In order to assist those who wish to provide support and aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Congressman Harold Ford today released names and contact information of organizations assisting in the hurricane relief effort."I know we all want to know how to be helpful to the victims of Katrina," said Ford. "Here at home in Memphis and throughout the Gulf region, people are without power, food and water. I would encourage everyone to give, especially to the Memphis Food Bank, which is in urgent need of assistance."
Here is a list of local and national organizations helping and how you can access them to be helpful.
Cash Donations
The Red Cross is accepting donations online at www.redcross.org or over the phone at 1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669) or 1-800-257-7575 en espaZol. The Red Cross has requested that people donate online if possible.
Local Red Cross offices:
- 1400 Central, Memphis, TN 901.726.1690
- Desoto County, Mississippi 662.342.6004
People should specifically state that their donation is for Hurricane Katrina relief.
The Red Cross has reported to Congressman Ford that no more than 10 percent of hurricane relief donations will be used for administrative funds. In addition, Red Cross recently was named a Four-Star Charity (the highest rating) by Charity Navigator for the fourth year in a row.
Memphis Food Bank - (901) 527-0841 or online at www.memphisfoodbank.org. The Memphis Food Bank's supply of essential food is low and it urgently needs cash donations to buy essential food that can help victims. Bottled water and non-perishable foods are also welcome.Operations Blessing - 1 (800) 436-6348 or online at www.ob.org.
America's Second Harvest - 1 (800) 344-8070 or online at www.secondharvest.org
A full list of relief organizations requesting donations can be found at http://www.nvoad.org
Catholic Charities, USA - 1 (800) 919-9338 or online at www.catholiccharitiesusa.org
Christian Disaster Response - (941) 956-5183 or (941) 551-9554 or online at www.cdresponse.org
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee - 1 (800) 848-5818 or online at www.crwrc.org
Church World Service - 1 (800) 297-1516 or online at www.churchworldservice.org
Convoy of Hope - (417) 823-8998 or online at www.convoyofhope.org
Corporation for National and Community Service Disaster Relief Fund - (202) 606-6718 or online at www.nationalservice.gov/about/donations/index.asp
Lutheran Disaster Response - (800) 638-3522 or online at www.lwr.org
Mennonite Disaster Service - (717) 859-2210 or online at www.mds.mennonite.net
Nazarene Disaster Response - (888) 256-5886 or online at www.nazarenedisasterresponse.org
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - (800) 872-3283 or online at www.pcusa.org
Salvation Army - 1-800-SAL-ARMY (800-725-2769) or online at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/USNSAHome.htm. The Salvation Army is accepting clothing and toiletry donations.
Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief - (800) 462-8657, ext. 6440 or online at www.namb.net/dr/
United Methodist Committee on Relief - (800) 554-8583 or online at www.methodistrelief.org
Information on Loved Ones
Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness - (225) 925-7500. For information on missing persons, call (225) 925-6626.
Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) - (205) 280-2200
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) - (601) 352-9100
24 hour emergency help line - (800) 222-6362
FEMA is also recommending that people contact the Red Cross for information on loved ones who may have entered a Red Cross shelter or who may have received Red Cross assistance.
Local Red Cross offices can be located at 866-GET-INFO (866-438-4636) or online at www.redcross.org/where/where.html. The Red Cross can also be reached at 800-HELP-NOW.
Website for New Orleans updates - www.nola.com
FEMA Contracting InformationThe Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) top priority is currently search and rescue operations. As a result, rebuilding efforts are secondary at this point.
However, businesses interested in contracting with FEMA once rebuilding efforts are underway should go to FEMA's website on "Doing Business with FEMA," which can be found at http://www.fema.gov/ofm/business.shtm. If people continue to have questions, they should contact FEMA's Financial and Acquisition Management Division, Unsolicited Proposal Section, and ask for Ms. Jacqueline Gordon at (202) 646-3757.
Businesses interested in disaster contracting with FEMA should go to FEMA's Disaster Contracting Network at http://www.dcnonline.org/ or call FEMA's acquisition management voice message system at (202) 646-4006 to request information on disaster contracting.
Memphis Hurricane Task ForceMemphis Mayor Willie Herenton has announced the creation of a local task force to aid the victims of the hurricane staying in the Memphis area. People should call (901) 543-5300 for more information on how they or their business can assist the task force.
Area Shelters
Red Cross Sanctioned Shelters
Convention Center at Grand Casino (this shelter is presently at capacity)
Tunica, Mississippi
(800) 946-4946
Trinity Baptist Church
7200 Swinnea Road
Southhaven, Mississippi
(662) 349-3333
Other Shelters
Bellevue Baptist Church
2000 Appling Road
Cordova, Tennessee
(901) 347-2000
http://www.bellevue.org/templates/cusbellevue1103/details.asp?id=1360&PID=283318&mast=
Christ United Methodist Church
4488 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN
(901) 261-4386 (contact person is Rebecca Locastro)
Friendship Baptist Church
1355 Vollintine
Memphis, TN
(901) 274-5990
Open for shelter and meals
Germantown Presbyterian Church
2363 S Germantown Road
Germantown, TN
(901) 754-5195
Open for shelter and meals
Greater Praise Church of God in Christ
3282 Millington Road
Memphis, TN
(901) 353-0831 (contact Pam Smith or Jackie Johnson)
Christ Community Health Services
Evacuees in need of medical assistance; must show proof of residence, preferably a driver's license.
3 locations:
- Broad Avenue Location - 2861 Broad Avenue 901.458.0584
- Frayser Health Center - 3124 N. Thomas St 901.260.8400
- Third Street Health Center - 3362 Third St 901.398.2442
Hospital care - Tennessee hospitals have notified their counterparts in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi that they are ready and willing to accept overflow patients affected by the disaster.
Tennessee has also agreed to temporarily waive medical licensing requirements so that doctors licensed in those states can accompany their patients to Tennessee hospitals to continue treatment.
Displaced University Students
The University of Tennessee System announced that it will accept students from colleges and universities that were hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina to allow them to continue their educations.
The Health Science Center campus in Memphis will take all medical students displaced by Katrina.
Displaced students interested in enrolling at the University of Memphis should call the admissions office at (901) 678-2111.
Contact Information:
University of Tennessee - Knoxville
Contact: Tom Milligan
Phone: (865) 974-3265
University of Tennessee - Chattanooga
Contact: Barbara Verhine
Phone: (423) 425-4141
University of Tennessee - Martin
Contact: Nick Dunagan (chancellor)
Phone: (731) 881-7500
University of Tennessee - UTHSC
Contact: Sue Harpole
Phone: (901) 240-6968
Displaced School Children - Memphis Schools
Memphis City Schools
2597 Avery Avenue
(901) 416-2100
Memphis City Schools has also offered the Red Cross and the Shelby County Emergency Management Agency use of its four closed schools at Locke Elementary, Walker Elementary, Stafford Elementary and Dunn Elementary.
Local Hotel AvailabilityHotel availability in Memphis and the surrounding areas is extremely limited. The Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau is in constant contact with hotels monitoring availability. Please call their staff at 901.543.5300 or 800.873.6282 for up-to-date hotel information.
Food Distribution
The Memphis Food Bank is accepting bottled water and non-perishable foods. They can be reached at (901) 527-0841 or online at www.memphisfoodbank.org. In addition to providing food to victims of Hurricane Katrina, the Food Bank is providing food and distributing food vouchers throughout the Memphis to those in need. The Food Bank urgently needs your cash and food donations.
Methodist Hospital will provide breakfast to anyone that has a voucher from the Food Bank.
Hope Presbyterian Church - 8500 Walnut Grove Road, Cardova - serving hot meals to victims
New Sardis Missionary Baptist Church is serving hot meals to victims. The church is located at 7739 East Holmes Road in Memphis.
Common Street Baptist Church is serving hot meals to victims. The church is located at 250 East Raines Road in Memphis.
