LYNN — The Walnut Street Cafe is sending a loud and clear message that it stands with the victims of Hurricane Harvey.
The coffee house, which comes alive at night with music, drinks, and an open mic, will donate 10 percent of Thursday’s profits to help the victims in Texas, and its regular musicians and poets threw together a benefit performance to help draw crowds through the doors.
“We have a lot of people on our staff who are musicians and poets and they have been seeing what’s been in the news and they were upset,” said Alicia Churchill, who owns the cafe with her husband, Jim Chalmers. “One of our staff, a young poet, thought it would be great if we could put something together and came to us with the idea.”
The couple reached out to musicians who are no stranger to the cafe’s stage to see if anyone was available to perform on such short notice. Churchill said the response was incredible.
“We haven’t worked out exactly who we will give the money to,” said Churchill. “We’re looking to find an organization, a registered charity, that’s more specific to Texas, but we’ll also be making a donation to the Red Cross.”
The impromptu concert at the cafe was just one example of Harvey relief efforts underway in Lynn. On the city’s website, Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy recommended several ways to make financial contributions to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey from a cell phone.
A $10 donation can be made to The American Red Cross by texting “Harvey” to 90999. Donations can also be made by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or visiting Redcross.org.
Donations can be made to the Salvation Army by texting “STORM” to 51555, calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or visiting SalvationArmy.org.
To donate to United Way of Greater Houston, which has raised more than $16 million for victims of the hurricane, text “UWFLOOD” to 41444 or visit Unitedwayhouston.org/flood.
As part of a customer campaign with the American Red Cross to assist with Hurricane Harvey Relief, Walmart stores, including the one on the Lynnway, is matching customer donations two to one with cash and product donations of up to $10 million.
Massachusetts customers can donate any amount to the American Red Cross at checkout registers in Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs, on Walmart.com, and Samsclub.com.
Customers also have the option to donate $10 through their wireless carrier by texting WALMART to 90999. A one-time $10 donation will be added to the donor’s mobile bill or deducted from the prepaid balance.
“The devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey in the Gulf region and the countless acts of kindness and selflessness that have happened in response have touched the hearts of people across the country,” Jack Williams, Walmart’s regional general manager in Massachusetts, said in a statement. “Customers who want to join us in providing support can do so by contributing at the cash register, online, or by text and we’ll make their contribution more impactful by matching it.”
For every $1 donated, Walmart will contribute $2 worth of cash or, at Walmart’s option, needed product to the American Red Cross, up to $10 million. The campaign will run through Sept. 6.
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have committed up to $20 million in support of relief efforts in response to the severe weather affecting the Gulf region.
This includes $10 million focused on support of American Red Cross shelters and $2 million in support of the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund at the Greater Houston Community Foundation.
