Updated Wildfire Relief Information

As always, check the active fires map here, and see this week's Chronicle for benefit concerts. Click through for more information.

Austin Disaster Relief Network, a cooperative of local churches, set up hotlines and relief funds on Sunday, featuring convenient buttons on its website. Hotlines: Those in need of immediate assistance should call 512/331-2600. For donations and volunteer information, call 512/331-2200.
NOTE: ADRN needs shelter volunteers. Indicate your availability (weekdays or weekends) and any specialized skill set. Workers are needed for the 7am to 7pm shift on Wednesday, September 7th at the Austin, Bastrop, Leander, and Smithville shelters. If you're available, please email admin@ADRNTx.org with your contact information.

The Capital Area Food Bank of Texas is requesting assistance in the following ways: Financial donations to CAFB can be made at www.austinfoodbank.org. Funds raised will go directly to helping CAFB in this disaster response. The relief effort will be long-term and monetary donations will be necessary for many months.
CAFB food donations can be made at the following locations:
CAFB warehouse at 8201 S. Congress (hours are 8am-5pm or leave items in boxes on dock outside)
Caring Place at 2000 Railroad Street, Georgetown
Round Rock Serving Center at 1099 East Main St., Round Rock
SVDP at 620 Round Rock West, Round Rock

From the City of Austin Office of Homeland Security: Before Spicewood residents can be allowed into the restricted area, they must pick up wristbands and car tags ahead of time. These can be picked up until at Bee Caves United Methodist Church (3000 Bee Creek Road, Spicewood)

Austin-based vacation-rental company, HomeAway has set up a Central Texas Wildfire Housing Directory for evacuees to find temporary housing in a vacation rental. Vacation rental owners and property managers are offering their homes at a discounted rate or free of charge. Fully-furnished homes can be rented for short- and long-term stays.  Individuals should contact the owners directly; more information is available on the website. Here is the link of the homes that are available : http://community.homeaway.com/docs/DOC-2067.

Call Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid's Disaster Hotline at 866/757-1570 for free legal assistance.

Round Rock Express will be taking items at the Dell Diamond (3400 East Palm Valley, 512/255-2255) starting Wednesday, September 7, at 10am. All items can be dropped off at the Railyard, the team store. Free admission to Pacific Coast League American Conference Championship Series games is offered to any resident displaced due to recent widfires. Just show proof of residency in person at the Dell Diamond ticket office.

The State Firemen's and Fire Marshalls' Association has set up the Texas Wildfire Relief Fund at http://txwildfirerelief.org/.

Red 7 Bar (611 E. Seventh, 512/476-8100) is acceptiong donations of food, clothing, non-perishable snacks, canned foods, toiletries, work gloves, pet food, diapers, and more, from 4pm-2am, Tuesdays through Sundays. There will be boxes and a donation jar set up inside the bar.

The Thrift Shop at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection (2008 Justin Lane, 512/459-0027) is taking donations of clothing, housewares, and toiletries, which will be taken to distribution centers.

The Oasis (6550 Comanche Trail, 512/266-2442) on Lake Travis is accepting donations as well as water, work gloves, toiletries, non-perishable food items, clothing, trash bags, and flash lights with batteries. Boxes and donation jars will be in the lobby area starting Monday afternoon.

Local firefighters need bottled water and pre-packaged snack foods. Please deliver carbohydrates and water to Travis County E.S.D. No.6 (15304 Pheasant Lane, near 620; turn by Brake Check).

Bastrop County Emergency Management needs the following supplies: new pillows, bed sheets, blankets, towels, and toiletries. These donations are being accepted at Trinity Zion Church (151 Shiloh Road, Bastrop). Call these numbers for donation information: 512/332-8661 or 512/332-8977.

Cots, mattresses, and towels are needed at St. Thomas More Catholic Church (10205 RR 620 N.), as it has opened to evacuees from the Steiner Ranch area.

Faith Family Services in Hutto is picking up clothing and food donations for delivery to area pantries and organizations. They are also coordinating emergency housing with area homes. For more information, email faithfamilyhomes@yahoo.com or call 210/334-1708.

The University of Texas will provide paid time off for employees who were forced to evacuate, experienced property damage, or lost homes. Employees can apply for disaster leave through their department head, or for financial relief from the Staff Emergency Fund.

BookPeople (603 N. Lamar, 512/472-5050) will be donating a portion of their sales from Tuesday, September 6th though Friday, September 9. This applies to all sales, both in-store and online. Cashiers will also take direct donations at the registers, simply ask the cashier to donate to the Red Cross when checking out.

Austin Variety Show has set up a Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Help-for-fire-victims/120262678074503 with helpful information. They raised over $350 in cash and donated items from an impromptu drive on Monday night, and are going one better by hosting an evening of comedy on September 17th. Check their website for more details.

Animal Assistance:
NOTE: The temporary Bastrop animal shelter has been forced to relocate due to fire proximity. The animals there are en route to the Austin Humane Society, (124 West Anderson, 512/646-7387).

If your pet is missing, please email photos and other information to info@austinhumanesociety.org.

The Facebook page for Bastrop County large animal information is:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bastrop-Co-Fire-Large-Animal-Info/229040790477605

Northeast Texas Equine Services of Pittsburg, Texas, is waiving emergency fees for horses requiring medical treatment due to fire. Call Dr. Keith Taraba at 903-855-3179.

Texas Animal Control at Bastrop Convention Center (1408 Chestnut Street, Bastrop): 512/332-8980

Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter (512/943-3322, 1855 S.E. Inner Loop, Georgetown)

Other helpful phone numbers:
To donate food and clothing to the Red Cross effort, call 512/928-4271, 800/928-4271.
To register your whereabouts as an evacuee, call 512/581-4023
Evacuation updates are available at 512/974-6199
Bastrop Fire Department Line: 512/332-8814, 512/332-8856
Bastrop County Emergency Management: 512/581-4022
Hays County Emergency Management: 512/753-2180

Clothing donation dropoffs:
Old Wind's/Dollar General Store, 210 Main Street, Smithville
Zion Church, 151 Shiloh Road, 512/292-6800, Bastrop
St. Vincent de Paul South Congress Store, 1327 South Congress, 442-5652
St. Vincent de Paul Yager Collection Center, 18 West Yager Lane, 238-6737

Area shelters:
St. Thomas More Catholic Church, Parish Activity Center, 10205 RR 620 N.
Vandergrift High School, 9500 McNeil Drive near 2222
Bastrop Middle School, 709 Old Austin Hwy., Bastrop
Smithville Recreation Center, 106 Royston St., Smithville
Dripping Springs Elementary School, 49400 RR 12, Dripping Springs [CLOSED]
Ascension Catholic Church, 802 Pine Street, Bastrop
Bastrop Church of Christ, 287 FM 20, 512/303-4597
Leander/Rouse High School, 1501 Country Road 271, Leander
Old Giddings Elementary School, 1010 E. Industry Street, Giddings
Giddings Middle School, 2248 North Main Street, Giddings