NRG Harvey shelter
Huyen,
Thank you to everyone who signed up to assist us at the BakerRipley Harvey Shelter at NRG. We have had over 8,000 guests come in and out of our doors since we opened. Many of our families who were stable before the storm have found housing elsewhere. Right now, the 2,200 guests who remain here are those who were housing insecure, homeless, disabled, or vulnerable before the storm. The work and the enviroment are changing, but we still need volunteers to keep this place organized and safe as we work to find a more permanent solution for our remaining guests. **Thank you for your patience, flexibility, and all you have done. As our needs change at the shelter, our volunteer needs will continue to fluctuate – sometimes hourly. We have had full volunteer shifts during the day, so if you are here during those times please be patient with us as we work to put you all to work. If you want to be where you are most needed, it is our 5pm-9am shifts.
Thank you again for your support and we will continue to keep you updated on opportunities in and outside of the shelter. We hope to see you again very soon!
Huyen,
We are in the final days here at the NRG shelter working towards our September 23rd close date. We will need volunteers now more than ever as we help our guests to pack, organize, and transition from our shelter their next home. If you are able, please volunteer now through Saturday night – we can really use your help. The next few days will also be physically demanding, so strong volnteers are definitely a plus!
We may also need volunteers for a special Sunday shift to finish the clean-up at the site, if we are not able to finish on Saturday. If you are available, please sign up for the shift on Sunday and we will let you know by the end of the day on Saturday if you are needed or not.
Sign up for Harvey Shelter shifts at this link: http://bit.ly/nrgvolunteerschedule.
Thank you to all of you who have been out here assisting in the shelter or helping our community in other ways. We appreciate your patience and flexibility throughout this process – things are changing all the time. I will continue to keep you updated on oppotunities here and elsewhere to serve our community.
Things you need to know:
NRG Center is located at 1 NRG Park, Houston, TX 77054.
Free parking: Enter through Gate 10. Pass red lot and go down NRG Parkway. Park on your right in Orange lots 8, 10 or 12. Parking Map
VOLUNTEER CHECK-IN HAS BEEN RELOCATED. After parking in the orange lot, the volunteer entrance and exit is through the glass doors by the flagpoles.
Bring a photo ID for verification – Volunteers must be 16 and older.
Wear comfortable clothes and your earn, learn, belong shirt if you were issued one.
Bring your own non-perishable food or eat before you come. Meals will be prioritized for guests first, so we cannot guatantee there will be food for volunteers at every shift.
You must agree to protect the guests’ privacy. DO NOT TAKE PHOTOS OR SHARE GUESTS’ STORIES ON SOCIAL MEDIA OR ANY OTHER PLATFORM. It is important that we protect their dignity. If you are seen taking pictures anywhere inside NRG Center, you will be escorted out of the building.
Listen closely. People will have various needs and it’s important for us to hear them and act accordingly. This is an opportunity for us to bring peace, a listening ear, and a helping hand.
Refer to people in the shelter as guests, neighbors, or friends. DON’T call them refugees.
Sincerely,
Lauren Duplessis
Manager of Volunteer Engagement
BakerRipley
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Huyen,
We are extremely low on volunteers right now. If you are available between now and 7am tomorrow morning, you are needed NOW.If you can come tonight, your help is needed.We will need additional volunteers for the following shifts:5pm-7am Thursday and Friday night6am-10pm Friday and Saturday (We will be moving our guests from our shelter to another shelter at that time)Our last day will be Saturday, September 23rd. We will be here through midnight that night packing up, transporting our guests, and then cleaning up.We may need additional volunteers on Sunday to help with any clean-up we did not finish on Saturday. You will be notified by Saturday night if you are needed. Please sign up if you are available.Sign up for Harvey Shelter shifts at this link: http://bit.ly/nrgvolunteerschedule.Thank you for all you have done to help us at the NRG Shelter. We hope to see you here within the next 3 days to help us finish strong and send our guests off safely and efficiently!
Sincerely,
Lauren Duplessis
Manager of Volunteer Engagement
Baker Ripley
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2017-08-30
Viet Nam Buddhist Center – Chua Viet Nam
10002 Synott Rd, Sugar land, TX 77498 * Tel: 281/575-0910
Email: trungtamphatgiao@yahoo.com * www.vnbc.org
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Donation Letter for Hurrican Harvey
Flood Releaf in Houston
Dear Benefactors,
As we have personally felt and experience the heavy rains that poured over an estimated 15 trillion gallons over East Texas from Friday, August 25 to Tuesday Morning, August 29, 2017. During the past five days, rising water levels have paralyzed all activities. According to reports, many people have died; many homes, property, and vehicles are severely damaged. In addition, more than 17,000 people have been evacuated to emergency shelter.
In the spirit of compassion of the Buddha, “morning give people happiness, afternoon help people ease suffering,” VNBC – Chua Viet Nam is calling all the benefactors everywhere to open their heart by donating to the relief effort to lessen the suffering of the people affected by the disaster.
VNBC – Chua Viet Nam in Houston, Texas will receive your contribution from today until August 30, 2017 to September 30, 2017. Viet Nam Buddhist Temple and Tu Bi Foundation will have delegates in contact and receive continual updates from FEMA and the American Red Cross as they monitor the situation in Houston and surrounding areas.
We look forward to welcoming benefactors in our fundraising effort, as Houston is our second home, the place where many Vietnamese refugees are living.
Houston, August 30, 2017.
Respectfully Yours,
Viet Nam Buddhist Center – Chua Viet Nam
All contributions please send check to address:
Từ Bi Foundation (Chùa Việt Nam)
10002 Synott Rd.
Sugar Land, TX 77498
Tel 281-575-0910
Memo: Houston Flood Rescue Fund
Từ Bi Foundation (Virginia)
4901 Powell Road
Fairfax, VA 22032
Tel. 571-437-6997
Memo: Houston Flood Rescue Fund
Venerable Nguyên Đạt
Vietnam Buddhist Center
10002 Synott Rd
Sugar Land, Texas 77498
(281)575-0910
Pictures of the catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Harvey:
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/catastrophic-flooding-in-texas-from-harvey/18/
Before and after image of the flooding (move the vertical bar/slide on the picture):
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/national/harvey-photos-before-after/?utm_term=.d36f6c5a346c
Video of the catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Harvey:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2017/national/harvey-video/?utm_term=.b7cff4808ce2