Helping the Victims of Harvey

Hurricane Harvey Response 
Give now 
CWSglobal.org/Harvey
weekofcompassion/donate
STOP. THINK. GIVE.

veryone outside the affected areas along the Texas Gulf Coast is eager to help, stirred by compassion for our neighbors who are suffering. We have witnessed the very best of human nature as hundreds move out to rescue strangers from the rising flood waters. And we will want to see this spirit continue and grow in the weeks and months ahead.
 
Of course, we pray. We pray for an abating of the rain and receding of the flood waters. We pray gratitude for First Responders and Good Samaritans. We pray for generous hearts and actions as people begin to rebuild their lives. We pray for health and safety in the midst of the ongoing crisis over the coming weeks. We pray for peace, cooperation, patience, resilience and unity as people tire and as resources are stretched. We pray for an abundance of aid in the right ways and at the right times.
 
All the disaster response experts seem to agree that the most important thing to do right now is donate money. You certainly will want to pick the agency of your choice, but I would recommend Church World Serivce via CWSglobal.org/Harvey. CWS has one of the lowest administrative costs of any disaster response agency, and they partner broadly with other groups on the ground, bringing needed resources to those most familiar with the situation.
 
Clean Up – The mind spins at any attempt to consider the scope and scale of cleanup that will be needed. We will be collecting Hygiene Kits and Cleanup Buckets at Central. You can learn more about them below and print off the pdf shopping lists here: HYGIENE  /  BUCKET. Likely hundreds of thousands of homes affected in the greater Houston area and along the coast from Galveston to below Corpus Christi, including particularly Refugio, and our personal favorite vacation spot, Port Aransas, which the mayor says is 100% loss.
 
On the CWS website you will also see a continuing Situation Update on recovery work.
 
Check back here at CentralChristianDallas.org as we will be updating how you can partner with us to respond, as together we practice “love your neighbor as yourself.”

However you choose to respond, thank you. If you or someone you know needs to talk about what is happening, where God is in all of this, and how you are being affected, please let us know.

Your neighbor,

Pastor Ken

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HYGIENE KIT

• One hand towel measuring approximately 15″ x 28″ to 16″ x 32″ (no fingertip, bath, dish towel or micro-fiber)
• One washcloth
• One wide-tooth comb removed from the package
• One fingernail or toenail clipper removed from the package
• One bath-size bar of soap in the wrapper
• One toothbrush in the package
• Ten standard size Band-Aids

All items need to fit inside a one-gallon plastic zipper closure bag. Remove the excess air from the bag and seal before boxing. Do NOT add any extra items or toothpaste. A tube of extended expiration date toothpaste will be added to each hygiene kit just prior to its final journey.
Value: $15.00
Processing fee: $2.00 per kit
*Do not enclose money inside the kits or in the shipping boxes. Find shipping and donation instructions at cwskits.org.

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BUCKET KITS

• One five-gallon bucket with resealable lid (If bucket has been used, clean well but do not use if it has held chemicals of any kind.)
• Four scouring pads
• Seven sponges, including one large
• One scrub brush
• Eighteen reusable cleaning towels (e.g. Easy Wipes)
• One 50 oz. or two 25 oz. bottle(s) of liquid laundry detergent
• One 16-28 oz. bottle of liquid disinfectant dish soap
• One 12-16 oz. bottle of household cleaner that can be mixed with water (no spray bottles)
• One package of 48-50 clothespins
• Clothesline, two 50 ft. or one 100 ft.
• Five dust masks
• Two pairs non surgical latex gloves
• One pair work gloves, cotton with leather palm or all leather
• 24-28 heavy duty or contractor type 30-45 gallon trash bags on a roll and removed from carton
• One 6-9 oz. bottle of non-aerosol insect repellent

All cleaning items must be new – all liquid items must be capped and securely tightened. Place all items into the bucket, making sure they are packed securely to avoid damage during shipment. Snap the lid on tight and seal with packing tape.
Value: $75.00
Processing fee: $3.00 per bucket
*Do not enclose money inside the kits or in the shipping boxes. Find shipping and donation instructions at cwskits.org.

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