Now in its third week, Aurora's Hurricane Harvey Relief Effort has received community-wide support from residents, businesses, organizations, churches and schools.
In collaboration with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner's Office, the City of Aurora is collecting high-demand items - water (bottles or gallons), baby products (wipes and diapers), feminine hygiene products (unopened packages) and new socks (all sizes) - for residents affected by the floods in the greater Houston area.
"On behalf of the entire city of Houston, we thank Mayor Irvin and the City of Aurora for your generosity and support," Mayor Turner said earlier this month.
Aforementioned items can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Aurora's Central Garage, 720 N. Broadway. The campaign ends on Friday, September 29.
Relief efforts have been greatly enhanced by the following initiatives:
AURORA CHRISTIANS SCHOOLS & AURORA CHURCHES
Aurora Christian Schools collaborated with more than 60 churches represented in the Fox Valley Christian Ministerial Alliance and the Aurora Christian Ministry Network to collect high-demand items during a week-long campaign that concluded with a drop-off night at Aurora Christian High School on Wednesday, September 13. Student-athletes of the Aurora Christian High 7th and 8th grade football teams organized the donations during the event.
AURORA ANIMAL CARE & CONTROL
The Aurora Animal Care and Control (AACC) is hosting a Hurricane Relief Adoption Special through the end of the month. By donating any of the high-demand items on the City of Aurora's list, participants can adopt cats and dogs older than 6 months for just $25 and kittens and puppies younger than 6 months for just $45. Regular adoption fees are $90. Adoption hours at AACC are noon to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the facility located at 600 S. River St
CABOT MICROELECTRONICS
Through a company-wide initiative, employees at Cabot Microelectronics are collecting high-demand items this month. Headquartered in Aurora, Cabot Microelectronics is the world's leading supplier of chemical mechanical planarization polishing slurries used in semiconductor manufacturing, and second largest CMP pads supplier to the semiconductor industry.
PHI IOTA ALPHA FRATERNITY
The Alpha Omega Chapter of Phi Iota Alpha Fraternity at Aurora University is collecting high-demand items during events at the university. Members of the fraternity will also partner with the City of Aurora to pack and load supplies in October.
"Aurorans always rise to the occasion to assist those in need," said Mayor Richard C. Irvin. "We are thankful for the community's support in this effort. As we work to build Aurora together, we are helping others to rebuild their communities as well."
In addition to collaborating with the Houston Mayor's Office, the City of Aurora, at the request of student-leaders in Aurora, extended the efforts to also assist the Houston Independent School District to collect school supplies for students affected by the floods.
SUPPLY BUCKET AND INDIAN PRAIRIE SCHOOL DISTRICT 204
Local community organization, Supply Bucket, has partnered with 15 schools in Indian Prairie School District 204 to collect school supplies. Founded to repurpose school supplies at the end of each semester, Supply Bucket has collection bins at schools throughout the district until the end of September. Students from Indian Prairie School District 204 will sort and organize supplies prior to shipping.
KIDS IN THE GAP AND THE AURORA FIRE DEPARTMENT
Led by two middle school students at Bednarcik Junior High School, Kids in the Gap was founded to stand in the gap for kids until they can stand for themselves. With the goal of assisting Houston-area students who are in need of supplies, Kids in the Gap is partnering with the Aurora Fire Department to collect supplies through the end of month. Collection bins are available at each Aurora Fire station.
Learn more about Aurora's Hurricane Harvey Relief at www.aurora-il.org/HurricaneHarveyRelief