I know many of you in Houston think that my company is the "Evil Empire" (which we really aren't because we aren't even near as big as the other two major companies in Texas). You may think that our sudden volunteerism is some sort of PR scam. Well, my company volunteers for all kinds of things, and we don't advertise it, but I'm not going to waste my breath trying to convince you of this. This most recent activity to help comes directly as an urgent request from Harris County disaster relief center. Here is the email I recieved from my company below. (Please note that the T-Shirt is not a PR gimick. It is so that the Red Cross can identify us as volunteers). Again, if you are interested in helping, please let me know and I will register you with us.

Immediate Volunteer Opportunities

As many of you already know, we are responding to Harris County's urgent request for volunteers to assist the Red Cross in helping the New Orleans evacuees at the Reliant Astrodome. We are currently filling volunteer shifts through the Labor Day weekend. We urge everyone to help out when they can and thank those of you who have already committed to volunteer. Please encourage your family members and friends over the age of 18 to participate as well.

To volunteer, please send an e-mail to XXXXX at XXXXXXX.com stating which of the following shifts you are signing up for:

Thursday, Sept 1:
6 PM - 10 PM

Friday, Sept 2:
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Saturday, Sept 3:
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Sunday, Sept 4:
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Monday, Sept 5:
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

Tuesday, Sept 6:
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.

What volunteers need to know:

If you are volunteering for a shift during regular work hours, you will need approval from your supervisor. This is not necessary for shifts outside of work hours.

Please wear your Reliant Energy volunteer tee shirt -- this will make it easy for Red Cross personnel to identify you as a volunteer. If you do not have a tee shirt, please pick one up from office 1810 at 1000 Main. You may also pick up tee shirts for family or friends who are volunteering with you.

When you arrive at Reliant Park for your shift, enter via the McNee entrance off Kirby and park in the Orange Lot. There is no charge for parking.

Go to the East Ramp of the Reliant Astrodome and check in with a Red Cross Relief Volunteer Coordinator to receive instructions regarding your assignment.
Thank you for assisting the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We will keep you advised of ongoing volunteer and other relief opportunities through the Reliant intranet and through additional corporate outreach e-mails.

If you are interested in volunteering at the Astrodome this weekend, I can register you with my company, Reliant Energy and you can meet me at the Dome this Saturday at 11:30 AM. We will be working a 12-4 shift. If you give me your name, I will register you and you will get a free Reliant T-Shirt. If you are not interested in volunteering for Reliant, you can contact the Houston Red Cross at: (713) 526-8300. Also, there is an urgent need for licensed health professionals. You can go to: http://www.houstonredcross.org/cgi-bin/NewsList.cgi?section=&cat=Spotlight&rec=165 for more information.

If you want to volunteer at the Dome with me, reply in the comments of this LJ and I will register you with my company. I need to know what size T-Shirt you need, too.

The Red Cross is asking for volunteers to work 4 hour shifts at the Astrodome and my company is allowing us to take off work to help out. I won't be able to make it out there today, but will probably make it out there before the weekend is over. I don't have all the details yet. I will pass on the phone numbers as soon as I get them.

Also, there are a lot of people who were not in the Superdome in New Orleans that are showing up at the Astrodome because they heard it is some place where you can go. They are not being allowed to enter the Astrodome at this time. A fellow employee drove by there and saw families with infants sleeping on blankets on the sidewalks outside the Dome. I know there is at least one person heading to Houston with donations. Please consider them first before dropping this stuff off with the Red Cross. These people never made it to the Superdome, so they probably haven't eaten in days. Consider them first. Consider bringing powdered formula, sunscreen, bugspray, etc. My co-worker is taking donations today from our department and has gotten Uhaul to donate a truck and is taking supplies to these people first.

I will let you know more as I hear it. In case you didn't know, I work for Reliant Energy.