Despite recent mass closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston Texans community partners are stepping up their response efforts to assist those who are the most vulnerable. As the situation changes in the coming days and weeks, check back here for the latest information and updates.
**Harris County is currently recommending that everyone practice social distancing and stay home in order to slow the spread of the highly-contagious coronavirus.**
Stay informed by following @HarrisCoJudge and @ReadyHarris on IG/Twitter/FB and call these numbers for COVID-19-related questions and concerns:
Ask My Nurse Hotline (anyone can call with or without insurance): 713.634.1110
Hotline to report price gouging: 832.839.6941
Hotline to find free food: 832.369.9390
All of this is available at ReadyHarris.org
Here are just some of the ways that Texans community partners are helping out during the COVID-19 crisis:
Restaurant Support
Looking for restaurants that are open and available? Click here to see a list of restaurants available to help you feed your family during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Houston Food Bank
The Houston Food Bank remains operational and will continue to provide essential services as hundreds of thousands depend on the 501(c)(3) and its partners.
Currently, Houston Food Bank is sourcing as many food donations possible to support food distributions at various partner agencies daily and as of this week, sending trucks to 10 Houston Independent School District (HISD) campuses five days a week. The organization has assembled extra boxes of food for senior citizens who are highest risk as well as food boxes for those who do not have food resources, yet are in quarantine or isolation due to COVID-19.
Houston Food Bank has put out an urgent request for volunteers, as well as for monetary donations, in order to assist the most vulnerable populations during this unprecedented time.
To sign up for volunteer opportunities, visit: https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/ways-to-give/give-time/volunteerathfb/
To make a monetary donation, visit: https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/ways-to-give/give-funds/
Houston Food Bank is America's largest food bank in distribution, leading hunger relief in 18 southeast Texas counties.
For the latest updates from the Houston Food Bank, visit: https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston
Boys & Girls Club locations are currently suspended, but staff members continue to identify alternative services and programming during this time to meet the needs of the community. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston (BGCGH) is collaborating closely with strategic partners to provide resources such as food distribution for families and virtual programming for the youth during this period of school and work closures. For a list of resources available, please visit the following links:
Youth resources: https://bgcgh.org/assets/pdf/MemberProgrammingFromHome2.pdf
BBCGH needs donations to ensure that locations will be immediately ready and able to meet the needs of children, teens and families when club locations reopen.
To make a donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston visit http://bgcgh.org/donate.
YMCA of Greater Houston
The YMCA is committed to maintaining a safe environment while supporting the health of the community. Although all YMCA of Greater Houston facilities have been temporarily closed, the YMCA is offering virtual classes for members and is committed to serving their Active Older Adult community.
The YMCA of Greater Houston has been a part of the community for over 130 years working to empower youth, build healthier families and foster inclusive communities. Both the YMCA of Greater Houston and the Houston Texans YMCA are proudly supported by the Houston Texans and the McNair family.
The YMCA of Greater Houston is providing childcare for essential personnel for children ages 12 months to 12 years. For details visit: https://www.ymcahouston.org/essential-personnel-child-care
The YMCA of Greater Houston will also be providing a virtual YMCA platform of fitness classes and educational resources. For more, visit: https://www.ymcahouston.org/VirtualYMCA
For the latest on YMCA updates and available services, visit https://www.ymcahouston.org/covid-19.
* Houston Independent School District (HISD)*
- In order to maintain social distancing in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations, HISD has announced school closings until at least Friday, April 10. HISD, the largest school district in Texas with 283 schools and 213,000 students, is fully committed to supporting students and families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Keep up with the latest updates at HoustonISD.org/HealthAlerts.
United Way of Greater Houston
United Way of Greater Houston is monitoring the spread of COVID-19 in the greater Houston area. Because the safety and well-being of clients, donors, staff, volunteers, and neighbors is a top priority, the United Way is leading conversations with agencies and partners to ensure the community is served.
According to United Way, the demand on community social services' safety net increases by at least 15% in times of disaster. In the greater Houston area, 40% of households are already struggling to make ends meet. These families lack sufficient savings to withstand an emergency, like COVID-19. United Way of Greater Houston will continue to operate the 211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE, a community resource for help, hope and access to the largest database of social services available in the community.
If you or someone you know needs help taking care of basic needs or getting through these uncertain times, dial 211. The 211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE is available 24/7 to connect those in need of food, child care, transportation, and other critical information and resources.
Support of United Way of Greater Houston helps people meet their basic needs, like food and housing, and get through times of crisis. For updates on United Way's work related to COVID-19, plus volunteer opportunities and other information, visit https://www.unitedwayhouston.org/work/disaster/coronavirus/.
Houston Methodist Hospital
Houston Methodist is providing the community with free COVID-19-related information on all social media channels and through helpful tips in newsletters to the public.
To learn more, check out the following links:
Coronavirus: What you Need to Know
Follow Houston Methodist on social media for the latest updates:
USO Houston
The United Service Organization, more commonly known as the USO, and the Texans work together to provide recreational and morale boosting events for military members and their families in the Houston area. COVID-19 is impacting service members and families across the world.
For more information on how service members are being impacted and how the USO is assisting, please visit: https://www.uso.org/stories/2660-heres-how-covid-19-is-impacting-us-service-members-and-their-families-around-the-world
To support USO Houston and to get updates on local units, please visit: https://houston.uso.org
American Red Cross
Extraordinary public health concerns caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak pose significant challenges as the American Red Cross continues to deliver its lifesaving mission.
Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood—a mother giving birth, a child with sickle cell disease, or a neighbor receiving treatment for cancer—and the Red Cross works to meet this constant demand, collecting about 40% of the nation's blood supply, Meanwhile, the Red Cross responds to disasters big and small in communities across the country every eight minutes, bringing devastated survivors relief after home fires, tornadoes, floods and other crises.
Preparations to ensure continued delivery of the vital Red Cross mission nationwide due to this public health emergency are focused on two pillars:
•Maintain a sufficient supply of blood to help patients in need and help minimize any shortages through Red Cross Biomedical Services.
•Continue to provide critical relief services to people affected by disasters big and small through the Red Cross Humanitarian Disaster Relief Services.
For more information on how to help, visit the following:
To make a monetary donation: https://www.redcross.org/donate/cm/texans-pub.html/
To donate blood: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive
Houston Eye Associates: TeleHealth Clinic
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Houston Eye Associates will be offering Telehealth Virtual Visits starting the week of March 23, 2020, as a preventative measure to better protect patients and clinical staff.
This service is available to all established Houston Eye patients. All new patients will need to be seen in the office or through their current eye care provider.
If you have an existing appointment scheduled, or would like to schedule a new appointment via telehealth, please call (713) 668-6828 or send a secure message through the patient portal at www.houstoneye.com.
Please follow Houston Eye Associates on social media @HoustonEye for their latest coronavirus updates.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has resources for assistance, education, and engagement available while we practice social distancing throughout Houston.
The Salvation Army will continue to open doors and hearts to the most vulnerable populations. The Salvation Army of Greater Houston will stand firm and continue to:
-Provide Life Navigation and shelter for unsheltered men, women, and families through their three hybrid housing programs in Harris and Montgomery County (Jones Residence, Center of Hope Houston, Center of Hope Montgomery County).
-Provide Residential rehabilitation services for men with substance use disorder at the Adult Rehabilitation Center.
-Provide Basic human needs (food and hygiene kits) services for:
- Unsheltered young adults through the Young Adult Resource Center
- Seniors through Seniors programs
- Youth in Salvation Army Boys & Girls Clubs, as well as activity kits to prevent learning loss
- Unsheltered residents of east Harris County
- Unsheltered residents of Montgomery County
-Worship services and fellowship opportunities virtually through our Corps.
Visit Salvation Army's information hub to get help and find out more: https://www.salvationarmyhouston.org/
Xfinty
Xfinity is using technology to make at home learning fun and engaging. Got an X1 Remote? Simply say "Education" into your voice remote for resources for all ages.
