Northern Nevada Dream Center sends rescue bags to hurricane victims
Submitted by Brett Fisher on Sat, 09/16/2017 - 2:10pm
A local charity is doing its part to help displaced victims of hurricanes Harvey and Irma in storm-ravaged parts of the southeast.
About a week ago, the Northern Nevada Dream Center (NNDC) in Carson City shipped around 260 rescue bags to the East Texas Dream Center for distribution to people in need following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, NNDC Executive Director Susan Sorenson said.
"As soon as we started seeing the reports come in from Houston, just like everyone else, we knew we had to do something to help," Sorenson said. "When we heard from the East Texas Dream Center about the needs in Houston, we knew our Rescue Bags would be a huge help to the folks there."
James Gaskets, Inc. sponsored shipping costs for the first batch sent to Houston, Sorenson said, about 325 pounds of donations.
The NNDC is looking for a sponsor to ship a second batch of relief supplies — another 250 rescue bags — to be sent in the coming days to the Fort Myers Dream Center along the Florida gulf coast in the wake of Hurricane Irma, she said.
When it's all said and done, the NNDC will have sent more than 500 rescue bags and around 700 pounds of donated items back east, Sorenson said.
"We were so excited to have a tangible way to make a difference," she said.
Rescue bags are made up of travel-sized toiletries and snacks for men, women, boys and girls, Sorenson said. Children's rescue bags also include small toys.
She said the NNDC worked quickly and feverishly to fulfill the needs of the other dream centers in the affected areas.
"Donations were brought in and we had two nights of packing last week to prepare for Texas," Sorenson said. "Both centers are in the midst of the flooded areas, serving people in need."
The rescue bags are routinely filled by the NNDC from collections of hygiene and personal care products usually given to needy residents of the region.
"We regularly distribute bags in Northern Nevada," Sorenson said. "Over 4,000 in the last five years."
Several local drives have been collecting toiletries for the NNDC rescue bags through Hilltop Community Church, Sierra Lutheran High School, Common Ground Carson, High Sierra Fellowship, and Valley Christian Church.
The NNDC, a local area registered non-profit, continues to seek toiletry supplies for rescue bags, she said, which can be dropped off at donation headquarters located at 1600 Snyder Avenue in South Carson City.
Monetary donations can be made online here at the NNDC hurricane relief page, where donors can also get more information of the items most needed.
Follow the NNDC here on Facebook as well.
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