The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

As residents return to Orange County following Hurricane Ike, the Red Cross today announces the opening of a shelter in Orange County at West Orange Middle School, 500 North 13th St., Orange, TX 77630. This shelter will provide evacuees returning from San Antonio and Marshall a safe place to sleep, shower and receive hot meals as they begin their recovery effort. People coming to Red Cross shelters should bring: pillows and bedding; diapers and formula for children; prescription medicines; toiletries; food to meet any special dietary needs. At this time, Red Cross shelters cannot accommodate pets.

Further resources in the Orange County community are as follows:

1. A First Aid station has opened at Bridge City High School and will be mobile to provide treatment for minor cuts and bruises in addition to health services. Anyone who would like to seek treatment or to talk is encouraged to stop by. The Red Cross will also have mobile teams of mental health volunteers in the Bridge City community.

2. The Red Cross continues operating a point of distribution (POD) at 4040 IH-10W, Orange, TX 77632 (the old Luby?s, opposite the Orange County Red Cross Chapter office) to distribute ready-to-eat meals and snacks as supplies last, to people affected by the recent tropical storms and hurricanes. Additional supplies, including shovels, rakes and gloves will arrive courtesy of a donation from Chevron. Hours are noon-5 p.m.

3. The Red Cross and FEMA have coordinated to provide hot meals from lunch to dinner at VFW Post 2775, 5303 16th St., Orange, TX 77630. Service time is 11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

4. The Orange County Chapter at 3901 Interstate 10 East (MLK exit), operates from noon-5 p.m., to distribute diapers and other personal care items as supplies last.

5. Hot food will be provided from mobile Emergency Response Vehicles at lunch and dinner at the Bridge City Wal-Mart point-of-distribution and Rose City Hall. Mobile feeding from additional Emergency Response Vehicles will be covering the Mauriceville, West Orange, Rose City and Bridge City communities distributing lunch and dinner.

6. The Red Cross and the Baptist Disaster Relief team are partnering to provide hot meals at Old First Orange Baptist Church, 7929 IH-10 East, Orange, Texas. Meals are served 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and from 4:30-7:00 p.m.

7. Mobile distribution of clean-up kits and comfort kits will be mobile at the Bridge City Wal-Mart and Rose City today.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people.

You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Hurricanes of 2008, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster.

The American Red Cross honors donor intent.

If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.

Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish).

Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC20013.

Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting http://www.redcross.org