Even though the offices at United Way of Mid and South Jefferson County as well as some of their partner agencies sustained damages during Tropical Storm Harvey, folks can still donate and help those in need locally.

“We have been busy coordinating supplies for the city,” Janie Johnson, CEO and executive director of United Way of Mid and South Jefferson County, said.

Volunteers from Golden Pass LNG are helping staff at United Way gutting the destroyed parts of their building. A portable office has been ordered and will arrive in seven to 10 days. In the meantime Johnson and staff are working in their cars and in front of their office, weather permitting.

“Many of our agencies were affected by floodwater,” she said. “There are some providing services and the ones who haven’t been able to reopen yet and need to relocate are working to open by tomorrow (Friday) or by next week.”

The United Board of Missions — a faith based, non-profit organization, supports a number of programs from back to school and Share-A-Toy to Meals on Wheels and emergency services, which assists families with rent, utilities, food and clothing needs.

Mae Terro, executive director of UBM, said their Ninth Avenue building saw between three to four feet of water and everything inside was lost.

“We are going to operate the United Board of Missions from the Missions Attic location,” she said of the resale shop located at 3300 Twin City Hwy., Groves. “However, we have a limited amount of food to help people with.”

The Missions Attic resale shop, which raises money for the organization, saw some damage as well. Although the store, is open for shoppers they are also accepting donations both monetary and resale items.

One problem is that people have been donating wet, flood damaged clothing and Terro and volunteers are not able to salvage these items.

“People have brought their wet items to us. We have a parking lot full of wet stuff we have to get cleaned up,” she said. “What we need is new or gently used, dry items.”

Because the location was closed with the flooding, the store was not making any money and the money goes back for operational costs they use to help people in need.

Persons wishing to donate to UBM can bring the donations, monetary or other, to either the Missions Attic location or their other resale shop, Attic Treasure, 5239 39^th St., Groves.

Johnson said all of the partner agencies are solid organizations. The Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund has been set up to assist all of the agencies and no administrative costs will be taken out.

“It all goes straight in to help people get the help they need I the community,” Johnson said. “A lot of people don’t realize that when you give to the United Way of Mid and South Jefferson County, none of that goes to administrative costs. Every dime and every penny stays local.”

United Way’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund — www.unitedwaymsjc.org/help

For more information on United Way and its partner agencies, call 729-4040.