Neighbors Helping Neighbors

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Thousands of homes are gone, and the families that lived in them needed our help. KXAN teamed up with Walmart and the Salvation Army to support our community.

As the wildfires all around central Texas continue, KXAN, The Salvation Army and Walmart held a two-day donation drive to help the disaster victims last weekend.

Note: Monetary donations are still being accepted. However, there is no longer a need for goods.

"The outpouring of love and generosity from Austin -- what a wonderful thing and what a wonderful display,” said Capt. Mike Morton of The Salvation Army. “But you can also see that it’s overwhelming. We have a lot of stuff!...And we don’t need any more material goods so we appreciate everything but monetary donations are still being collected and accepted but right now we’ve got more than enough stuff.

“Thank you very much, we want to tell everyone thank you for giving but look at this, we’ve got a ton of it," he said.

» Read Jim Swift's story on the relief efforts

All of the money raised and items donated will go directly to provide for the disaster victims and the relief workers.

On Tuesday, Salvation Army officials said they will begin to distribute to fire victims items that they need from the donated stock from the warehouse as 12317 Technology Blvd., #300, in Austin.

People who have lost their homes are asked to bring proof of residence in order to qualify for assistance, such as driver's license, utility bill -- anything that matches them to a list of addresses that the Salvation Army was provided by officials.

The warehouse will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. starting Friday for distribution.

"Walmart and its associates are proud to serve the communities in which we live and work, said Matt Welch,” market manager for Walmart Stores. “We hope this partnership with KXAN and the Salvation Army will help bring some relief to our neighbors and associates impacted by this fire.”

View Walmart drop-off sites in a larger map

Addresses of the Walmart stores that participated:

• 12900 N. I-35, Austin
• 8201 N FM 620, Austin
• 5017 W Highway 290, Austin
• 488 Highway 71 West, Bastrop
• 4700 E Palm Valley Blvd., Round Rock
• 1548 FM 685, Pflugerville
• 201 Walton Way, Cedar Park

The Salvation Army is not accepting large items or furniture at this time, nor accepting in-kind donations.

However, the Bastrop Ministerial Alliance said Monday appliances and furniture will be needed soon, as the families return to their homes and assess what they no longer have. A list will later be provided to the public, asking for donations of household goods.

Make checks payable to: Salvation Army/ Firestorm TX, PO Box 36607, Dallas, TX 75235.

Monetary donations can also be made by phone at 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

Volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed to help unload and sort items at the Central Texas Wildfire Relief Center starting at 1 p.m. Tuesday. The warehouse will be open Monday to Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and begin processing items on Wednesday morning.

Some of the totals

More than 200 pallets of donated items were collected. Two of the seven stores had to get an additional trailer, including Bastrop and 5017 West Highway 290 in Austin. The cash donation totals approached $15,000 by Saturday night. With Walmart’s $35,000 initial donation, the total collected for the Salvation Army is 49,561, nearly $50,000. Pflugerville collected the most cash at $3,000 and the store at 5017 West Highway 290 in Austin collected the most pallets of donations at 50. Here's the breakdown:

STORE 3569 - AUSTIN
12900 N I-35 SVC RD
AUSTIN, TX 78753
APPROX. 40 PALLETS OF GOODS
$1,000 IN CASH DONATIONS

STORE 5478 (AUSTIN)
8201 N FM 620
AUSTIN, TX 78726
APPROX. 15 PALLETS OF GOODS
$1,600 IN CASH DONATIONS

STORE 5479 (PFLUGERVILLE)
1548 FM 685
PFLUGERVILLE, TX 78660
APPROX. 25 PALLETS OF GOODS
$3,000 IN CASH DONATIONS

STORE 5480 (ROUND ROCK)
4700 E PALM VALLEY BLVD
ROUND ROCK, TX 78665
APPROX. 25 PALLETS OF GOODS
$1,500 IN CASH DONATIONS

STORE 1042 (BASTROP)
488 HIGHWAY 71 W
BASTROP, TX 78602
APPROX. 36 PALLETS OF GOODS
$2,171 IN CASH DONATIONS

STORE 2133 (AUSTIN)
5017 W HIGHWAY 290
AUSTIN, TX 78735
APPROX. 50 PALLETS OF GOODS
$2,890 IN CASH DONATIONS

STORE 2991 (CEDAR PARK)
201 WALTON WAY
CEDAR PARK, TX 78613
APPROX. 12 PALLETS OF GOODS
$2,400 IN CASH DONATIONS

Evacuee information and phone hotlines

• Hays County evacuees can call: 512-753-2180
• Travis County evacuees can call: 512-974-6199
• For information on Bastrop fires: 512-332-8856 and 512-332-8814
• Candlewood Suites Austin NW: We are available for those that need accommodations due to the fire. Please call Tracy at 512-338-1611 Ext. 462
   

Other Resources

• Bastrop Ministerial Alliance , working with Austin  Disaster Relief Network to distribute the donations
• Set up by United Way: To donate $10, Text WILDFIRE to 85944
• Austin Travis County Integral Care 's 24/7 Psychiatric Crisis Hotline is 512-472-HELP.
• Pizza Hut