Houston, TX – The UNITED SIKHS Humanitarian Aid team reached Galveston and Houston, Texas, this week, with relief and emergency supplies for Hurricane Ike evacuees living in shelter homes.

Hurricane Ike blasted ashore near Galveston, TX on September 13th with category 2 storm, flooding the Texas gulf coast. Millions flee during mandatory evacuation.

FEMA and partner agencies contacted the UNITED SIKHS humanitarian aid team to serve much needed hot meals and emergency supplies to evacuees in Houston. UNITED SIKHS has setup a base camp at The Sikh Center, Houston, with the support of the Gurudwara management, to serve hot-meals to the evacuees.

UNITED SIKHS volunteers from New Jersey, Austin and Houston helped evacuees in the Mega Shelter home on South Loop, Houston, TX. Over 900 evacuees were put in the Red Cross shelter home last week.

Distribution of Supplies:

• Towels, Hand Wash, Mouth Wash
• Clothes (Men/Women)- Shirts, T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Sweatpants,
• Shocks, Sleepers, Undergarment,
• Supplies: Water Bottles, Disposables

Lisa Jackson, 43, correctional officer, TDC, Galveston TX said, “I am thankful to UNITED SIKHS for distributing water and towels in the area”. While sharing her experience she said “I moved to this house on Alamo St, Galveston in 2002 with my disabled husband. After the Hurricane, the entire area was flooded damaging the floor, walls, furniture and the Refrigerator. I have no electricity in my house”.

Gurpreet Kaur, 24 and her husband Sukhdev Singh, 26 moved to Galveston from queens, NY in 2003. They have experienced Rita and Ike since they moved to the city. “Our business is damaged; floor ripped off and the cooler inside the store is damaged by the strong storm. We are thankful to God for saving our life. ”

Jasleen Kaur, Gurjeet Kaur and Kuldip Singh helping Ike Evacuees in the Shelter Home, Houston.

Gurjeet Kaur, UNITED SIKHS volunteer and relief coordinator from Austin, TX , said, “This relief operation is much needed to help the needy. I didnt want to miss the opportunity of providing humanitarian aid. The Austin community has supported generously in the relief effort. “

Jasleen Kaur, UNITED SIKHS volunteer from Austin, TX said “Selfless seva is one of the basic Sikh beliefs and I am grateful I am able to help in the mega shelter homes”.

“Our volunteers, mobilized from different parts of the country, left behind their jobs and loved ones. We thank them for such generous hearts and selfless service. In this same spirit we thank Gurdwara committees and aid-organizations that helped provide relief to the needy” said UNITED SIKHS Sikh Aid Director, Kuldip Singh.

“Sikhs feel the pain of victims affected by Ike. Sikh Center, Houston continues to support the relief efforts of UNITED SIKHS in providing assistance to the affected people” said Bhai Amar Singh of Sikh Center Houston, addressing the congregation.

To send your contribution to UNITED SIKHS please contact us at 1-888-243-1690 or give online at https://unitedsikhs.org/donate/ or post your cheque to a UNITE SIKHS office nearest to you. For details of our offices see https://unitedsikhs.org/contact-us/.

If you wish to volunteer please email sikhaid@unitedsikhs.org.

To read a previous press release on our Panjab flood relief project see https://unitedsikhs.org/disaster-relief-sikh-aid/.