As members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association (TRTA) know, TRTA’s charitable partner organization, the Texas Retired Teachers Foundation (TRTF) has been raising funds to provide financial assistance for victims of Hurricane Harvey.
TRTF is pleased to announce that thanks to the overwhelming outpour of generosity from TRTA members, friends and supporters, we have raised more than $120,000 so far!
The TRTF Board of Trustees is so very thankful for your support. As a result of receiving these donations, TRTF has been able to set up a Disaster Relief Fund and already has been disbursing financial assistance to retired and active educators in the affected counties.
How to Donate
TRTF is still accepting donations for the Disaster Relief Fund and will continue helping as many people as possible until all funds are expended. PLEASE DONATE TODAY!
To donate online, please click here. You may also mail in your donation to: TRTF, 313 E. 12th Street Suite 220, Austin, TX 78701.
How to Request Assistance
TRTF is offering two methods for applicants requesting assistance. Please share this information with retirees and active educators you know who were affected by Hurricane Harvey. Please also share this information at your local unit meetings this fall! You can learn more on the TRTF website by clicking here.
- Disaster Relief Fund: Short-Term Assistance
For immediate, short-term needs, Hurricane Harvey victims may request direct financial assistance from the Disaster Relief Fund. Grants in the amount of $250 will be approved for members of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), including retirees and current active school personnel, until all funds are expended. Funds will be sent to the recipient in the form of a check, and may be used for whatever emergency needs the recipient sees fit, such as purchasing groceries, water, gasoline or paying for hotel stays.
To request an application, please click here. Please note proof of income or employment is required to verify TRS membership; however, income will not be considered as a factor when approving grants.
- Disaster Relief Fund: Long-Term Assistance
Donors familiar with our emergency assistance program, “A Helping Hand,” know that the program provides grants on behalf of recipients for items such as home and vehicle repairs, medical and dental bills, hearing aids, and many other emergency needs. Through this program, TRTF pays vendors on behalf of aid recipients, usually up to $1,000, or more in exceptional cases. Similarly, the long-term assistance request through the TRTF Disaster Relief Fund will require that the recipient have access to their home in order to take photos of damage, and also requires that a bill or bid from a vendor be included (or a copy of the insurance policy demonstrating the cost of the deductible to be met). Similarly, funds will be disbursed to the vendor, not the grant seeker. TRTF will be able to offer long-term assistance for Hurricane Harvey victims through the Disaster Relief Fund until all funds are expended. To request an application, please click here.
For questions about the TRTF Disaster Relief Fund, please send an email to help@trtf.org and be sure to include your contact information.
How to Apply for Assistance from FEMA
If damage to your home or vehicle is extensive, please be sure to apply for federal aid through FEMA. The quickest way to receive FEMA assistance is to register online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov. If you don’t have Internet access, you may register by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362). Disaster assistance applicants who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice.
Thank You
Thank you for your membership to TRTA. If you know a retiree who is not yet a member of TRTA, please encourage them to join.
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