Community organizations including the Discovery Center, Texas Panhandle VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster), as well as businesses and invididuals are continuing to rally support for first responders as well as those impacted by ongoing wildfires such as the devastating fire northwest of Amarillo.
Discovery Center opens doors, holds donation drive
The Discovery Center is hosting a donation drive and offering pay-what-you-can admission for the next three days. “Our land is hurting once again, and so are the people who call it home,” said Wendy Taylor, CEO of the Discovery Center in a statement. “We may not be able to stop the fires, but we can offer a space for our community to gather, breathe, and be together.”
“We can’t do much, but we can open our doors for the community to have a space to be,” the Don Harrington Discovery Center said in a news release Tuesday, May 19. “Today through Thursday we are offering donation-based admission. Instead of the regular admission price, you can make a donation of any amount to the Discovery Center or bring in a listed item for our firefighters working tirelessly to control the fires. If you have been affected by the fire or have nothing left to give please join us anyway! Being surrounded by the community is the best way to keep morale and to support one another. If you can pay for admission or make a donation, we welcome the support. If you have nothing left to give at this moment, come play anyways.
“It’s the opening day of Dinosaurs Around The World and we wish the invitation was under better circumstances, but we are happy to share our space with the public.”
The center said donation items being accepted include Gatorade/Powerade; bottled water; Liquid IV, HydroMATE electrolyte powder, and flavored single-serve drink packets; wrapped snacks like granola bars, beef jerky, chips, mixed nuts, trail mix, and gum; individual lens wipes; alcohol swabs, saline solution, baby wipes, hand sanitizer, eye drops; and Chapstick.
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the Stinky Fire was an estimated 2,570 acres and 20% contained with forward progression stopped, as of Tuesday morning, May 19.
Panhandle VOAD directs people to resources
The Texas Panhandle VOAD posted Monday night that communities across the Texas Panhandle are continuing to respond to devastating wildfire activity, impacting portions of Potter and Swisher Counties, following significant destruction already experienced in Randall County over the past several days.
“Multiple homes have been lost, families have been displaced, and emergency response and recovery operations remain ongoing. At this time, two evacuation centers have been established for individuals and families affected by the Potter County fires.”
At the evacuation shelters, recovery partners, community organizations, and trained caseworkers are coordinating resources to assist survivors with immediate and long-term recovery needs including temporary and permanent housing navigation, food assistance, hygiene items, baby and toddler supplies, and additional support services. All individuals affected by the fires are urged to complete the Texas Division of Emergency Management’s iSTAT Damage Survey at https://damage.tdem.texas.gov/ .
The group said at this time, no spontaneous volunteers are being requested as emergency response operations remain active. Individuals interested in volunteering during organized recovery efforts may email texaspanhandlevoad@gmail.com .
Physical donations
Community members wishing to donate physical items may do so through the Downtown Women’s Center Thrift City, 812 SW 10th Ave., in Amarillo, where donations will be accepted Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the delivery entrance located in the north parking lot.
Requested donation items currently include:
Monetary donations
Monetary donations are strongly encouraged through the Amarillo Area Foundation’s Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund at https://amarilloareafoundation.org/disaster/ or by mailing a check to AAF – Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund, 919 S. Polk, Amarillo, TX 79101 .
“As this response transitions from active response into short-term and long-term recovery, we are asking all partners to please check in with any additional support your organization may be able to provide,” Texas Panhandle VOAD said. This may include, but is not limited to:
Anyone with questions — whether personally affected by the fires, wishing to donate, or interested in volunteering — is encouraged to contact 2-1-1 Texas Panhandle United Way Helpline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by simply dialing 2-1-1.
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, on May 19, agencies were still working to contain three active fires in the Texas Panhandle:
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: How to help first responders, fire victims in Potter, Swisher County
Reporting by Kristina Wood, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
