Variety of Volunteers Needed for Recovery

Contact Volunteer Houston at 713.965.0031 or visit www.volunteerhouston.org for more details.
Additional opportunities:
• St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital's Blood Center: http://www.sleh.com/sleh/Section004/index.cfm?pagename=BloodDonorCenter
 
• Fort Bend County area: www.volunteerfortbend.org
 
• The Houston-area Disaster District Command of the Texas Department of State Health Services needs volunteers to drive home-bound patients for dialysis or other medical needs. Call 281.517.1319, ext 3219 or 3220, 24-hours a day.
 
• The End Hunger Network, 2445 North Freeway, is packaging food for distribution to needy families and shut-ins impacted by Ike. Volunteers age 12 and up are needed 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. weekdays. Show up to work or call Patricia Taylor at 713.532.3663. Large groups should call first.
 
• MD Anderson Cancer Center is in urgent need of blood and platelet donations for cancer patients. Call 713.792.7777 to make an appointment.
 
• The Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce needs volunteers to pass out supplies at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 1612 Meadow Edge Lane in Spring. Call the Chamber at 281.440.4160 or Barbara Thomason by cell at 713.392.0090. 
 
• The Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center says donations are especially needed now because of a four-day hiatus forced by Hurricane Ike. www.giveblood.org
 
• The Houston Parks and Recreation Department seeks volunteers to help clean up Hermann and Memorial Parks. Volunteers are also needed to organize clean-ups of their neighborhood parks. For more information, call 713.222.5052.
 
• The Harris County Citizen Corps: www.harriscountycitizencorps.com
 
• The Houston Food Bank needs volunteers to put together food packages and pass them out. They say the need for volunteers will continue for weeks. The food bank is located at 3811 Eastex Fwy. Call 713.223.3700 for more information, or simply show up to work.
 
• The United Way of Greater Houston is asking anyone who would like to volunteer -- as well as those who need assistance -- in the Houston-Galveston area to call 2-1-1 Texas / United Way HELPLINE or 713.957.4357 Specialists will connect potential volunteers with local agencies in need of help. www.unitedwayhouston.org
 
• The American Red Cross accepts volunteers to fill a wide range of disaster relief services including:  driving, bilingual support, health and mental health services, mass feeding and  shelter work (sheltering). Training and orientation provided. 
For more information:  Call 713.526.8300
Online:  http://www.houstonredcross.org
 
• Catholic Charities of Houston: Contact Nancy Mercado at 713.305.8268.
 
 • The Beacon, operated by the Cathedral Health and Outreach Ministries, is opening its doors to Hurricane Ike victims. The homeless ministry serves hot lunches Fridays-Mondays at 1212 Prairie downtown. Hot showers and laundry facilities are also available. Call 713.220.9741 or 713.220.9737 to volunteer.
 
• The Islamic Circle of North America (SGH) is looking for volunteers to help with relief efforts at the ISGH North Center, 11815 Adel Road. For information, call 832.275.0786.
 
• St. Vincent de Paul has activated its home visit program to the elderly and sick known as "Arms Wide Open." To volunteer, yayaministries@svdphouston.org or register online at www.svdphouston.org/
 
• Every Saturday for the next few weeks the Buffalo Bayou Partnership will be having bayou clean ups focused on repairing the damage that Ike left in his wake. If you would like to be placed on a weekly email list for information on upcoming projects, please email
Jessalyn at jballard@buffalobayou.org.