The Diocesan Response Team met recently to establish short- and long-term goals in responding to the devastation left by Hurricane Harvey. It is important to underscore the reality that this response will not be completed in weeks or months, but this level of damage will require a sustained amount of effort. In order to understand such extensive needs, a team is departing for the region this Friday. The Diocesan Response Team will meet again, next Tuesday, to receive a briefing from this team. More details on how to respond will then follow.

There is, however, an immediate need that requires attention. School officials have made clear to us that there exists a dire need to help cloth and supply children displaced by the storm. We have been in contact with three area schools— JFK Elementary, Spence Middle, and North Dallas High—and they have requested the following items.  Please share with your congregations as soon as you can.

• School uniforms, consisting of khaki or navy colored pants and white collared shirts sizes 4-6-8-10 needed—with size 6 and 8 being most popular
• Khaki pants for Middle & High Schoolers – S, M, L, XL
• School supplies, such as 2-inch 3-ring notebooks, tablets, paper, pencils, erasers, and pens
• Backpacks

Along those lines, we have also received requests for items such as belts, underwear, and black or white children’s shoes, and socks. There is one school in particular that specifically requires zipper binders—which are easily accessible at any area office supply store.

The Diocesan Response Team will accept donated items for an extended period of time at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, 5100 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75206. The central contact at the Cathedral for this project is Ron Hackleback. He can be reached at 214-823-8134 (parish) or 214-957-4177 (personal cell). If any additional questions arise, The Rev Mark Hall is also available.

Finally, our goal in the next phase of this disaster response is coordination. You can help with this effort by doing two things. First, if your parish has already contributed or plans to contribute in some way to the disaster relief efforts, please let us know. Second, please consider the idea of forming teams of people who would go to the region in order to help first-hand with disaster relief. An extended part of our plan is to go the region itself, and so it would be helpful for preliminary steps to be taken such as investigating the willingness and availability of parishioners. It may even be a creative outlet for a youth mission’s trip!

The diocese has also made donations for the hurricane relief effort and will continue to do more in the following weeks. 

Thank you so much for your willingness to partner together in the face of this need. I know our Bishop appreciates it, and I thank you as well. 

Sincerely, 

The Rev Keith Turbeville
Diocesan Response Team