I am praying for everyone in west.

What blood donation sites are in Waco/Woodway/Hewitt? Carter? Scott & White?

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/helpful-links-for-those-affected-by-west-plant-explosion/article_dd5988c4-f042-5a11-b277-7ba019be157a.html

• 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 Extraco Events Center will be setting up to take donations starting tomorrow at 9:00 am. For information call (254) 776-1660
• Carter Blood Care Center will accept donations beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday in Waco. Find more locations here.
• First Baptist Church of Lott has room for anyone needing a place to stay. Call (254) 829-2321
• American Red Cross crews from across Texas were sent to the site of an explosion at a fertilizer plant near Waco where multiple injuries have been reported. Red Cross spokeswoman Anita Foster said her group is working with emergency management officials in the town of West to find a safe shelter for residents displaced from their homes. To donate blood, find a location near you.
• The Aquilla ISD opened facilities for those seeking refuge. Please report to the gym entrance.
• Blair’s Cove Apartments in Waco 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.
• American Legion Post 121 in Elm Mott is open for displaced residents.
• Sykora Family Ford in West has opened for residents who need a safe place to rest.
• Town Hall Estates in Hillsboro was taking in displaced residents.
• The Home Depot store in Bellmead will be open all night for those who need plywood, generators, etc.
• Both Peas & Tots and Smarty Pants 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.

Does anybody know if I-35 is closed or blocked off? My daughter is coming from Denton today? So sorry for all the loss.

They haven't said turtle. I would think not

She may want to look at an alternate route though. Maybe thru corsicana to Waco?

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Does anybody know if I-35 is closed or blocked off? My daughter is coming from Denton today? So sorry for all the loss.

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I35 open according to sherriffs office, proceed cautiously

janag- where do I go to donate blood? I'm near the high school.

A word of caution: Relief efforts are often hampered by an influx of unrequested materials and in particular clothing as there are not resources to sort and store those things. Please check posted lists and only send items that have been requested specifically.

This was posted on the Facebook page set up last night.

My husband drove I-35 (Waco to Dallas) this morning and it was fine.

Even on good days this is my way home to Waco from Hillsboro in the afternoons:

Exit 368 to the east in Hillsboro
Take TX171 east to Malone
Turn south on FM308
Follow it to Elm Mott where it intersects I35.

Going that route you avoid all the two lane construction, 18 wheelers and general idiots driving too fast. It puts you back on the interstate just about where it goes back to three lanes each. It adds about 15 minutes to the drive.

[This message has been edited by jxs40 (edited 4/18/2013 10:41a).]

watty-
Thanks for asking.
I checked on the procedure and they welcome donations from outside of the school.

You can go into the Main Entrance (it says Administration above the walkway...near the new gym), and Ms. Butler, the Receptionist, will ask to see your ID. You will receive a nametag and proceed to the Student Center. Tell them you are from outside the school and they will put you at the front of the line.

Thanks!

Anybody wanting to donate blood. Here are locations of drives through next Sunday

4/19 GC services-- town lake center, copperas cove 11-4
4/21 Bartlett fire dept; 11a-3p
4/21 first umc waco; 9-1p
4/22 killeen walmart; 12-5p
4/23 windcrest nursing home, copperas cove; 10-2
4/24 temple va hospital 9-3
4/25 ctc nursing dept, 10-2
4/25 itt waco; 1-6
4/26 harker heights walmart 1-5p
4/27 American legion post Hewitt 11-1p
4/27 celebrate killeen fair; 830-1p
4/27 Masonic lodge Hillsboro; 8a-6p
4/28 killeen walmart; 12-5

Blood Donations:
• Carter Bloodcenter in Waco, a list of places to give blood is located at http://www.carterbloodcare.org
• Carter Bloodcare in Dallas will be taking blood donations for those in the DFW area. They are located at 4849 West Illinois Ave.
• Brazos Valley Blood Center in College Station from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., located at 1701 Rock Prairie Road

Monetary Donations:
• Baylor University has set up a fund to accept gifts that will benefit the community of West. You can make a gift to the fund online at www.baylor.edu/relief/give or in person at Clifton Robinson Tower located at 700 S. University Parks Drive, outside of the Cashier’s Office.
• You can text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

Upcoming Events to help:
• The Waco Harley Davidson with hosting a Crawfish Boil Relief Fundraiser on Sat. 4/27 at 10:00am. Live band, blood drive, beverages, crawfish, etc.
• West Prayer Hour at the McGregor Bandstand Fri. 4/26 at noon. Donations will be accepted.

We saw alot of people today at providence and our donor center. If you can make it out tomorrow or next week or next month, the need for donors is constant. We need to see 1100 donors a day in north, east and central Texas in order to meet the demand of our local hospitals on a normal day.

Fortunately we have a very loyal donor base, especially in west. Every 2 months they have a community drive and it is always busy. We need more communities like west to help pay it forward. They have helped for years to keep the blood supply sufficient, and we would love to work with others throughout the next few months and onward.

Thanks to all who came out today.

We would also like to thank the following businesses in waco for their support today.

Jason's deli -- donated food
Mcalisters deli-- donated food
Poppa rollos pizza -- donated pizzas
Pizza inn -- donates pizza
Dominoes pizza -- donated pizzas
Heb - donated sandwich trays
Starbucks -- donated and manned coffee station
Academy-- sold panchos a 1/2 price for donors
AT&T- donated phone chargers and umbrellas

There were many other great people who brought snacks, water and all sorts of things for the donors. Thank you to all from all at Carter BloodCare.

For those that prefer online donations

http://westdonations.com/donate/

A little update on this board for those interested:

We have gotten through all the funerals in West. 10 at the Catholic Church alone. Now comes time for tearing down and rebuilding. We still need prayers and we need help cleaning up. It's been a long three weeks, but amidst all the tragedy, I have seen some of the most caring, selfless acts I have ever experienced. Folks that lost their homes volunteering or helping others or themselves donating money.

Amazing. But continue your prayers and thoughts for us. We will need them in the days and weeks and months to come.

Got y'all covered.

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Got y'all covered.

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X2, will keep y'all in my (mostly) daily rosary.

God bless!