GIVING AND RECEIVING
211 HelpLine: 561-553-1099, needs money to support overtime for staff responding to Hurricane Frances.
American Red Cross chapters:
Martin County: 772-287-2002, 2750 S. Kanner Highway, Stuart, needs volunteer drivers, shelter workers, nurses, damage assessment volunteers, and workers to hand out water and food.
North Treasure Coast: 772-563-0482, includes Indian River County and St. Lucie County, 2506 17th Ave., Vero Beach, needs volunteers for shelter location registration and feeding.
Palm Beach County: 561-833-7711, 561-691-0745, 825 Fern St., West Palm Beach, needs volunteers to help with shelters, food distribution in shelters, administrative duties and distribution center.
Cooperative Feeding Program: 954-792-2328, is seeking volunteers.
Food for the Poor: 800-487-1158, 550 SW 12th Ave., Deerfield Beach.
Salvation Army: 954-524-6991 in Fort Lauderdale, 561-686-3530 in West Palm Beach and 772-288-1471 in Stuart, needs volunteers.
United Way of Palm Beach County: 561-375-6682, 561-712-6724, 561-712-6725 or 561-712-6415. 2600 Quantum Blvd., Boynton Beach.
Volunteer and Community Resource Center of Martin County: 772-220-4472. Visit the center’s Web site at
Volunteer Florida: 800-354-3571, 2600 Quantum Blvd., Boynton Beach.
ITEMS NEEDED
Adopt-A-Family: 561-656-4115, needs large-tree removal, facility repair, food vouchers, emergency rent funds, food, supplies including batteries and water, charcoal grills and charcoal, generators, chain saws and tree-trimming equipment.
Alzheimer’s Community Care: 561-966-2700, needs tree removal, generators, space or funding to relocate day-care services, ceiling tiles and funding to support additional staff to respond to increased demand for crisis line.
Boca Helping Hands: 561-417-0913, a nonprofit food kitchen, seeks canned goods, meat in good condition and other food for clients without power in east Boca Raton. Food can be delivered from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1421 NE Second Court, Boca Raton.
Building Blocks/NOAH: 561-996-3889, needs roof repairs, carpet replacement for child-care center.
Coalition for Independent Living Options: 561-966-4288, needs debris and tree removal, generators to help people with disabilities who are on life-sustaining equipment, repairs for wheelchair ramps, dog food for service dogs, batteries for wheelchairs and sign-language interpreters.
Consumer Credit Counseling Service: 561-515-2301, needs money to provide emergency counseling and support for financial and credit issues related to Hurricane Frances.
Cooperative Feeding Program: 954-792-2328, needs canned goods, peanut butter and other nonperishable food.
Family Central: 561-514-3316, needs diapers, baby wipes and baby formula. Donations can be made at 840 SW 81st Ave., North Lauderdale, and 3111 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 222, West Palm Beach.
Farmworkers Coordinating Council: 561-533-7227, needs water, food, diapers, personal hygiene supplies, mosquito repellent and tarps.
Fellowship of Reconciliation: 561-588-2909, needs funds to provide temporary housing, housing repairs, chore services and debris removal for low-income and elderly people.
Glades ARC: 561-996-9583, needs walk-in freezer and $6,000-$8,000 to replace the contents of the cooler. The group feeds 50 people with developmental disabilities two meals a day.
Guatemalan-Maya Center: 561-547-0085, 561-543-5735, 110 N. F St., Lake Worth, needs water, ice, canned goods, formula, milk, mosquito repellent, personal hygiene supplies, tree removal and temporary housing.
The Lord’s Place: 561-494-0125, needs funds to provide temporary shelter, housing and food.
The Salvation Army: 954-524-6991 in Fort Lauderdale, 561-686-3530 in West Palm Beach and 772-288-1471 in Stuart, will accept sealed bottled water and packaged baby diapers.
WHERE TO DONATE
American Red Cross: 800-435-7669, to donate money only.
BankAtlantic: Checks should be made payable to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and specify “Hurricane Frances” in memo field. Any branch.
Catholic Charities for Palm Beach County: Interactive donation form on Web site, click on Catholic Charities. For additional information call 561-775-9567.
Convoy of Hope: 800-988-0664,
Florida Baptist Convention Disaster Relief: 800-226-8584, ext. 3121.
The Salvation Army:
Lake Worth, 561-968-8189, P.O. Box 1408, Lake Worth, FL 33460-4133
West Palm Beach, 561-686-3530. P.O. Box 789, West Palm Beach, FL 33402
Sun-Sentinel/WB39 Children’s Fund Hurricane Relief Fund: The McCormick Tribune Foundation matches every $2 donation with a $1 contribution. Call 800-840-8544, or visit
United Way of Palm Beach County: 561-712-6725. Those interested in volunteering can call 561-712-6724 or go to the Volunteer Reception Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 2600 Quantum Blvd., Boynton Beach.
MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH
Alzheimer’s 24-Hour Crisis Line: 800-394-1771
American Red Cross, Greater Palm Beach Area chapter, needs registered and licensed practical nurses, nurse practitioners, EMT’s, paramedics and doctors to volunteer at shelters. Call 561-833-7711.
Center for Information and Crisis Services: 561-383-1111, or call 211
Henderson Mental Health Crisis Center: 954-463-0911.
The Palm Beach County Health Department and Palm Beach County Medical Society: Need voluntary primary care and emergency physicians and nurses for the medical reserve corps. Call 561-712-6745.
Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service: 561-488-4419, a hotline for victims in need of assistance and counseling.
RECEIVING HELP
American Red Cross chapters:
Martin County: 772-287-2002, 866-438-4636, has one shelter and one service center open. The service center is for people with verifiable emergency needs and damage to their homes. People without power but no home damage do not qualify for service center help. Emergency service includes food, prescriptions and clothing. Twenty-one mobile feeding operations are serving breakfast and a late afternoon lunch. Boys & Girls Club of Hobe Sound, 11500 SE Lares Ave., Hobe Sound
Service Center
First United Methodist Church, 1500 S. Kanner Highway, Stuart, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
North Treasure Coast: 866-438-4636, has two shelters open and will provide feeding vans. No identification is needed.
Shelter locations:
Civic Center, 2300 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce
Feeding vans will be operational today. Call for locations.
Fixed feeding sites will be open today for lunch and dinner:
Our Lady of Guadalupe, 12896 County Road 512, Fellsmere.
Pine View Park, 45th Street, Gifford.
Palm Beach County: 561-833-7711. Fifteen mobile feeding vans will be in service. No identification is needed.
Shelter locations include:
Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach
Pahokee Civic Center, 360 E. Main St. S, Pahokee
Old K-Mart Building, 2780 Highway 441 S., Okeechobee City
Cooperative Feeding Program: 954-792-2328, will provide food with a referral. Call 211 to inquire about referrals and locations of food pantries.
Elder Care Helpline, Palm Beach County and Treasure Coast: 800-963-5337, or call 211.
Family Central, Children’s Services Councils and the School Readiness Coalitions of Palm Beach and Broward Counties: Will provide child-care slots for clients whose facility has been damaged. Call 800-916-3327 to check availability. Call 561-514-3300 for child-care assistance.
Federal Emergency Management Agency: 800-621-3362,
FEMA does not have immediate financial aid but can refer victims to disaster recovery in each county.
Florida Department of Financial Services, Department of Insurance: Storm Line, 800-227-8676. Can provide insurance companies’ emergency numbers. Can give directions and answers regarding property or insurance issues.
U.S. Small Business Administration: Loans will be available to repair damaged primary residences, businesses and nonprofit organizations. Renters and homeowners may be eligible. To be considered for disaster aid, victims must call the Federal Emergency Management Agency at 800-621-3362, 24 hours a day. AT&T; language line is available (access to information in all languages and dialects).
United Way of Palm Beach County, 561-712-6725, staffing a 24-hour help line. Call 211 for information on needed services such as shelters, food, medical assistance, disaster preparedness and response activities, post-disaster assistance and recovery information.
BANKING
Colonial Bank: Will waive ATM fees through Wednesday for bank customers using any ATM in Palm Beach County. Homeowners with a FEMA claim number and property insurance, customers can receive a home equity line of credit for up to $25,000 per household at no interest through December.
COMMUNICATIONS
Cingular Wireless: Will offer free calling stations from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for all mobile customers at all of its Broward and Miami-Dade county stores and the following Palm Beach County and Martin county stores:
Royal Palm/Wellington, 10123 Southern Blvd.
Stuart, a mobile calling van will be in front at 3313 SE Federal Highway.
Vero Beach, 2176 58th Ave.
West Boca Raton, 9634 W. Glades Road.
West Boynton Beach, 149 N. Congress Ave.
West Palm Beach, 1889-A Palm Beach Lakes Blvd.
CONSTRUCTION
Better Business Bureau of Southeast Florida: Completing a national database of building contractors for Hurricane Frances victims. It can be accessed at or
Requests and complaints can be taken at the following locations:
Broward County, 9050 Pines Road, Suite 358, Pembroke Pines, FL 33024; for additional information call 954-431-4900.
Palm Beach County, 2924 N. Australian Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407; for additional information call 561-842-1918.
St. Lucie County: 1950 SE Port St. Lucie Blvd., Suite 211, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952; for additional information call 772-335-2017.
RESPITE
Museum of Discovery and Science: 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale, offers free museum admission excluding IMAX theater to first responders and their immediate families. Employees of organizations such as the American Red Cross, U.S. Coast Guard, firefighters, emergency rescue, law enforcement, utility companies, hospital and emergency operations center personnel must show their employee IDs at the cashier’s office. Offer is good through Sept. 30.
Norton Museum of Art, 561-832-5196, 1451 S. Olive Ave., West Palm Beach, is offering free admission through Sunday. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
CALL US
Contact us or visit our Web site with details on volunteer and relief efforts:
Gail Bulfin, Reader Editor
954-356-4580
954-356-4539 fax
Palm Beach County, call 561-243-6548
