Houstonian Corner (V12-I6)

HHRD in Houston Recently Did A Successful In-Kind Donations Campaign For A Container to Pakistan…	METRO Light Rail In CBD Houston…

HHRD Sending in Mid-February In-Kind Donations Container to Haiti

With the dedicated help and support of International Courier Services (ICS), Helping Hand For Relief & Development (HHRD) is sending a Container from Houston for the dire needs of Haiti. Since there are many useful things from USA, which are not readily available around Haiti, this will indeed be a kind-hearted gesture on part of all Americans to our fellow human-beings in Haiti, who are in dire situation.

Please take all your stuff in boxes (do not seal the boxes) and DROP off on: Saturday and Sunday; February 13th & 14th, 2010 between 10 am-4 pm at the following location: ICS Shipping Co. – 6160 Westview Dr. – Houston, Texas 77055 – DIRECTIONS to ICS Shipping: From Inside the 610 loop / Go on I-10 West, Exit Silber Street / Make a right turn on Silber / Make a right on Westview, go about ¼  mile / 6160 Westview is on the left / For directions, one can also call Khurram Iqbal 281-793-8455 (Cell).

For any other questions please call: Maaz Adil 281-468-2238 / ILyas Hasan Choudry 832-275-0786.

Each donor will be issued a receipt at the site for their In-Kind donations (which is necessary as per HHRD In-Kind Giving Policy).

HHRD is collecting the following (brand new items are being encouraged – if used items, please make sure they are clean and in usable conditions – medical centers, clinics & doctors can be requested for bulk medical supplies donation):

1) Tax-Deductible Monetary Donations (will be used to ship the container and for the HHRD Base Camps in Haiti and Dominican Republic);

2) Medicines (For list call 832-275-0786 or visit http://www.muslimsforhaiti.org/);

3) Medical Supplies (For list call 832-275-0786 or visit http://www.muslimsforhaiti.org/);

4) Protective Eye Goggles & Glasses;

5) Bottled Water;

6) Hygiene Products for Whole Family especially Ladies;

7) Non-Perishable Food Items, including Ready to Eat Food Items, but no staple items like rice, wheat, flour, etc;

8) Sleeping Bags, Tents, etc;

9) Home washing things like bath soaps, detergents, plastic tubs, buckets, etc;

10) Flashlights, Batteries, Small Generators, etc;

11) Warm Weather Clothes like T-Shirts, Pants, Jeans, Children Clothing, etc;

12) Linen like Bed-Sheets, Pillows, Pillow-Sheets, Towels, Blankets, Comforters, etc;

13) Shoes, Socks, etc;

14) Household items like Kitchenware (unbreakable), Pots & Pans, etc (at an appropriate time, these will be given to Haitians, who have lost everything in the rubble);

15) Bikes, Toys for Children, etc;

16) Few computers, printers & accessories (needed for the Base Camps in Haiti and Dominican Republic)…

NOTES

1) Please bring brand new items if easily possible – No Junk or Unusable Items, as we need to maximize the valuable shipping space;

2) Use separate boxes for different items, especially clothing for women, men, boys and girls, and properly note down the contents & their amounts with a marker;

3) Tie Shoes, Socks, Sandals Pairs to ensure that they stay together. Any other things that have pairs, again tie them;

4) Tightly fold and secure the clothes;

5) Fitted / Flat sheets, comforters, quilts, towels etc. should be tightly rolled and secured.

6) All household items in separate boxes from clothes, etc. HHRD CANNOT Accept any Appliances;

7) In addition please make a donation of any amount ($50-and-above) that will help cover the shipping, port clearance, inland transportation, other distribution costs; plus HHRD Base Camps in Haiti and Dominican Republic – Check should be made payable to: Helping Hand For Relief & Development (tax-deductible receipt will be issued) – To mail the checks & or money-order, use this address: 11945 Bissonnet, Houston, Texas 77099.

VOLUNTEERS

We need at least 30 volunteers each on February 13th and 14th, 2010. Please call us and let us know which day you can help. Food and community service hours’ letter will be given to all the volunteers.

For any other questions please call: Maaz Adil 281-468-2238 / ILyas Hasan Choudry 832-275-0786.

METRO Rail Survives Any Cuts

Officials at the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO) are happy with what they have seen in President Obama’s upcoming budget, although not yet a final agreement. Continued funding for light rail in Houston is on the way, with an estimated $150 million dollars in federal money, to go for the north and southeast rail lines, connecting public transit in a more effective and efficient manner with the two major airports Bush Intercontinental and Hobby.

It has been said that in north Houston, in neighborhoods along Fulton Street, the rail project is seen by many as a service that’s badly needed. The north rail line will run from downtown to Northline Mall, which will then be connected to good transfer service to Bush Intercontinental Airport.

But the construction has been frustrating for businesses along the construction route. Metro is rolling out a small business assistance program to help those affected by rail construction. Metro says the new rail line will be ready for riders within five years. For more information, one can visit http://www.ridemetro.org/

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