Do you want to help the Greater Houston area recover from Hurricane Ike? Check out these opportunities to volunteer and/or donate:

M.D. Anderson in desperate need of blood donors

The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, the largest transfusion hospital in the nation and possibly the world, needs blood and platelet donations to make up for about a dozen blood drives that were cancelled this past week.  And bored teens could be a solution.

According to the M. D. Anderson Blood Bank, teens are among the most generous givers and because of their youth the majority are rarely taking prescription drugs that restrict donating.  Just this week, Clear Creek High School cancelled its blood drive because of Hurricane Ike. It was a drive that in the past has yielded about 300 units of whole blood.  M. D. Anderson was banking on that drive along with at least 11 others. Consequently, three M. D. Anderson donor rooms are working very hard to make up the difference. Teens who want to give should be at least 17 years old, have a valid identification, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good general health.

In addition to the cancelled blood drives from last weekend and this week, M. D. Anderson donor rooms were closed over the weekend.  Because Houston airports were closed, no blood shipments from other blood banks were able to be shipped. 

M. D. Anderson continues to transfuse patients with whole blood and platelets and major surgeries are on the books for the coming weeks.  A number of complicated, multi-team operations requiring 40 to 60 units of blood are scheduled. 

In keeping with the city’s curfew, M. D. Anderson has three blood donor rooms open until 5 p.m. today and the remainder of the week.  For donors who wish to give platelets, a process that takes about two hours, an appointment should be scheduled. 

Blood transfusions are vital to keeping our patients’ blood counts up so they can continue their treatment. Some leukemia patients who have undergone bone marrow transplants may require up to 400 units of blood and platelets over the course of their treatment. Plus, donors will be helping not only M. D. Anderson patients but  a number of cancer patients who have been under treatment at UTMB and who will be transferring their care to M. D. Anderson soon.

 Volunteer Houston matching volunteers with those who need them

Area residents and community-oriented agencies who want to help the Houston area recover from Hurricane Ike are being encouraged to contact Volunteer Houston by email at volunteerhouston@gmail.com.  The special email was set up Wednesday specifically to help match area volunteers with the neediest causes.

A special phone number established just this morning, 713 853-8802, has already yielded over 1,500 phone calls – thus the need for the new email address as well.  Area citizens are encouraged to use the email option if at all possible.
“This is what Volunteer Houston does best – matching willing hearts with the best and neediest causes,” said Volunteer Houston executive director Carrie Moffitt.  “We’ve all been proud of the strong cooperation we’ve seen from our public officials, but the people of Texas know instinctively that each of us has a critical role to play in this recovery as well. Volunteer Houston can serve as a valuable clearinghouse of relief efforts on the one hand, and big-hearted residents who want to help on the other.”

The needs of our community change on a daily basis, but some of the most urgent needs today include manning the food and ice distribution points, food distribution to the elderly, and clean-up efforts in Hermann Park and the Houston Zoo.

Humane Society of Montgomery County They are in need of volunteers to help clean and care for the animals. They still have no power. The volunteers and staff have been there 24/7 taking care of them. They need volunteers to help walk the dogs or bring food for the animals and/or workers.

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center

They are asking individuals to replenish the blood supply following Hurricane Ike

Blood collections resumed Tuesday after a four-day hiatus due to Hurricane Ike. Individuals are needed to donate at this time to help replenish the blood supply and ensure an adequate blood supply is available for patients in need. Currently, 10 Neighborhood Donor Centers are open, and several mobile blood drives are open to the public every day. Call (713) 790-1200 or visit www.giveblood.org for more information.

Additionally, all Commit for Life donors who give blood now through Sept. 23 will receive 300 bonus points for the Commit for Life store, which can be viewed at our Web site, www.giveblood.org.

These locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, and Saturday, Sept. 20:

Bill T. Teague (Headquarters) 
1400 La Concha Lane (Reliant Stadium area)

Champions  
6935 FM 1960 West, Suite A (at Cutten Road)

Cy-Fair  
11811 FM 1960 West, Suite 120

Gulfgate  
546 Gulfgate Center (behind Chuck E. Cheese)

Humble/Kingwood 
9616 FM 1960 Bypass (Commons at Deerbrook shopping center)

Katy  
1575 S. Grand Parkway, Suite 600 (at Highland Knolls)

Pasadena  
5124 Fairmont Parkway (next to J.C. Penney)

Sugar Land  
4949 Sweetwater Blvd. (next to Kroger)

Westchase  
10001 Westheimer, Suite 2117 (Carillon Shopping Center)

The Woodlands  
3091 College Park Drive, Suite 130

Noah's Ark

Point of Distribution Centers (PODS) and arae non-profit agencies and shelters

Individuals who are interested in volunteering can assist at various  locations throughout Houston and Harris County.

To volunteer or for more information, please call the volunteer line at 713.853.8802 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.  Non-profit  agencies needing volunteers may also call the volunteer line with their requests.

Special Pals animal shelter

This is a rescue shelter that has taken in animals from Kemah, Galveston and the Bay Area shelters.  Special Pals usually has approximately 70 animals in their shelter and currently has about 200. 

They are in need of volunteers to help with 8:00 a.m. feedings, other assistance and the following supplies:

Bleach

Dry dog food - Purina, Beneful, Pedigree small bites

Cat litter

Drinking water for volunteers

Financial aide

If any viewers can help, please contact the shelter at 281-579-7387.

Special Pals is located at:

3830 Greenhouse Road

Houston, TX 77084T

And if you know of another way to help, send the info to web@khou.com and we will post it here!

American Red Cross

The most useful donation for the SPCA currently is a monetary donation. You can help by visiting www.houstonspca.org.

POD centers

If you want to help at a POD center, you can call the church or facility where it is located and see what help they need, or you can just show up and offer whatever services you can provide. 

The POD at the Houston Community College Southeast College off the Gulf Freeway near Woodridge needs volunteers to help man the facility. 

Catholic Charities

Donations for Ike are urgently needed to assist with recovery efforts. To donate visit www.catholiccharities.org.

Houston Food Bank needs volunteers to sort, process and box food and other necessities for distribution.

Volunteers age 8 and older are needed between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Houston Food Bank, which is located at 3811 Eastex Freeway.

Volunteers can register in advance at http://www.houstonfoodbank.org or in person when they arrive.

Volunteers are asked to wear closed-toed shoes and shirts with sleeves.

If you would like to donate food, water or essential items, drop them off at the facility.  The most needed items are canned tuna or chicken packed in water, canned stews and pasta with meat, peanut butter, canned fruits in light syrup, natural applesauce, 100 percent juice in cans or boxes (no glass, please), canned veggies, tomatoes, tomato sauce, soups with meat or beans, cereals, cereal bars, pasta, spaghetti, macaroni, noodles and packages of dry beans.

For more information, please contact the Houston Food Bank at 713-223-3700.

Rescue Bank -- food source for animals

Rescue Bank, the Houston-based “food bank” for animal rescue and adoption groups, has started a shelter restoration fund to help member groups recover from Hurricane Ike and care for the increased numbers of rescued and recovered animals.

Tax-deductible donations can be made at any Washington Mutual branch by specifying “rescue bank” to the teller.

Rescue bank is a cooperative group of more than 45 Houston-Galveston area non-profit shelter and foster organizations.

Created in response to Hurricane Katrina, rescue bank operates on the “food bank” model, collecting and distributing more than a quarter million pounds of pet food and supplies during the last two years.

More information is available at www.rescuebank.org.