Direct Relief, in consultation with the Texas Association of Community Health Centers, announced today an initial $350,000 for emergency operating grants of up to $25,000 each for community health centers in Texas to help address immediate financial needs that have arisen from the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey.
“Direct Relief has worked closely with health centers in Texas for the past 12 years and, as always, they are playing a critical role providing health services for people – in the flooded communities, in shelters, and in communities to which they have evacuated,” said Direct Relief President and CEO Thomas Tighe. “This initial financial support is needed now to ensure they can continue to play their vital role – particularly for people with low incomes, lacking insurance, and with limited access to needed care.”
These emergency funds – made possible because of contributions Direct Relief has received for Hurricane Harvey and allocated after consulting with TACHC Executive Director Jose Camacho – will be targeted to health centers in the communities that have experienced damage or operational losses from Hurricane Harvey or have expanded services to care for persons evacuated to other areas.
TACHC will advise, screen and help prioritize requests, and make recommendations to Direct Relief, which will make grants on an expedited basis.
“For over a decade, Direct Relief has always been there for our centers, particularly in times of great need,” said José E. Camacho, TACHC Executive Director/General Counsel. “As our centers and their employees navigate the road to recovery from Hurricane Harvey, it is this kind of cooperation and unity that truly helps our patients, centers and their employees cope with a disaster of this magnitude. Gracias.”
Direct Relief also is providing emergency deliveries of essential medications and health commodities to TACHC member health centers and other nonprofit safety-net health providers in Texas. Over the past week, Direct Relief has provided 60 emergency deliveries to 18 sites in Texas containing more than $900,000 (wholesale) in medicines and supplies, which include insulin and other requested medications that are critically important for patients with chronic conditions that can rapidly become life threatening if unmanaged.
