Tornado victims in North Texas need help. Here’s how you can donate or volunteer.
More than a dozen people were injured and one person was killed when tornadoes ripped through Texas on Monday. Some Texans have been displaced from their homes, unable to work or go to school.
On Tuesday, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a disaster declaration for 16 counties that sustained damage from large hail and deadly tornadoes. The counties are: Bastrop, Cass, Cooke, Grayson, Guadalupe, Houston, Jack, Madison, Marion, Montague, Nacogdoches, Panola, Rusk, Upshur, Williamson and Wise.
Here are ways to help residents affected in North and Central Texas.
Send supplies
Monday’s tornado in Jacksboro, about 60 miles northwest of Fort Worth, decimated schools and homes. Supplies for Jacksboro tornado victims will be accepted at the Jack County Youth Fair Barn, 1072 St. Hwy 59. Current donation needs are nonperishable items:
- Diapers
- Paper goods
- Canned foods
- Pet food (dogs and cats)
The Austin Disaster Relief Network launched the Central Texas Disaster Relief Fund to support recovery efforts. The organization has an urgent need for care kits for the Granger community in Williamson County. Go to adrn.org for information on how to put together a care kit. You can drop it off at the Hope Family Thrift Store, 1122 E. 51st St., Austin, from Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
“Residents in the community of Granger have been particularly hard hit,” said ADRN Executive Director Daniel Geraci. “Many of the homes have been completely destroyed and those families need the basics like toothbrushes, towels, and hygiene items. We need to get these essential items into their hands as soon as possible. Each kit is a lifeline of hope for them and helps them take their first steps towards recovery and rebuilding.”
The Round Rock ISD Partners in Education Foundation is also assisting Central Texas families by providing food and supplies. The foundation is working to get food, blankets, mattresses and other necessities to families.
If you would like to donate supplies, donations will be collected at 595 Round Rock West Drive, Suite 404, Round Rock, every day this week between 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The list includes the following items:
- Pull tab canned meals
- Individually wrapped snacks (goldfish, chips, pretzels, etc.)
- Chicken and tuna pouches
- JIF to go containers
- Individual cereal boxes
- Packages of small bottled water
- Blankets
- Air mattresses
- Hygiene kits (soaps, shampoos, toothpaste:, deodorant, etc.)
Give monetary donations
For Jacksboro residents, contribute at Jacksboro National Bank under the “Jack County Disaster Relief Fund Account #091367.” Donations can be called into the hotline number 940-567-2259.
In Grayson County, where a 73-year-old woman died and at least 10 more people were reported injured, give to the Grayson County Tornado Victims Fund. To donate, visit unitedwaygrayson.org/donate or text “gctv” to 313131.
Austin Disaster Relief is accepting donations for tornado victims in Central Texas. So far, they’ve raised about $17,000 of the $500,000 goal. To donate, visit donate.adrn.org. The funds will be used for disaster survivor needs including temporary housing, emergency supplies, food and other essentials. The relief fund will also go towards rebuilding homes affected.
If you would like to donate to the Round Rock community, visit their mobile donation website, select “other” from the drop down menu and specify your donation as “Tornado Relief.” All donations will directly support Round Rock ISD students and families impacted by the storm. Two temporary shelters were established in Round Rock.
Homes in Elgin, a city in Bastrop County, have also sustained tornado damage and families are sheltering at the Elgin Recreation Center. The Bastrop County Long Term Recovery Team is accepting monetary and gift card donations at bcltrt.org or P.O. Box 1975, Bastrop, TX 78602. “Your donations help these families rebuild their lives, and stay in Bastrop County,” the website says.
Granger ISD is sheltering and helping displaced families. To contribute, gift cards and/or check donations can be made to the Granger ISD Student Activity Account, P.O. Box 578, Granger, TX 76530. Note “tornado relief” on the check.
To help with sheltering and other relief efforts, donate to American Red Cross Greater North Texas. The NTX Red Cross shelter team is helping residents of Wise, Montague and Jack counties. They’ve helped establish a shelter for displaced residents at Twin Lakes Community Activity Center at 1114 TX 59, Jacksboro.
Central Texas Red Cross teams are assessing damages Tuesday around the Austin and surrounding areas.
To donate to the Red Cross’s disaster relief efforts, visit redcross.org.
Volunteer
The Jack County Emergency Management team is working to assess the homes affected by the storm. If you would like to volunteer to help with recovery efforts, call 940-567-2259.
Help victims displaced by the March 21 storm by volunteering with the American Red Cross in your area. Click here to find volunteer opportunities in North Texas and here to find volunteer opportunities in Central Texas.
This story was originally published March 23, 2022 at 8:54 AM.
