To best assist Aurora residents who want to help with disaster relief and ensure donations meet the needs of hurricane and flooding victims in Texas, the City of Aurora is launching an Aurora Hurricane Harvey Relief Effort to collect items that will directly benefit the affected residents of the greater Houston area.

"We are devastated by the flooding in Texas and the lives that are forever changed," said Mayor Richard C. Irvin. "I am glad that Aurora can come together to help relieve some of the burden that will be felt well into the future. Mayor Sylvester Turner, his team in Houston and officials in the surrounding areas are doing the best they can. Aurora will stand with them during this time."

In consultation with the Houston Mayor's Office, the City of Aurora will assist in collecting high-demand items that can be used beyond the initial clean-up and recovery phase:

• Water - cases of bottled water or gallon jugs
• Baby Products - baby wipes and diapers for all ages
• Feminine Hygiene Products - unopened packages of sanitary products
• Socks - new socks of all sizes and for all ages

Donations can be dropped off at Aurora's Central Garage, 720 N. Broadway, beginning Tuesday, September 5 at 7 a.m. Donations of the aforementioned items will be accepted Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the month of September.

SPECIAL COLLECTION LOCATION FOR FIRST FRIDAYS

A special downtown collection location will be open during the First Fridays event and Roots Aurora Festival on Friday, September 1 from 5 to 9 p.m. Residents can drop off items at 13 S. Broadway, at the front of the facility on Broadway or rear of the facility on the Water Street Mall.

MONETARY DONATIONS

The City of Aurora WILL NOT accept direct monetary donations. With recommendation from the Houston Mayor's Office, all monetary donations can be made through the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund that will accept tax-deductible flood relief. Organized by Houston's mayor and administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation, secure donations can be made online at https://ghcf.org/hurricane-relief/.

"I have personally spoken with native Aurorans who live in Houston, "said Alderman Scheketa Hart-Burns who helped to spearhead the relief effort. "They are living in hotels and holding on to hope for the future. Knowing their hometown community is supporting them means a lot. We need to come together to do as much as we can now and throughout the month."

COMMUNITY EVENTS THROUGHOUT SEPTEMBER

The City of Aurora will partner with schools, churches and community organizations that collect the four categories of items during events throughout September by offering pick-up and storage service prior to shipping items to Houston. To arrange for a pick-up of aforementioned items, please call 630-256-3010 or email [email protected] with details.

"This is a big change for the city but the community has come together quite nicely through it all," said Aurora native Jeremy Henderson who evacuated his home in Houston. "We'll all come out of this better people."