Galveston Children's Museum Archives - Association of Children's Museums Association of Children's Museums

Children’s Museums Reopen After Harvey

Several ACM members in the Gulf Coast region of Texas were directly impacted by Hurricane Harvey this past week. We’re happy to report that many of these museums are already open and providing a safe and fun place for families to play in this difficult time.

The Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley is open with the message, “Young or Young-at-Heart, we are all #Texasstrong.”
After several days of truncated hours due to road conditions and staff safety, The Woodlands Children’s Museum is back to regular hours!
The Children’s Discovery Museum of the Golden Crescent in Victoria is open and offering pay-what-you-will admission through Friday.
The Children’s Museum of Houston is open and offering free admission to displaced families. The museum is also running a school supply and uniform drive for children affected by the storm.
Beaumont Children’s Museum is closed through the weekend, and on standby to reopen Monday.
Galveston Children’s Museum plans to open tomorrow with a Free Come Play Friday admission day!
Thinkery in Austin is open and currently offering free admission to displaced families.

On Tuesday, August 29, ACM established the ACM Harvey Relief Fund to support the staff and families of our members affected by the storm. ACM will match the first $5,000, and the fund will remain open for donations through September 30. To date, we’ve received more than $2,500 in donations!

Thank you to all who have donated and spread the word about the Fund, including Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum, the American Alliance of Museums, WOW! Children’s Museum, The Empathetic Museum, Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum, and the Children’s Museum of Brownsville.

We’re inspired by the words of Saleem Hue Penny, Associate Vice President of Community and Educational Partnerships at Chicago Children’s Museum: “in these moments reminded we are a ‘community,’ not merely an ‘association.’”

donated to @childmuseums #HarveyRelief https://t.co/Scy1GbsL11
in these moments reminded we are a “community”, not merely an “association” https://t.co/hljATv1qPK

— Saleem Hue Penny (@huedotart) August 30, 2017

We’re heartened by the strength of our Texas museums, and by how our membership is coming together in support and solidarity. Thank you all for being a part of our community!

The Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) champions children’s museums worldwide. Follow ACM on Twitter and Facebook.

ACM Harvey Relief Fund

In response to the ongoing damage caused by Hurricane Harvey in Texas, ACM is establishing the ACM Harvey Response Fund to assist the staff and families of our members affected by the storm.

ACM members Galveston Children’s Museum, The Woodlands Children’s Museum, Children’s Discovery Museum of the Golden Crescent, Children’s Museum of Houston, Beaumont Children’s Museum, and The Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley have been directly impacted by the storm.

To our knowledge, our museums have been fortunate in sustaining minimal structural damage. However, many of their staff have been affected, and will need assistance as they regroup and rebuild. While now a tropical storm, Harvey is continuing to move through the Gulf Coast region. ACM will keep monitoring the situation to support the staff of all our affected members.

Donate to the ACM Harvey Response Fund

ACM will match the first $5,000 donated. The Fund will remain open for donations through September 30, 2017.

Other Ways to Help

If your museum wants to engage your visitors in your Harvey response, you might consider hosting drives or fundraisers to support the following charities:

Texas Diaper Bank: A San Antonio-based organization committed to distributing diapers and goods to assist vulnerable babies and children with disabilities.

Portlight Strategies: An organization doing post-disaster relief to provide aid for people with disabilities.

See NPR for more information about organizations on the ground