Heart to Heart sends aid to Ike victims

Heart to Heart International is responding with medical aid to people affected by Hurricane Ike.

A mobile clinic was sent Wednesday to the Houston area for at least the next 90 days. The clinic will be at the First Baptist Church in Houston where relief agencies are serving an estimated 50,000 evacuees a day. The clinic includes exam rooms, a diagnostic center and an onboard pharmacy to be staffed by medical volunteers in Texas.

"We are hearing from our people on the ground that the regional health care system is having difficulty accommodating people who are getting sick or are injured, setting up the potential for a health crisis," said Jeff DeGraffenreid, Heart to Heart's chief operating officer, in a press release. "We are sending our health clinic to help avert that crisis."

Heart to Heart International first sent medical aid to Houston on Sept. 12.

"Heart to Heart is in full crisis mode right now, which means we are mobilizing all resources at our disposal to respond to people in crisis in the Caribbean and along the Texas Coast if needed," DeGraffenreid said in the release. "This has been a busy Atlantic hurricane season and more storms are on the way, but we have a great support network and believe our donors will rise to any challenge that comes our way."

Heart to Heart also continues to respond in Haiti to help survivors of Hurricane Gustav. Assistance is also being delivered to victims in the Dominican Republic, Bahamas, the Turks and Galcos Islands.

As of Sept. 12, Heart to Heart was still responding to crises in the Midwest and other parts of the world, so the latest hurricane is stretching the organization's resources, according to the press release. Heart to Heart requests financial support. Those interested may make a donation by giving online at www.hearttoheart.org, calling a toll-free hot line at 866-341-GIVE or mailing a check or money order to 401S. Clairborne, Suite 302, Olathe, KS 66062.