How To Help Victims Of El Paso Mass Shooting

AUSTIN, TX — Many in Austin are hurting after 20 lives were taken and more than two dozen more injured by a mass shooter in El Paso, Texas — some 575 miles west of the capital city, a nine-hour drive via Interstate 10. Many wonder how to bridge that physical distance and offer aid to victims and their families.

Donate blood.

• We Are Blood — the blood bank serving Central Texas since 1951 — has scheduled a blood donation drive from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Colorado Street between 12th and 13th streets near the state Capitol building. Donations will aid not only the victims of El Paso, but those in a deadly shooting in Dayton, Ohio, that happened on Sunday. "We Are Blood stands with the El Paso & Dayton communities and victims following this weekend's tragic shootings," officials wrote on Facebook. Those unable to make it to that donation drive can schedule an appointment by clicking here. Donations can be made at any of the blood bank's mobile blood drives or at its three donor centers in the Austin area. The process of donating blood takes about an hour to complete.

• Those in El Paso or traveling there to help can donate blood locally at Vitalant Blood Services. Due to an overwhelming outpouring of support in the way of blood donations, the blood bank is no longer taking walk-in donors. Those wishing to donate blood should schedule an appointment at vitalant.org or by calling 877-25-VITAL (84825). Locations will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 5.

In El Paso, Lyft will offer free transportation to those donating blood by using the code ELPRELIEF19. The offer is valid for two trips of up to $15 each, to four blood donation centers:

• Vitalant (United Blood Services), 424 S Mesa Hills Dr, El Paso, TX 79912.
• Vitalant (United Blood Services), 1338 N Zaragoza Rd, El Paso, TX 79936.
• Mesilla Valley Mall (at the food court), 700 S Telshor Blvd, Las Cruces, NM 88011.
• Abundant Living Faith Center, 1000 Valley Crest, El Paso, TX 79907.

Make a financial contribution.

• The El Paso Community Foundation is accepting donations meant to aid shooting victims. The foundation has set up the "El Paso Shooting Victims Fund" for this purpose. "The foundation will waive all administrative fees, and pay all credit card fees associated with this fund," officials wrote on their website. "We are working with the County of El Paso and the City of El Paso to try to help in any way we can." Click here to make a donation to the fund.
• The Paso del Norte Community Foundation also has established a special fund dubbed the El Paso Victims Relief Fund to aid shooting victims and their families. "We appreciate your generosity in this moment of profound tragedy and sadness," officials wrote on their website. Click here to donate.

Share crisis counseling resources

Those who may have been near the shooting and find themselves traumatized and in need of comfort or counseling can call the Crisis Text Line, a free 24/7 support resource. Text HOME to 741741 to be connected to acrisis counselor. Here are other resources for those experiencing trauma in the wake of the shootings:

• EHN Crisis Hotline: 915-779-1800
• Toll Free Crisis Hotline: 1-877-562-6467
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (TALK)

Attend Mariachi Night: El Paso Victims Fundraiser

• A Sept. 13 fundraiser has been scheduled at The Sahara Lounge, 1413 Webberville Rd., at 9 p.m. to aid shooting victims. The music of choice will be the quintessential Mexican musical expression of mariachi to aid victims — including six Mexican nationals. "And we’ll sing so loud that El Paso will hear us," organizers wrote on the Facebook event page. "We will not let our spirits falter. Our thoughts are with you, brothers and sisters." All proceeds of the event will benefit victims of the El Paso shooting, according to lounge officials. The scheduled opening act will be El Paso native Bruno Amezega’s musical project, Sage Palomino.

Image via Facebook.