Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

Our hearts and prayers are with all of our neighbors down in south Texas affected by the storms and flooding due to Hurricane Harvey. We are so thankful for our generous community members that are stepping up to help those in need who have lost homes and businesses and livestock. We have compiled a list of local efforts to take supplies or coordinate work groups to go help where needed. 

 We have also received several calls from hurricane evacuees finding refuge in Stephenville
that are needing supplies and support. 
If you know of any additional local relief efforts to assist the storm victims both in Stephenville and in South Texas, please let us know.

We will be continually updating our website with ways to give and help the recovery
& rebuilding efforts as we are made aware of them.

Many of those in need do not have a place to store a ton of donations
until they can begin their clean-up efforts & rebuilding their homes.
Money is one of the most helpful things that can be donated at this time. 
Be aware that, unfortunately, scams do take place during times of disaster.

LOCAL RELIEF

Are you a hurricane evacuee taking refuge in Stephenville? Visit the following locations to get hometown help:

Grace Place  (365 W. Tarleton St.) 254-965-4022
Grace Place is First Baptist's benevolence ministry to Erath County residents helping those in need.
Operating hours are:
Mon.  12:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Tue.     9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Wed.    9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Thu.     9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Fri.       Closed

Items Available:
     • Food
     • Clothing
 

Health & Human Services Commission (2174 W. South Loop) 254-965-3138
Open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Hurricane victims are welcome come by to pick up any supplies needed.

Items Available:
     • Gently Used Clothing
     • Personal Hygiene Items
     • Temporary Emergency Food Stamps

H.O.P.E., Inc. (1617 E. Washington) 254-965-2700
Food Pantry MWF 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Thrift Store TWF 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Items Available:
     • Food
     • Clothes

The Pantry & More (2345 Hwy 67) 254-592-9696
There is no cost to receive help from The Pantry & More.

Items Available:
     • Food
     • Clothing
     • Toiletries
     • And much more!

---

 

LOCAL RED CROSS CERTIFIED SHELTERS

Double N Cowboy Church 
7202 E. State Hwy 6
Dublin, TX 76446

Rocky Point Baptist Church
3595 CR 178
Stephenville, TX  76401

Valley Grove Baptist Church
1731 S. US Hwy 281
Stephenville, TX  76401

LOCAL DROP OFF LOCATIONS

 

Ace Hardware (1491 W. South Loop) 254-965-5120
Drop-off location for FBC Stephenville. Working with Tri-Rivers Baptist Association, which is sending a mobile laundry unit to the area. The unit will aid the efforts by washing clothes for relief volunteers and locally.

Items Accepted:​
     • Liquid laundry soap

 

B&B Country Store 713-899-2004
Someone will be there 24/7 to collect items. Leaving for the coast when the trailer is full.

Items Accepted:
     • Canned Goods
     • Water
     • Cleaning Supplies
     • Blankets

 

Beans & Franks (1296 W. Washington) 254-965-4224
Drop-off location for FBC Stephenville. Working with Tri-Rivers Baptist Association, which is sending a mobile laundry unit to the area. The unit will aid the efforts by washing clothes for relief volunteers and locally.

Items Accepted:​
     • Liquid laundry soap

Cornerstone Animal Hospital (1259 W. Lingleville) 254-968-2233
Collecting animal supplies for displaced animals.

Items Accepted:
     • Animal-related supplies

Double N Cowboy Church (7207 E. State Hwy 6, Dublin) 254-445-2400

Items Accepted:
     • Non-Perishable Food Items
     • Personal Hygiene Products
     • Baby Supplies

 

Dublin Realty (129 N. Patrick, Dublin)
Will be taking all donations to the Houston area as soon as they get a load ready. Contact Melanie Eason or Darrell Laxson @ Dublin Realty 254-734-5515 or 254-485-0517.

Items Accepted: 

 

 

 

First Baptist Church of Stephenville  (555 W. Washington) 
Working with Tri-Rivers Baptist Association, which is sending a mobile laundry unit to the area. The unit will aid the efforts by washing clothes for relief volunteers and locally. They have also partnered with Lifeway Baptist in Cuero, TX to supply basic needs to help them & their surrounding area recover.

Items Accepted:​
     • Liquid laundry soap
     • Basic Supplies (toiletries, soap, toothpaste, toilet paper, non-perishable food, etc.)

 

Health & Human Services Commission (2174 W. South Loop) 254-965-3138
Open Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Accepting items for the hurricane victims coming to Stephenville. These items will be used ONLY for hurricane victims.

Items Accepted:
     • Gently Used Clothing
     • Personal Hygiene Items

 

Pet Supplies Plus (106 Christy Plaza)
Collecting items for the displaced animals. Contact them at 254-965-7387 for more info.

Items Accepted:

 

 

 

 

Smith Garage Doors (592 S. US Hwy 281) 254-968-3667
Smith Garage Doors has space to store surplus items collected between trips to south Texas.

 

Stephenville Public Library (174 N. Columbia St) 
Linda Latimer, a resident of Houston who is was staying with her daughter in Stephenville during the storm, is collecting fans for flood victims. 

Items Accepted:
     • Fans (to dry out homes)

 

Texas Legacy Insurance Group  (2289 Northwest Loop) 
Collecting donation items so they can forward them to their southernmost agency located in Seguin. Many people have broken windows with no way to keep the rain out since hardware & supply stores are virtually sold out of key supplies.

Items Accepted:

• Money collection jar at the Barry B. Thompson Student Center information desk.
  All proceeds will go towards the Student Emergency Relief Fund & the Salvation Army or Red Cross.
  
   

APPLYING FOR DISASTER-CAUSED UNEMPLOYMENT

Individuals affected by the recent severe storms in the following counties can apply for benefits online through Unemployment Benefit Services or by calling a TWC Tele-Center Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 800-939-6631: Aransas, Bee, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Harris, Jackson, Kleberg, Liberty, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, and Wharton Counties. Individuals should specify that their applications are related to the damage caused by Hurricane Harvey.

The work search requirement is waived for disaster-related regular unemployment claims and employer tax accounts are protected from any charge for such claims.

TWC is accepting applications for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) as a result of severe weather due to Hurricane Harvey. Under Presidential Disaster Declaration (FEMA 4332-DR) dated August 25, 2017, workers who lost their jobs and self-employed individuals who have been unable to work due to damage sustained from Hurricane Harvey may be eligible for relief. Applications for DUA must be submitted by September 27, 2017. TWC’s website contains more information about Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Individuals can apply for disaster unemployment benefits online through Unemployment Benefit Services or by calling a TWC Tele-Center Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 800-939-6631.

DUA is available to individuals who:

• have applied for and used all regular unemployment benefits from any state, or do not qualify for unemployment benefits; many individuals could go straight to regular UI before switching over to DUA.
• worked or were self-employed or were scheduled to begin work or self-employment in the disaster area;
• can no longer work or perform services because of physical damage or destruction to the place of employment as a direct result of the disaster;
• establish that the work or self-employment they can no longer perform was their primary source of income;
• cannot perform work or self-employment because of an injury as a direct result of the disaster; or
• became the breadwinner or major support of a household because of the death of the head of household.

To receive DUA benefits, all required documentation must be submitted within 21 days from the day the DUA application is filed.
Required documentation includes:

• Social Security number
• a copy of the most recent federal income tax form or check stubs
• or documentation to support that you were working or self-employed when the disaster occurred

Applicants must mail in or fax all required documentation within 21 days from the date of the DUA application. Send mailed documentation to:

Texas Workforce Commission
UI Support Services Department,
Attn: DUA
101 E. 15th St., N. Lamar
Austin, TX, 78778-0001

or fax it to 512-936-3250.

Job seekers may visit local Workforce Solutions offices for access to job-search resources, job postings and training programs, as well as assistance with exploring career options, résumé and application preparation, career development and more. Customers also may connect with potential employers through TWC’s online job-search engine, by visiting WorkinTexas.com.

Frequently Asked Questions From Employers: http://www.twc.state.tx.us/news/efte/hurricane-faqs.html.
These and other employment law-related questions may be directed to the toll-free hotline for employers at 1-800-832-9394, Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm.

To help kids affected by this storm, consider donating to the Texas Diaper Bank, a San Antonio based organization, who is putting together relief kits for families with very small children in need of clean diapers, or Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi. This children’s hospital is much like Cook’s Children’s Hospital in that it serves a LARGE area including much of the area where Harvey came ashore. They are currently accepting monetary donations as well as various items needed. 

---

TO HELP THE ANIMALS

Many animals were also displaced by Harvey as the SPCA of Texas is working with Austin Pets Alive! and other organizations to help the hundreds of pets uprooted by the storm. They are in need of volunteers to foster, as well as numerous supplies including, but not limited to, large plastic or metal bins with lids to store food, leashes and collars, cat litter, large brooms, cat-specific beds, and liquid laundry soap. According to one Facebook post from Austin Pets Alive!, they are not currently in need of crates & food as they have plenty at this time.

---

TO GIVE FOOD

Another way to help would be by donating to local food banks like the ones listed below: