With all of the recent interruptions that are taking place thanks to the ongoing worldwide coronavirus pandemic, the community partners of the Houston Texans NFL football team are taking the opportunity to step up all of their response efforts in order to provide assistance to those who are deemed as being perhaps the most vulnerable in this crisis. Naturally, the situation will, of course, be changing in the coming weeks, so it’s important to keep an eye on both your local and national news sources for all of the latest information and updates regarding this ongoing crisis.
Here are a few of the many different ways in which these community partners are assisting citizens during these trying times in our world.
*In terms of restaurant support, community partners have provided a list of restaurants that are currently available to help feed families during the outbreak. These restaurants include Freddy’s, Jack in the Box, Whataburger, Papa John’s, Tif’s Treats, Fuddrucker’s, Hearsay, Underbelly, Shipley Do-Nuts, Del Frisco’s, BB’s, Legacy Restaurants, Goode Company, and Churrascos. It is advised that whichever restaurant you prefer to obtain service from that you first contact them directly in order to determine what specific services they are offering, as some may be offering only delivery, drive thru, carryout, or all of the above-mentioned services. Additionally, some or all of these restaurants may also be operating on a limited schedule as well, so it would, of course, be a good idea to contact them directly in order to obtain more information before placing any kind of a food order for either delivery, carryout, or pickup via the restaurant’s drive thru window location.
*The Houston Food Bank is also currently in operation and will continue to provide essential services to the hundreds of thousands of citizens who depend on them on a daily basis. The food bank is currently sourcing as many food donations as possible at multiple partner agencies. As of this week, they are sending trucks to a total of ten Houston Independent School District campuses five days per week. Additionally, they have also put together extra food boxes for senior citizens, as well as food boxes for those citizens who do not have access to food resources and are also in quarantine or isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, the food bank has also sent out an urgent request for volunteers to assist them with the most vulnerable populations in the city during these trying times. An additional request has also been put out for monetary donations as well.
*In terms of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, these locations are currently suspended; however, staff members of these locations are continuing to identify any and all alternative services and programming in order to help meet the needs of the community itself. The clubs are also working to closely collaborate with all of their strategic partners in order to help provide essential resources for families, such as food distribution and virtual programming for youth, due to many schools and businesses being closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, the clubs are requesting donations in order to ensure that locations will be ready to meet all of the needs of children, teenagers, and families when they are finally able to reopen once the crisis subsides.
*The YMCA of Greater Houston and their facilities, though temporarily closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, are still offering virtual classes for their members and remain committed to serving members of their Active Older Adult community. Additionally, they are also providing childcare for all essential personnel for children aged 12 months to 12 years. More details regarding these services can be found on their official website. Additionally, they will also be providing virtual fitness classes, as well as educational resources.
*The Houston Independent School District has announced that their schools will remain closed until at least April 10, 2020. This is being done in order to maintain social distancing in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. The district has made it known that they remain fully committed to supporting all of their students and their families in need during the ongoing worldwide coronavirus pandemic. More information can be found by visiting the district’s official website
*The United Way of Greater Houston has announced that they are continuing to monitor the spread of the coronavirus in the greater Houston area, and that they are also leading conversations with partners and agencies in order to ensure that they are able to fully serve the community itself. Because of this, they will continue to operate the 211 Texas/United Way HELPLINE, which is a community resource for hope, help, and access to the largest database of social services that is currently available in the community. Those who need to use this helping can access it on a 24/7 basis in order to receive assistance with child care, food, transportation, and other forms of critical resources and information. More information regarding this can be found by visiting the agency’s official website.
*Houston Methodist Hospital is also providing assistance in the form of offering the community free information in regards to COVID-19 on all of their social media platforms, as well as through helpful tips that can be found in newsletters that will be made available to the general public. More information regarding this can be found by visiting the hospital’s official website.
In terms of Harris County itself, it is important to note that the county itself is currently recommending that residents practice social distancing by remaining at home in order to help with slowing the spread of the coronavirus, which can be highly contagious, especially in individuals who are of an advanced age. No travel should be made except for essential reasons, such as going to the grocery store, visiting a healthcare provider, caring for an ill family member, going to work for an essential business if it absolutely cannot be avoided, etc. Otherwise, keep yourself and others around you safe and stay at home.