Deep in the Heart of West Update: April 22

Big-hearted Austinites are conjuring more ways to assist our tiny neighboring town to the north, West, TX, still recovering from the disastrous fertilizer plant explosion last week.

How can you help? Here's what you can do:

• Donate directly to authorized organizations and use their official drop-off spots or designated cash systems. Sadly, it must be stated that in times of crisis, sometimes there are vermin that attempt to profit from other people's loss. Please vet the sources of any entity claiming to accept donations for the West, TX tragedy. (We have vetted all listed here.)

• Please donate only specifically requested items. Often after disasters, donation stations are overloaded with clothing and furniture. Those are usually not immediate needs.

Here are some upcoming events and opportunities to aid in your efforts to help.

• Willie Nelson is not only donating proceeds from his April 28 show at The Backyard to the West Volunteer Fire Department, his website is keeping folks informed about other ways they can help.

• The 100 Club of Central Texas, celebrating 30 years serving first responders of Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop, and Caldwell counties, has set up a special fund to assist the first responders, and their families, who suffered injury or death while protecting the residents of West. Checks should be made payable to the 100 Club of Central Texas, with the notation “West First Responder” and mailed to:
100 Club of Central Texas, 3200 Steck Avenue, Suite 240, Austin, TX 78757

Contributions can also be made on-line at www.100clubcentex.com, using PayPal or a credit card.

All contributions are tax-deductible.

• In addition to being on the scene in West, TX as part of the incident command post, donating food, water, snacks, and medical supplies (plus a hefty $50,000 donation to the American Red Cross of Central Texas), our Texas-bred H-E-B has set up a beyond-easy way for customers to donate. Their Disaster Relief campaign has begun at check-out stations across the state. Customers may peel off a $1, $3, or $5 sticky and add it to their grocery bill at any of the grocery chains cash registers. One hundred percent of the donations will go to the American Red Cross and its emergency relief efforts in West, Texas.

• King's Road Vintage, part of the Dirty Sixth-area retail renaissance is throwing it's official Grand Opening ShinDIG this Friday, April 26 and will feature opportunities for guest to help West, TX. Check their Facebook events page for updates.

• Austin's top cover bands gather at the We Got You Covered event to raise funds for the American Red Cross of Central Texas this Sunday, April 28 at Sherlock's Baker Street Pub on Research.

FROM OUR PREVIOUS POST

• Emergency professionals wishing to travel to West, Texas to help (EMS, RNs, doctors, firefighters, etc.) please call: 254/826-4113

• American Red Cross will need donations. Call for specifics.
You can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

• Capital Area Food Bank has a detailed list of needs and strategies.

• Cash donations may be sent directly to Point West Bank. Drop off or send cash to 200 West Oak St. West, TX 76691.

• CentralTexasFires.org is taking donations. And here's their Facebook page for the latest.

Here's a great array of pages to inspire more ways to help:
• I Am a Texan
• Prayers for West
• West Firefighters
• Volunteer Texas

Check out Part 2 which offers resources/triage for folks who seek help and information.

For more on the explosion and ongoing recovery efforts, see our original news post here and Otis Ike's full photo galleries here and here. Here's our original list of resources for those Austinites looking for ways to help, as well as Virginia Wood's recent list of food-related recovery events.