shoes and T-shirts to any local fire station to be given to evacuees attending school.
Toys R Us, Kirby at OST
First Methodist Church, (832) 668-1800: Downtown Campus (1320 Main Street at Clay); Westchase Campus (Westpark at Sam Houston Tollway)
Houston Intown Chamber of Commerce, 3015 Richmond Ave., 77098, (713) 524-8000
Holiday Inn Select, 2712 Southwest Freeway, 77098, (713) 523-8448
Four Points By Sheraton, 2828 Southwest Freeway, 77098, (713) 942-2111
Society of St. Vincent de Paul, 2403 Holcombe Blvd., (713) 741-8234
Baytown Junior High, 7707 Bayway Drive, (281) 420-4560
Sugar Creek Baptist Church, 13213 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, (281) 242-2858
Park at Voss Apartments, 2424 S. Voss Road (at Westheimer), (713) 268-3000
Alvin Community College, 3110 Mustang Road, Alvin, 77511
Houston Humane Society, 14700 Almeda Road, (713) 433-6421
Houston-Area Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals, 900 Portway Drive
West University Baptist Church, 6218 Auden Street, (713) 668-2319
Crosspoint Church, 4601 Bellaire Blvd.
Wesley Gardens Apartments, 8700 Gustine Lane, 77031, (713) 270-5555
Julia C. Hester House, 2020 Solo, 77020, (713) 672-2573
Westlake Fire Department, (281) 960-5014
Church of Christ, 1704 Weber, (713) 864-5667
Lansdowne-Moody, (713) 672-8366, is collecting food and clothing at the four locations below.
8445 East Freeway, 77029
11810 S. Sam Houston Parkway West, 77031
1600 FM 528, Webster, 77598
23738 Hempstead Highway, Cypress, 77429
Houston-area YMCAs and KSBJ FM are collecting gift cards to help victims pay for gas, food and other items.
Impact Houston Church of Christ, 1704 Weber, (832) 641-5900
Consignor's Club, 22704 Loop 494 Ste D, Humble, 77339, (281) 359-9090