'The Sooner, the Better' Project...disaster relief for Moore, Oklahoma

CONROE, Texas -- “The Sooner, the better,” a grassroots community outreach project, has been initiated to respond to the desperate need in Moore, Oklahoma. Sooner Container in Conroe and Woodlands Online, have teamed up to collect essential items and truck them up to Oklahoma this week.

Due to the devastation there’s a lack of storage facilities, so the needs are specific to what they need and can consume on a FIFO (First In, First Out) basis. Specific immediate needs include the following:

- Water, preferably 16 & 20 oz individual bottles

- Insect repellent

- Personal toiletries: toothbrushes and toothpaste, hand sanitizer, soap, deodorant

- Baby items: disposable diapers, wipes, formula

- Food: individual servings (i.e. meals-ready-to-eat, pop-top single-size)

The items are being collected at the Woodlands Online location at 25211 Grogan’s Mill Road, Suite 170, Tuesday thru Thursday, May 21 - May 23, noon. Thursday afternoon the items will be delivered to Sooner Container in Conroe, for the long haul.

Donations can be made to the Red Cross to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by sending a text message. Text the word REDCROSS to 90999. As in the case with other donations via mobile phone, the donation will show up on your wireless bill. The Red Cross also suggests giving blood at a local hospital or the community blood bank. To donate online go to American Red Cross.

Donations can be made to the Salvation Army through their website at SalvationArmyUSA.org.You can also text the word STORM to 80888 to make a $10 donation via cell phone. To mail checks: make out to "Oklahoma Tornado Relief" on the check, and mail it to: The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 12600, Oklahoma City, OK., 73157. Phone: 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769).

For more updated information, visit the Conroe Today and Woodlands Online Facebook pages and Twitter accounts.