https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1UUQVSPCA3o
“I want everyone to know that if Texans come to Austin needing shelter that we will find a place for them. The second thing that I want to say is that when company comes, the family has chores to do. We certainly do in this area, getting ready for the guests that we’re going to have. Everybody has a role to play in this recovery effort. Continue reading
September 5, 2017: Blue Santa is asking Austin to do a Texas Toy Drive!
In an effort to provide support and comfort to children throughout the state of Texas who have been displaced from their homes as a result of Hurricane Harvey, Mayor Steve Adler is asking the Austin community to come together and donate the items listed below to ensure every child has the opportunity to continue being a kid during this difficult time.
The Mayor is asking for the community to donate new toys, board games, playing cards, sports balls, crayons/markers/colored pencils, arts and crafts sets, coloring books, and puzzles. Please avoid including any toy weapons, glitter, glue, or food items. We encourage the community to secure items for children of all ages, from infants to teenagers.
This donation drive is being conducted in partnership with Operation Blue Santa. Donations will be focused on supporting children in disaster relief locally and state-wide. If any additional donations are not utilized to support children during relief efforts they will be made available to families in our community that are in need this holiday season.
Donations will be accepted through Friday, September 15. For more information, you can visit the Blue Santa webpage at www.bluesanta.org or call at 512-974-BLUE.
Drop Off Location:
Blue Santa Warehouse
4101 S. Industrial Drive, #260
Austin, TX 78744
Hours: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday – Friday
District 6 NW Office is also accepting donations. Drop off here:
10401 Anderson Mill RD Suite 101 (next to Shipley’s Donuts)
M-W-F 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
T-Th 4 – 7 p.m.
Austin-based Go! Retail Group is offering a special of 30% off all games, toys, and puzzles for donation to Operation Blue Santa. They’re also accepting new game and toy donations at all 5 of their local-area retail stores. Any donations purchased online here will be delivered directly to Operation Blue Santa. Donations will be accepted through September 15.
The company has also committed to providing a teddy-bear for each purchased donation, with a commitment to donate up to 5,000 teddy-bears to kids in need of special comfort.
Drop Off Locations:
Go! Games and Toys stores at:
Toy Joy just started offering a Texas Toy Drive special. If you buy a toy from them for the Harvey kids, they’ll not only knock 25% off the price, but they will make sure the toy gets delivered to the Austin Police Operation Blue Santa for you! Didn’t buy a toy from them? Don’t worry about it. You can still drop it off there:
New York, NY/Washington, August 18, 2017 – The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and The Anti-Defamation League today announced a new joint plan to fight extremism and bigotry and promote justice and equality in response to the disturbing hate and violence seen in Charlottesville, Va. More than 240 mayors from across the country representing USCM so far have pledged to implement the plan.
USCM partnered with ADL to develop the 10-point Mayors’ Compact to Combat Hate, Extremism and Bigotry. Under the Compact, mayors commit to vigorously speak out against all acts of hate; punish bias-motivated violence to the fullest extent of the law; encourage more anti-bias and anti-hate education in schools and police forces, using ADL experts and resources for both; encourage community activities that celebrate their population’s cultural and ethnic diversity; and ensure civil rights laws are aggressively enforced and hate crimes laws are as strong as possible.
“Terrorism by white supremacists, like what took place in Charlottesville, is a clear and present danger to America’s cities,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “Mayors are eager to join with the Anti-Defamation League to fight hate, and I’m honored that Mayor Landrieu asked me to help lead a coordinated campaign across this country to promote the Mayors’ Compact to Combat Hate, Extremism and Bigotry. Only the Statute of Liberty should be carrying a torch these days, and her message of respect must echo in America’s cities where this battle is being fought.” Continue reading