We are receiving inquiries from citizens in our community and beyond who want to offer assistance or make donations to the Hurricane Harvey victims.  It is important that such good intentions do not create the potential for a disaster within a disaster.  Therefore people who wish to offer assistance should do so in as effective a manner as possible.

Individuals or businesses who want to provide assistance to our community should first work through their local disaster relief organizations.  (American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, The Texas Baptist Men Feeding Organization, the Adventist Community Services, the Second Harvest Food Banks, the Catholic Charities, etc.  You can find these organizations listed online under “Social Service Organizations”.

These organizations know the immediate needs of people in the affected areas, how best to meet those needs, and how to ensure assistance is appropriate, adequate, and delivered to the right places.  The disaster relief organizations can tell potential donors what is needed and how to package and transport those goods that are needed to the disaster area. Donations that arrive in the early stages of a disaster may not reach the proper people or even meet the current needs.  If donors plan to travel to the disaster area, they may find that lodging and other services are not available which may add to problems in the disaster area rather than helping.

Orange County officials want to express their gratitude for the overwhelming support they are receiving from in and around the cities, county, and states.

We have been receiving donations for the past several days and the facility we were using is getting full.  We will give you information as soon as possible on where you can bring donations so we ensure these donations are processed in and out effectively.

Thank you all for your patience and understanding as we work through these processes together to bring about a sense of normalcy to our community.