Home Depot Lends a Helping Hand

American Red Cross volunteers Conrado and Alicia Soto prepare Home Depot buckets with cleaning supplies for Bastrop residents.

Soon after the Central Texas wildfires broke out, the Home Depot was quick to offer a helping hand. As a member of the American Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program, the Home Depot plays a crucial role helping the American Red Cross in disaster relief efforts.

The American Red Cross was able to set up a bulk distribution center at the Bastrop Home Depot where Red Cross volunteers passed out essential necessities, like cleaning supplies, sifters, and shovels, to Bastrop residents affected by the wildfires.

The shovels, cleaning supplies, and material for the sifters were purchased by the American Red Cross, but we could have not done it without the Home Depot. Not only did the Home Depot allow us to set up a distribution center at their Bastrop location, but many of their employees volunteered their time to build the sifters that were handed out to the residents.

Volunteer Conrado Soto helps Bastrop resident, Humberto Castelan, sift through the ashes of what once used to be his home.

As simple as these sifters may seem, they can help residents look for lost valuables and family heirlooms they may have thought were lost in the fires. To learn more about how these sifters helped area residents cope with the wildfires you can visit: Sifting Through the Ashes

Music for a Good Cause

 

As an intern for the Red Cross I got the great opportunity to attend one of the many Red Cross fundraisers being held in the Austin area. Being a music lover I jumped at the opportunity to check out some local bands that wanted to do something for their community. 

Local Austinites, Amarah Ulghani and Talib Abdullahi, wanted to do something to help their community and those affected by the recent wildfires in central Texas, so in a week they called their friends and came up with Music for Bastrop, which was held Thursday, September 15 at the Spider House Ballroom. 

Music for Bastrop featured Amarah’s band, The Sour Notes, and 7 other bands. When talking to Amarah I could tell how much she wanted to help the Bastrop community and how close she felt to the American Red Cross.

“We wanted to do something to help the community and we wanted the money to go towards an organization that we felt would do a great job. Having volunteered with the Red Cross before, I felt that this would be a great organization to donate to.”

 All night the bands were taking clothing and food donations as well as other necessities to be donated to the Central Texas Food Bank. All cover proceeds were donated to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund as well as with other monetary donations collected. In total, this amazing benefit concert raised over $2,000. 

Overall, this was such a fun experience. It was awesome to see how motivated young people were to help out our community, and I got to hear a lot of new bands that I can't wait to see again. Definitely a successful night!

Nana's Garden

“This is it,” said Shirley Ellett.  “This is all that’s left of ‘Nana’s Garden.’”

The Texas grandmother of two points to the only stone on her scorched land that appears to be untouched by recent wildfires.

“My granddaughters painted this rock for me,” explained Ellett as she struggled to lift the heavy stone.  “And when we came home we saw we had lost everything.  Everything, but this.”

Ellett is surrounded by family, including her grandkids, and she’s covered in a blanket she received from the American Red Cross.   She’s using the blanket to keep herself dry from an afternoon storm that rolled into Bastrop County this weekend.

“The rain would have been nice a week ago,” she said.  Thankfully I had this blanket inside my kit.”  Also in the Red Cross backpack is a flashlight that can also charge a cell phone, a first aid kit and gloves.

“This has been wonderful,” said Ellett standing next to her daughter.  “Yesterday we were able to get a sifter, trash bags and snacks at the Red Cross station down the street. Thank you so much.”

Wildfires across Texas have destroyed more than 1,500 homes and left many wondering where they’ll go from here.  That’s why more than 340 volunteers and staff with the American Red Cross have spread across the Lone Star State handing out comfort kits, feeding affected families and supporting overnight shelters.

In addition to providing counseling to those who have been affected by the fires, Red Cross volunteers have teamed up with the Southern Baptist Convention to serve more than 6,000 meals in Bastrop County alone.  

Ellett says this is home and she plans to rebuild on her land here in the Paige community.

“I have my family. We’re strong.  We’ll be fine”, she said.

Astoria Entertainment Joins Us for Bulk Distribution and to Encourage Community Involvement

Early last week I received a call from Charlie Bewley asking how he, Matt Dallas, Steven Grayhm, and Jupiter Baudot with the documentary project  Into the Heart of America: A Soldier's Story and Astoria Entertainment could get involved in our response to the devastating fires in our area while they were in Austin. Charlie was adamant that they wanted to work and raise awareness about Red Cross disaster response.

On Saturday, September 10th, I was able to take them out to our bulk distribution site at The Home Depot in Bastrop and put them to work handing out cleaning supplies, shovels, gloves, masks, and sifters to help affected families.

 Here are Charlie Bewley, Jupiter Baudot, George Rice, myself, Steven Grayhm, and Matt Dallas at our bulk distribution site preparing to help Central Texans in need.

 Matt and Steven directed traffic through our drive-through bulk distribution center so that our volunteers (including Charlie and George) could put the clean up supplies and equipment right into their cars and trucks. They talked with disaster victims and did a great job helping our clients feel heard and cared for during this difficult time. 

All of the guys worked hard and made our clients and volunteers smile while really helping us achieve our mission and be there for families in need. 

I hope that you'll join our famous friends and volunteer to be there the next time disaster strikes

AMERICAN RED CROSS OF CENTRAL TEXAS RESPONDS TO BRUSH FIRE IN BASTROP COUNTY

At 4:00 pm, the American Red Cross of Central Texas was notified by the Bastrop County Sheriffs department to provide canteen services for a brush fire off of FM 2336 and Oak Hill Cemetery Road. Over 200 acres were affected and 65 emergency responders were on the scene. The American Red Cross of Central Texas Mass Care Action Team was activated and responded within an hour. Billy's Pit BBQ donated meals for all the responders

BASTROP GOLF TOURNAMENT RAISES NEEDED FUNDS FOR CHAPTER

 Ben Pearson, Bill Dorman, Steve Thompson, Lane Pearson and Jose Dominguez

The 3rd Annual Bastrop County American Red Cross Best Ball Golf Tournament was held April 17th at Lost Pines Golf Course in Bastrop.  The event raised more than $1,600 for the local chapter.  Thank you to Steve and Elaine Thompson, Joe Cook, and all our wonderful volunteers who helped make this event a success.   

Ron Brooks and Debbie Hilliard

Fore!

BASTROP PUBLIC HEALTH EXERCISE & VACCINATIONS

From Kevin and Sandy McCoy, Volunteers

This week the Mass Care Action Team (MCAT) received the call to support a Public Health effort in Bastrop County. The call came from Mike Fischer the Emergency Management Coordinator for Bastrop County.

Our mission was to provide coffee, water and snacks to Texas Department of State Health Services workers and other emergency staff & volunteers as they offered flu vaccinations in Bastrop County. The event was hosted by Bastrop school districts, the Texas State Health Department, and Bastrop Emergency Management.

We started before Dawn to gather the supplies we needed. HEB donated doughnuts and a cake to the effort.

 

We were set up by 7:30AM and we were visited very quickly by state health workers who were getting set up to begin seeing the public.

 

 

(Yolanda Holmes of Texas Dept. of State Health Services gets a cup of coffee)

I was very interested in the number of young CERT volunteers in Bastrop. It turns out that they have put together a program with ROTC and HOSA (Health Occupation Students of America) members to give them CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training. This volunteer effort was their first deployment. AND they were very hungry and thirsty as all young adults are.

 

 

Thank you for the team that responded on such short notice: Curtis Childers, Susan McGinnis, Hilde Sanders. Thanks also to Red Crossers Steve Hailey who came by to support us, and Ron Hilliard who was wearing his hat as Volunteer Coordinator for the effort!

Thanks also to Steve and Elaine Thompson who were working Nature Fest that day, but gave their time and effort to get us set up and to the right location! Also last but not least Wray Hooper helped out the day before getting this event and our Chapter stores restocked.

CEO UPDATE

From Elaine Acker, CEO

Happy Monday to all,
I hope you all have a short holiday week ahead. Here’s what’s going on here at the Chapter:

Bastrop Fire Response this past weekend
On a sad note, there was house fire this past weekend in Bastrop. Some family members made it out safely, but two elderly people died. Volunteer Elaine Thompson continues to be our rock in Bastrop County, and along with her team, she will be coordinating with the family and emergency services to provide any needed assistance.

Volunteer Recognition and Annual Meeting Set for August 23
Save the Date! We’re confirmed for our Red Cross chapter annual meeting and Volunteer Recognition event. It’s Sunday, August 23 at the Dell Diamond. We’ll conduct a little business, celebrate the amazing volunteers without whom we would not be able to deliver services to this community, and enjoy an All-American outing. This event will be big fun for the whole family, so I hope everyone – staff, board, and volunteers - can join us. We’ll be sending a “Save the Date” note to volunteers this week.

New Employee Announced in Emergency Services
Lane Pearson, who has been working in Emergency Services as a contractor, is now a permanent employee. Lane has accepted the Emergency Services Response role effective immediately, and we value his tremendous dedication to the Red Cross mission, and the broad knowledge he brings to the role. Please join me in welcoming Lane (permanently!) to the team.

America’s Charities Workplace Giving Campaigns
I’d like to thank our board members who came out to the America’s Charities reception on Tuesday evening: Michael, Calvin, Felicia, Stacy Armijo, and Judge Shepperd came and spent time with Marty and me learning more about opportunities with workplace giving. Several staff members attended the America’s Charities annual meeting and speaker’s training the following day and I think we’re all looking forward to the fall campaigns.

Watch FOX News on Wednesday, July 1
Marty McKellips is scheduled to do a morning interview on FOX on Wednesday to talk about Fourth of July safety. There’s BBQ involved. Sounds good – even at 7 a.m.

Luling Watermelon Thump
Volunteer Dave Crittenden braved the heat to represent the Chapter at the annual Luling Watermelon Thump (pictured below). Dave has worked hard to raise visibility and volunteers for the Red Cross in Caldwell County, and we appreciate everything he does for this Chapter. We have plans to increase outreach through community events in other counties, so if you have suggestions about especially high-profile events, please let us know.

Holiday
The Chapter will celebrate the Fourth of July by closing the offices on Friday, July 3.

I wish everyone a SAFE and fun weekend!

One World Camp Slideshow
Click on the image to view the slideshow.

DONATE TO SUPPORT PROGRAMS LIKE THESE 

2009 BASTROP GOLF TOURNAMENT

Though the weekend started off with severe rain, thunder and lightning, the day turned into perfect golf weather. Big thanks to all the volunteers, players and sponsors who came out to benefit the American Red Cross of Central Texas!
Check out all the photos here

 

BASTROP WILDFIRES

The Central Texas Red Cross was first called by local officials @ approximately 3pm on Saturday. Local Bastrop volunteers responded with canteening support for the first responders. When the extent of the disaster became clear we opened a shelter at the Smithville Recreation Center. We provided cots, blankets, personal hygiene items and the local community pitched in with home cooked food. The first night we sheltered 27 people.  

The shelter remained open through Sunday while local officials began to provide information about which homes had been destroyed and which had survived. Red Cross mental health counselors were on had to provide comfort. Red Cross caseworkers came in at noon to help clients with lost clothing, shoes and other items. By Sunday evening only 6 guests remained at the shelter. On Monday those guests departed as the last of the roads were opened and the sheltering operation was closed. Monday evening Red Cross caseworkers continued to help victims with lost items such as clothing and prescription medication. 

The Red Cross is grateful to the local community for the generous support they showed to their neighbors in this crisis. The Fire Victims Assistance Relief Program, a private group operating out of Bastrop, is accepting donations of goods to aid victims of the recent fires. Please call Amber Wilson at (512) 297-6800 for more information.