Help for Central Texas Fire Victims

Update: As this post is now a week old, please contact the sites listed below before heading out, to make sure they are still accepting donations.  Some sites may be full or have already 

delivered their donations.

If you are looking for a way to assist our neighbors who have been affected by the fires this week, there are plenty of opportunities.  In fact, so many generous individuals and organizations have coordinated donation drives that sifting through the information can be a bit overwhelming.  Here is my attempt to list some of the local relief efforts in one place. 

Information on Local Blogs:

• Smart Giving Tips for Disasters - American Red Cross of Central Texas
• GivingCity
• YNN
• Austin Chronicle
• KVUE - Austin area wildfire donation sites.
• Austin American-Statesman
• KXAN
• Texas Bloggers Link Up for Fire Relief - Follow the link at the bottom of the post for more local posts.
• 365 Things to do in Austin, Texas - A round-up of local ways to donate or volunteer.
• What Happens in Hutto - Ways to donate if you live in Hutto.

Information on Facebook:

• Bastrop County Office of Emergency Management
• Central Texas Fires 2011
• Texas Storm Chasers
• Williamson County Office of Emergency Management
• Lost and Found Pets
• Help for Fire Victims
• We are Okay in Bastrop
• Bobby Bones Show
• Steiner Ranch Social Committee
• Central Texas Wildfire Recovery
• American Red Cross of Central Texas

Twitter Feed:

• #centraltxfires
• #centraltxfire
#TXBlogFireRelief

Financial Donations:

• American Red Cross of Central Texas - click "Give Now"
• Austin Disaster Relief Network - "Click to Donate"
• H-E-B - Collecting donations for American Red Cross at checkout.
• United Way Capital Area - click "Donate"
• Central Texas Fire Relief Emergency Fund - Donate by mail to 4315 Guadalupe Suite 300, Austin, TX 78751 or in person at Austin Telco branches.
• Catholic Charities of Central Texas - Supplies and monetary donations can be dropped off at 1817 E. Sixth Street, Austin, TX 78702, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (512) 651-6102.  
• Austin Family Brunch: A Wildfire Benefit* - A donation event is planned for this Sunday, September 11 at Joe's Place with live music for the whole family to enjoy.  The event is free with a suggested donation for the Red Cross of $20 per family.  Please RSVP on Facebook.

Businesses Donating a Portion of Profits:

• BookPeople - BookPeople will be donating a portion of our sales from Tuesday 9/6 though Friday 9/9.  This applies to all sales, both in-store and online.  Cashiers can also take direct donations at the registers - simply ask your cashier to donate to the Red Cross when checking out.
• Barefoot Kids Store in Round Rock - 20% of all children's book sales made through this link through Friday, September 9, will be donated to the Red Cross.
• Learning Express of Bee Cave and Sunset Valley - Red Cross Fundraiser this Monday, Sept. 12! Stop in and shop...15% of all sales will be donated to the Red Cross.  

Volunteer Coordination:

• American Disaster Relief Network - Go here to sign up to volunteer at the Austin donation warehouse.  1905 S Capital of TX Hwy.
• Hays County Emergency Management - 512-393-7302 (you will probably need to leave a message).
• American Red Cross of Central Texas - You will need to first complete a volunteer application online. 512-928-4271.
• Foster a pet through Pawsitively Texas - "We desperately need fosters for public pets! If you can help please email my boarding facilitator Gail at ngc5128@sbcglobal.net and let us know what you can foster and for how long. You should be at least somewhere close to Austin to help."

Donation Drives:

The majority of this information was compiled from posts on Facebook, so please call to confirm before heading over to a donation drop site. If there is an asterisk (*) next to the name, I have already confirmed the details by phone.  Please feel free to leave comments if you hear of more drop sites.  I will continue to update the list throughout the day.

Austin:

• Capital Area Food Bank* - Accepting nonperishable food donations.  8201 S. Congress Avenue.  282-2111.
• 96.7 KISS FM - Donate canned goods at any Austin area Sonic restaurant.
• Catholic Diocese of Austin* - Please take donations to the Catholic Charities office located on 1817 E. 6th Street. 512-651-6102.
• Quality Inn & Suites near the Airport* -  Will be collecting donations daily. Drop off in their lobby anytime. 2751 Hwy 71 E. (512) 385-1000.
• Weirdos* - Accepting donations all week, until 2 a.m. daily. 12408 North Mopac.  512-291-6703.
• Starbucks on Ben White* - Will be accepting toiletries and non-perishable food donations for Central Texas fire victims all week. 7709 East Ben White Boulevard. (512) 386-8826.
• Austin Christian Fellowship in NW Austin; 6401 Riverplace Drive; Austin, TX 78730 Monday - Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.  (512) 381-5700.
• Austin Ridge Bible Church - 9300 Bee Cave Road; Austin, TX 78733 (Drop off in the lobby of Bldg. “B” Wednesday - Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.). 512.263.7701.
• The Solomon Group* in Southwest Austin - Collecting donations for the hundreds of fire victims and will be transporting it directly to the Red Cross later today. These families need everything...water bottles, protein bars, diapers, clothes, etc. Drop at our National Headquarters today (9/6) until 9:30 p.m. 5508 Hwy 290 West Suite 300. 512-458-2274 hit 0 to talk to Susan. 
• Riverbend Church* - Accepting donations of gift cards to local restaurants, grocery stores and places where people can get necessities. The office is accepting them between 9 and 4 Tuesday through Thursday and 9 - noon on Friday. You may bring them to the involvement center on Sunday as well. 512-327-3540. 4214 N. Capital Of Texas Hwy., Austin, TX 78746.
• The Oasis on Lake Travis* - A drop site for Steiner Ranch evacuees. Austin Christian Fellowship is asking for bottled water, flashlights with batteries, toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shaving products, shampoo, etc.), heavy trash bags, and work gloves. If you are in that area please drop off at The Oasis.  6550 Comanche Trail.
• Texas PRN* - Donation drop site for water, Gatorade, canned foods, household items in useable condition, clothing (all sizes, in clean and useable condition), diapers, baby formula, packages of socks, toiletries. 3409 Executive Center Drive Suite #128 Austin, TX 78731. 512.346.7700  Scott, Melissa or Christina will be able to help you. Our office hours are Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.
• Clothing Drive - The Bartlett Real Estate Group, Keller Williams, has a storage facility behind our office located at 6816 FM 620 N next to the Boat House Grill. I will have bins labeling by size and gender and will be there later this afternoon (9/6) and all day tomorrow accepting all donations. Please pass this along to get the word out. Rider at Contact Stacey 512-423-8122!
• Akins High School* - Collecting non-perishable food items and clothing. 10701 South 1st Street, Austin.
• Amy's Ice Cream - Soco - Running a donation drive at St. Edward's location (Super South) - they *really* need Gatorade & baby formula! 
• FIAT of Austin* - Collecting water, Gatorade, and snacks for firefighters in Bastrop. Bring your donations by Tuesday, September 6. They will deliver on Wednesday! Located in The Domain.
• Rudy's* - This Wednesday (Sept 7th), KLBJ AM will be collecting items for wildfire evacuees at the Rudy's locations IN AUSTIN on 183 and IN ROUND ROCK on I-35. They will be accepting cash and goods from 6:00 am – 7:00 pm. Please drop off anything you wish to donate at these locations.
• Hoppin' House* - Hosting a toy drive for fire victims.  Drop off a new, unwrapped toy at either of their locations: Lakeway and South Lamar.  Monetary donations will also be accepted and used to buy more toys to donate. The drive will continue through the end of September.  Go here for details.

Bastrop:

• Bastrop Christian Ministerial Alliance* - 512-332-8977 or 512-332-8661 (the donation hotline). Donations can be dropped off at 704 Hwy 71 W. According to the hotline, what they need most is monetary donations.  Monetary donations can be mailed to BCMA, P.O. 876, Bastrop, TX 78602.
• Animal feed donations - We need feed for all the animals housed now. All feed for livestock can be dropped off at Texas Lost Pines Riding Club there are people there to accept hay, grain and any feed for livestock as well as buckets, feeders, etc. Small animal donations can be dropped off at Buckle Bunnies Saloon Bastrop, cat food, dog food, kennels etc. 

Buda:

• Cabela's - The donation drop-off site will be on the side parking lot of Cabela’s at 15570 Interstate-35 South in Buda. The biggest needs right now for those fighting the fires are bottled water, sports drinks, food bars, body wipes and towels. Also needed by residents affected by the fires, in addition to bottled water and sports drinks, are: clothing of all sizes, new and in-package undergarments, baby needs (diapers, ready-to-drink formula, wipes, etc.), toiletries, elderly needs, new sheets and pillows, towels, pet food.  Monetary and perishable foods will not be accepted.
• Fellowship Church SW offices in Buda - 3870 FM 967; Buda, TX 78610 Tuesday-Friday 9 am – 5pm. (512) 312-2131.

Cedar Park:

• Cedar Park Police Department* - 911 Quest Parkway, Cedar Park. Donate water and gatorade for firefighters on Tuesday, September 6, from 8 - 5. (512) 260-4600.
• Hill Country Bible Church NW* - Taking specific donations from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. all week. Looking only for diapers and wipes, new socks and underwear for men, women and children, coloring books, children's games, stuffed toys (new), cleaning products, heavy duty trash bags, work gloves.  Also, to provide for local firefighters, they are looking for donations of bottled water, prepackaged snacks, hand wipes, saline nasal spray, eye drops. 12124 Ranch Road 620 North (Address for GPS: 3351 Little Elm Trail, Cedar Park). 

Georgetown:

• Community Montessori School* -  Taking donations for fire victims today. They have a volunteer pilot (parent of a student) who is making deliveries to the Bastrop centers. They will be collecting donations all week. 500 Pleasant Valley Drive, Georgetown. 512.863.7920.
• Celebration Church - Accepting donations from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. through Friday, September 9. 1202 Rabbit Hill Road, Georgetown.  (512) 763-3000.
• Roberts Printing Company or Click Computers - We are collecting donations for central Texas fire victims and Firefighters. SPECIFICALLY~ Blankets, Pillows, Pet food, Water, Gator-aid, Non-perishable food items, Diapers, Chap Stick, Clothes, & Shoes.

Hutto:

• Lifepointe Fellowship Church - Taking donations for Bastrop. Bedding, clothing, towels, toiletries, bottled water, dog food, diapers (and other baby supplies).  Anything will help. All donations will be taken to Bastrop tomorrow morning. Please drop off at our office and we will get supplies to the locations. 1451 Carl Stern Blvd.  Hutto, TX  78634. (512) 759-2573. 
• Hutto McDonalds off of Hwy 79* - We are taking donations for the Distribution Center for Victims of Bastrop County Fires. At this time it seems like they need towels, washcloths, toiletry items, clothing and diapers/baby needs etc. You may drop these items off at Hutto McDonald's. We will have a box set up in our lobby. We will get them to the distribution center. Please spread the word.
• Eriselda's Salon & Boutique* - Collecting donations on Tuesday until 6 p.m., on Wednesday and Thursday until 8 p.m. 103 Jim Cage Lane, Hutto, TX 78634.  Ph: 512-759-9970.
• Faith Family Services - Picking up clothing and food donations for delivery to area pantries and organizations in direct contact with victims. They are also coordinating emergency housing with area homes. For more information, email faithfamilyhomes@yahoo.com or call 210-334-1708. Drop-off locations for donations: 103 Jim Cage Lane, Hutto, TX 78634.

Pflugerville:

• Paul Mitchell the School Austin* - Taking donations of clothing (clean), toys (not stuffed animals), canned food, dog/cat food and feed for horses that have been displaced because of the fire. We are open until 10 p.m. so you can bring by your donations at anytime! 15635 Vision Drive Suite 107, Pflugerville, TX 78660. 512-251-1644 for directions.

Round Rock:

• Dell Diamond*- The Dell Diamond, home of the Express, is a central drop-off point for household items and clothing intended for victims of the fires. All items can be dropped off at The Railyard, the official team store of the Express, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays and during upcoming playoff games.
• Anchor-Ventana Glass* - Accepting donations Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. at their Chisholm Trail location.  They will take all donations except non-perishable food items. 1609 Chisholm Trail, Suite 100. 512.388.9400 and ask for Christy.
• Angela Johnson* - A fire victim herself last year, Angela is collecting and distributing clothing and items (no cash). Her contact number 740-6096. Accepting non-cash donations only. 3434 Yogi Berra Way (near Dell Diamond) in Lion's Crossing. Biggest needs right now are for pillows, blankets, toiletry items, school supplies and pet food. 
• 620 Cafe & Bakery* - Accepting donations of water, Gatorade, diapers, formula and more.  All donations will be given to the Red Cross. 910 Round Rock Avenue.  
• Applebees La Frontera* - A drop location for water, non perishable food and paper goods. Accepting donations daily.  (512) 388-7353. 2700 Parker Road, Round Rock.
• St. William Catholic Church* - Drop-off donations in the St. William Pavilion between 7:30am - 9:00pm. Click here for a list of items requested. 620 Round Rock West Drive.
• Rudy's* - This Wednesday (Sept 7th), KLBJ AM will be collecting items for wildfire evacuees at the Rudy's locations IN AUSTIN on 183 and IN ROUND ROCK on I-35. They will be accepting cash and goods from 6:00 am – 7:00 pm. Please drop off anything you wish to donate at these locations.

Smithville:

• Old Wind's Dollar General Store - Accepting clothing donations.  210 Main Street.

Taylor:

• Oasis Christian Church is opening up their doors to any Bastrop and surrounding area evacuees. We are here to help with shelter and necessities. If you know of any families in need please contact Elsa 512-923-9943 or Frances 512-775-8277. Oasis is located at 121 E. 2nd. Street Taylor, Texas. We are also accepting donations: water,non perishables,air mattress,blankets,pillows any help is greatly appreciated.

Temple:

• Cavender's Boot City 
• Heart of Texas Gymnastics in Temple Tx is taking donations of water and Gatorade for these firefighters! Please come by and help! 6110 S. General Bruce Dr. Temple TX 76502. (254) 228-6038