GALVESTON — The city of Galveston has created a donation management program to respond to the community’s needs following Hurricane Ike.
The program will provide an effective channel to receive, review and disburse public offers of volunteer services, goods and funding to support the island’s disaster recovery efforts.
The Donation Management Program will facilitate assistance requests from the community to help clean up their homes; offers from volunteers, individuals or groups, to help with recovery efforts, and donations of goods or funds from individuals, groups and public and private organizations to support disaster recovery efforts.
Residents who would like to request assistance cleaning their property are asked to do one of the following: register between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the needs request table in the case management center of the Disaster Recovery Center, located in the Island Community Center, 4700 Broadway; call 409-797-3710, or e-mail volunteer(at)cityofgalveston.org.
Those interested in volunteering their time and talents to help Galveston recover are asked to do one of the following: register between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday at the Volunteer Reception Center located on the second floor of Galveston’s city hall, 823 Rosenberg; call 409-797-3710, or e-mail volunteer(at)cityofgalveston.org.
Anyone who would like to donate goods or funds may call 409-797-3650; e-mail donations(at)cityofgalveston.org, or mail donations to Hurricane Ike Trust Fund, city of Galveston P.O. Box 779 Galveston, TX 77553-0779.
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Rosenberg Library Offers Mobile Story Time
GALVESTON — Rosenberg Library is offering a mobile story time while the library building is under repair.
The children’s librarians will bring a story time to the children of Galveston residents who call and make arrangements.
They will share books and stories, songs and laughter.
Call 409-789-8890 or e-mail kstanley(at)rosenberg-library.org.
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GHF To Discuss Recovery Of Historic Homes
GALVESTON — Galveston Historical Foundation will have a meeting at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Garten Verein, 2704 Ave. O, to answer questions concerning the restoration and reconstruction of historic homes damaged by Hurricane Ike.
Staff members from the City of Galveston Planning Department will be present as well.
There is no charge to attend. The meeting will address the unsubstantiated rumors that have been circulating throughout the city about appropriate and inappropriate ways to remediate flood damage to historic homes.
Many homeowners are unaware of how much historic fabric can be saved through appropriate remediation.
Experts will be on hand to help citizens understand what they can appropriately and safely save.
The format will be largely question and answer.
Call the Galveston Historical Foundation at 409-765-7834.
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UTMB Urgent-care Pediatric Facility Open
GALVESTON — A 24-hour urgent care facility for children is open at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.
The urgent care facility is adjacent to the university’s Emergency Department on 800 Harborside Drive.
It will be fully staffed with pediatricians and pediatric nurses to care for common illnesses and injuries such as sprains, coughs, colds, fevers, dehydration and diarrhea.
Walk-in patients are welcome.
John Sealy Hospital is not admitting patients due to damage caused by Hurricane Ike.
Individuals with serious injuries are being transported to nearby medical facilities for inpatient care.
Call 409-772-2222.
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Veterans Organization Seeking Veterans In Need
The Texas Veterans Resource Commission, a national nonprofit organization, has begun the arduous task of identifying all veterans and families of veterans in the state of Texas who were negatively affected by Hurricane Ike.
The TVRA is requesting information on the needs of those individuals who qualify for grant assistance based on their personal losses due to the storm, with the emphasis being first on displaced individuals and families, requiring housing, clothing and medical services.
If you or someone you know are a veteran or surviving family members, please express your needs in writing to one of the staff members listed below.
Include your name, address, or contact location, service number, and branch of service and discharge date.
Javier Salazar, CEO/Co-Founder, 3045 Marina Bay Drive, League City, TX 77573; Dave Shaw, President/Co-Founder, 2714 Carroll Ave., Dallas, TX 75216 or T L McMahon, 2602 Ave. K, Galveston, TX 77550.
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AARP Tax-Aide Seeks Volunteers
AARP Tax-Aide, the nation’s largest, free, volunteer-run tax counseling preparation service is looking for individuals who want to learn tax law, basic income tax preparation and help others.
Each year from Feb. 1 through April 15, AARP Tax Aide volunteers prepare tax returns for middle and low-income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 60 and older.
Volunteers are needed to help as tax counselors, greeters, publicity and other positions in this important activity.
Individuals volunteering as tax counselors need to have good computer skills to assist with electronic filing. Tax-Aide asks volunteers to commit to a minimum of four hours per week from Feb. 1 to April 15, in addition to time spent training in January.
Tax-Aide will have a number of free tax preparation sites in Harris, Galveston, and Brazoria counties in addition to Greater Houston and surrounding areas.
For a number of years, one of the larger and more successful sites was at the Rosenberg Library.
If the library is unable to accommodate Tax-Aide due to damage, there will be another location in Galveston to serve the low-income individuals and seniors.
Tax-Aide volunteers get a great deal of satisfaction from helping people deal with the challenges of preparing their tax forms.
They receive comprehensive training in cooperation with the Internal Revenue Service and are reimbursed for program-related, out-of-pocket expenses, such as mileage and postage.
For more information about volunteering, call toll-free 888-OURAARP or visit the Web site at aarp.org/taxaide and someone will contact you.
