According to the Waco Tribune Herald, the following is updated information for use by those affected by the West Fertilizer Co. plant explosion and for those wanting to make donations to help the West community:
Medical information
• To check on injured residents admitted to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center call (254) 202-1100
• For family inquiries about patients at Scott & White, call (888) 394-4947
• Family inquiries about patients at Providence Health Center, call (254) 761-7200
• The Grace Alliance is offering its services providing psychological first aid and ongoing trauma care for survivors of traumatic events. Email info@mhgracealliance.org or call (254) 235-0616.
Blood donations
• The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Extraco Events Center’s General Exhibits Building, 4601 Bosque Blvd., and Baylor University beginning at 10 a.m. at Fountain Mall.
• Both the Red Cross and Carter BloodCare asked potential donors to make appointments to give blood in upcoming days and weeks, the Red Cross at www.redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-733-2767, Carter BloodCare at www.carterbloodcare.org.
Red Cross blood donation locations locally are Carter Blood Care Center, 4332 W. Waco Dr.; Providence Health Center, 6901 Medical Parkway; and Scott & White Hospital, 2401 S. 31st St. (Temple).
Relief funds, donations
• Pointwest Bank has opened a fund for victims of the explosion. The downtown West location, 200 W. Oak St., is accepting all types of donations. Waco locations here: http://www.pointwestbank.com/default.aspx?v=904fb084-af7c-4e58-b551-2bfab5d0c1e8
• All Genco Federal Credit Union branches are accepting donations in the name of the Red Cross for West residents. The bank is also accepting donations of items at all branch locations, listed here: http://www.gencofcu.org/ASP/location.asp Call (800) 922-6428 for info.
• Texas Partners Federal Credit Union in the Temple/Killeen area is accepting cash donations in a relief fund. The bank is also accepting non-perishable donations and is selling chocolate to benefit the relief. Find locations here: http://www.texaspartnersfcu.org/Locations.html
• The Knights of Columbus organization has a Fund for West Disaster Relief. Get information at www.kofc.org/Texas
• The Waco Foundation will receive donations for a West, Texas Disaster Relief Efforts Fund with information on how to give on its website, www.wacofoundation.org. Call Melissa Miller, director of communications and donor services, at 254-754-3404.
• The Extraco Events Center is taking donations today from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For information, call (254) 776-1660.
• Connally ISD is preparing its schools to accommodate West students, and is accepting donations of school supplies, furniture and other items. The district will keep updates of needs on its website at http://connally.org
• Richard Karr Motors, 1101 N Valley Mills Dr. in Waco, is accepting donations for West families and will deliver items to the shelter at Sykora Family Ford in West.
• Both Peas & Tots (1411 N. Valley Mills Dr.) and Smarty Pants (5301 Bosque Blvd.) consignment stores in Waco are accepting clothing donations in all sizes for those in West.
• The Road to Damascus Resource Center, 5034 Franklin Ave. in Waco, will be available as a drop-off site from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday for donations. The center will accept monetary donations, canned goods, or any other necessities such as hygiene products.
• McCoy’s Building Supply, 4236 Franklin Ave. in Waco, is taking donations, to be stored and delivered in a 20-foot trailer. Clothes, non-perishable food, baby diapers and formula and bedding items are requested.
• Injury 1, 185 Eastgate Plaza in Waco, will hold a donation drive on Friday, April 19 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Any nonperishable food, clothing, medical items are needed.
• Salon Savvy, 24 La Salle Ave., is donating 10% of its profits to displaced West residents. The salon will also take donations to shelters for families in need.
• Service King Collison Repair locations in Waco are collecting supplies for the American Red Cross, including bottled water, non-perishable food, baby items, toiletries, bedding, towels and cleaning supplies. Find locations here: http://www.serviceking.com/locations/index.html
• Quaker Steak & Lube, located at Legends Crossing near Hillcrest Hospital at I-35 and State Highway 6, is accepting non-perishable donations for West residents through Sunday. The restaurant is also offering free meals to Hillcrest employees. Locations in Plano and Carrollton are also participating.
• Vertical Ministries, a Waco ministry for college students, will hold a donation drive of food, nonperishable items and money at its next meeting, which is 7-11 p.m. Monday at Common Grounds.
Shelters, housing
• VFW Post 4819 at 715 S. Reagan St. in West is open, offering free soup, chili, clothing and a warm place to get out of the cold.
• Sykora Family Ford in West has opened for residents who need a safe place to rest.
Richard Karr Motors, 1101 N Valley Mills Dr. in Waco, is accepting donations for West families and will deliver items to Sykora Family Ford in West.
• American Legion Post 121 in Elm Mott is open for displaced residents.
•Crestview Church of Christ, 7129 Delhi in West Waco, is open to displaced families. The church can provide a place to stay for three night, Friday through Sunday. Contact Jack Whiddon at (254) 640-0848.
• First Baptist Church of Lott has room for anyone needing a place to stay. Call (254) 829-2321
• Aquilla ISD opened facilities for those seeking refuge. Please report to the gym entrance.
• Blair’s Cove Apartments in Waco is offering housing to any West residents affected by the explosion at 2425 S. 21st St. (254) 447-0810
• Latham Springs Baptist Camp is open to displaced residents at 134 Private Road 223 in Aquilla.
• The Abbott gym is open to displaced residents.
• Valley Mills Nursing Home has rooms available for nursing home residents if placement is needed for any of the West nursing home residents. Call (254) 932-6288.
• First Baptist Church of Gholson is open for anyone who needs a place to stay.
• Gholson ISD open for those seeking shelter.
• Brazos Meadows Baptist Church at 625 S. Hewitt Dr., adjacent to Castleman Creek Elementary will be open for anyone who needs a place to stay.
• Town Hall Estates in Hillsboro is taking in displaced residents.
Nursing homes
Trisun Healthcare nursing home facilities are accepting patients who were evacuated from West-area nursing homes last night. Area locations:
Temple — Temple Living Center East, 1511 Marlandwood Road, (254) 899-6500
Temple — Temple Living Center West, 1700 Marlandwood Road, (254) 743-6200
Temple — Temple Living Center Western Hills, 512 Draper Drive, (254) 742-7500
Temple — Weston Inn Health Center, 2505 South 37th Street, (254) 298-7300
Temple — General questions, call Kendall Young, (254) 913-9563
Corsicana — Heritage Oaks Retirement Village, 3002 West 2nd Ave., (903) 872-5130
Corsicana — Heritage Oaks West Retirement Village, 3300 West 2nd Ave., (903) 874-5333
Corsicana — General questions, call Mark Carden, (214) 448-3366
Insurance
The Texas Department of Insurance is providing a hotline for homeowners and property owners who needs help filing claims or contacting insurance companies. The number is (800) 252-3439. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Workers compensation questions can be directed to (800) 372-7713.
More information is available at http://www.tdi.texas.gov.