UPDATE - SEPTEMBER 12, 2005
CLOTHING DRIVE DEEMED A SUCCESS!

Dozens of events and countless individuals have helped make the transition to their new life a little easier for thousands of evacuees from Hurricane Katrina! An estimated 20,000-25,000 items of clothing (many of them brand new) were received as a part of the Inside Texas Running clothing drive. The clothing has been provided to the evacuees and it was greatly appreciated!

Long-sleeve T-shirts and jackets were provided by nurses working at the Astrodome to those evacuees waiting for medical attention (apparently the medical area of the Astrodome was kept rather chilly).

We ask that anyone who is preparing to ship items to the ITR clothing drive please donate the items to their local charities and shelters. There are many people who have been relocated all across the United States, so there is a need for clothing items throughout the U.S. Please do not send donations to the ITR clothing drive, as it has been deemed successful and the need for clothing items locally has abated.

Thousands of people in the Louisiana, Mississippi, and surrounding areas were flooded out of their homes by Hurricane Katrina, many of them losing everything -- home, cars, clothes, etc.

Inside Texas Running is calling on all runners, cyclists, swimmers, triathletes, or anyone else to lend a helping hand to those in need. We're calling upon all race directors to donate the leftover or unused T-shirts from their events. For those who have lost everything in the floods, a nice, dry T-shirt would be greatly appreciated, regardless if it was from an event they hadn't heard of or if the shirt isn't from this year's event.

But this call for help isn't limited to just event directors. Everyone has extra race T-shirts sitting in their closet -- now is the time to lighten your laundry load and get them into the hands of people who could really use them. PLEASE NOTE: IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING FROM THE RED CROSS THAT THEY PREFER NEW CLOTHING ONLY.

T-shirts (and other clothing) can be delivered or shipped (postage-paid, please) to the ITR offices at:
Inside Texas Running
14201 Memorial Drive, Suite 204
Houston, TX 77079
281-759-0555 phone

Large shipments (especially from outside Houston) may be sent directly to:
Salvation Army (they are an official location accepting clothing donations)
2407 N. Main Street
Houston, TX 77009
713-224-2875
They take all of the shipments directly to the Astrodome.

ALL DONATIONS SENT TO OUR OFFICE WILL BE DELIVERED TO AN OFFICIAL RED CROSS DROP-OFF LOCATION FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THOSE MOST IN NEED. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE ALSO RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM LOCAL CHURCHES THAT ARE ASSISTING THE EVACUEES AND WE WILL PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THESE GROUPS AS WELL.

If you have any questions, please contact Lance Phegley or Loran Sheffer at (281) 759-0555. Please call ahead to arrange delivery time.