A coworker collected these links and locations to aid those who lost their home and other possessions in the Texas wildfires. — DS
If you would like to drop off your donations locally, here is a list of places accepting donations at this time. Check back on KXAN or other local news sources regularly for new information on the fires and as additional drop off locations are being added:
· 3434 Yogi Berra Way in Round Rock by the Dell Diamond. You can also call 512-740-6096.
· Hill Country Bible Church NW is taking donations from 8am-8pm today. Bottled water, Gatorade, eye drops, nasal spray, hand wipes and individually-packaged snacks like peanut butter crackers, power bars, protein bars, etc. Address is: 12124 Ranch Road 620 North, Austin, TX. They are the hub and distributing supplies to the area fires. Questions? 512-331-5050.
· Gilda Grace Collections is taking donations of ANY kind, 1818 West 35th Street, Austin TX 78703.
There’s also an emergency notification system for cell phones through the Capital Area Council of Governments. Please visit this site to register your location and cell phone number. If there is ever an emergency in your area, you will be notified via text message.
Are the vineyards safe? I recently took a “wine road 290” tour west of Austin. Man. I love eating those tiny wine grapes made even tinier by the drought. They’re sweeter than cane juice, and they did used to grow cane near Houston as recently as the 1980’s. Local grocers sell 4ft cane for two bucks at Christmas. I think this is because cane-juicing is a holiday custom for Cubans and Dominicans. Don’t remember much about the wine tour day. We went to a taping of some cooking show that had free beer. I always exploit free beer. Then came the wine road tour. I have a pretty good “sober face” so I was not turned away at the fourth and fifth tastings. We then drove back to my brother’s house in Travis Heights and tried out some botique Burbons. I had planned to drive back to Houston that night but crashed there.
Just let me know the grapes are safe. Please let them be safe.
BTW, Texas winemakers love fire ants. S. invicta strips the vines clean of all attackers