Help for West

MORNING UPDATE:

The Waco Tribune has a links round-up for ways to help those affected by the plant explosion in West. This is the best collection of links anywhere that I've found so far.

WFAA in Dallas (who has been doing an exemplary job of covering this situation) has a short rundown and ways to both help and contact those in West.

Zac Crain of DMagazine is from West, and offers his take on the town, and the impact of this event on the surrounding areas.

Baylor has updated their Response for the City of West page, and the Chamber of Commerce will be accepting donations on 5th Street near Diadeloso activities. They are requesting "Toothpaste, water bottles, baby formula, diapers, shampoo, conditioner, clothing of all sizes, deodorant, towels, blankets, personal hygiene products, shoes, items for children, gift cards, and monetary donations."

Baylor has also set up a fund where people can donate to the victims in West.

#Baylor has also set up a fund to accept gifts that will benefit the community of nearby #WestTX: bit.ly/14z3T3U #DiaDelWest

— Baylor Proud (@BaylorProud) April 18, 2013

This is a fully-secure, online tool that you can use without any fear that the intended donation will not get to the intended recipients. If Baylor can be trusted to do anything and do it well, it is this.

If you have a link for donations, or a request, or any news, please post it in the comments. I'll be in and out of computer service all day, and will update this page as I can.

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Carter Blood Care will be open for donations today at their various locations: find the closest center to you here. For those local to Waco, Providence Hospital will have a drive from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM today.

Extraco Events Center will open this morning at 9:00 AM for donations. Call 254-776-1660 for more information.

If you can house someone displaced by the explosions, there is a GoogleDoc here. If you can't, but want to help, Blair's Cove Apartments (2425 S 21st, Waco, TX) is asking for donations, along with offering their 25 open apartments to families.

Baylor has a site organized for relief help, and will update it with current information.

If you can help now:

We'll b here at ESPN-Central Texas all night, taking donations all night, anything, jeans, shirts, cap, blankets, 5501 Bagby Avenue, Waco.

— David Smoak (@DavidSmoak) April 18, 2013

#BAYLOR COMMUNITY: Here's how you can help: bit.ly/13jVrRn. Will post more @ bit.ly/13jTsMU as things progress. #PrayForWest

— Baylor University (@Baylor) April 18, 2013

Disaster Relief 1 has a page up for donations and future volunteer efforts .