I’m currently hundreds of miles away from my adopted home state of Texas. It feels weird. I feel helpless. However, I also know there is not much I can do right now other than donate money.
You might be feeling the same way too–helpless. And you may be wondering the best way to donate your time or money to those affected by Hurricane Harvey.
Since there are so many links being shared around on social media, I decided to compile a list. I’ll be updating throughout the coming days.
P.S. You may be itching to donate your physical being now, like I am, but this will be a long recovery. Remember: Our services will be needed weeks or months down the road when the threat has passed.
9/5/17:
-Mayor Adler has updated the list of needs for evacuees which includes toys for kiddos. Read about it here.
–Houston Food Bank is accepting volunteers for the next weeks and months.
–Habitat for Humanity Houston has volunteer opportunities available over the next few months.
–Sign up for Volunteer Houston to learn of volunteer opportunities.
–Coastal Bend Volunteer Connection has a slew of volunteer opportunities available.
-There are many volunteer opportunities through Samaritan’s Purse.
-Sign up to help with recovery at St. Bernard’s Project out of San Marcos, TX.
-Here is a list of disaster relief opportunities from Volunteer Match.
-The Red Cross is always looking for volunteers. Sign up here.
8/31/17:
-Austin Pets Alive! still needs donations for displaced pets. Please find full list here.
–Texas Diaper Bank could use volunteers this weekend and next week.
–Good Party ATX has a list of events in Austin this weekend that are raising funds/collecting donations for Harvey relief efforts.
-Austin Disaster Relief Network is collecting donation. Find a full list here.
–365 Things Austin offers an extensive list of places in Austin who are accepting donation for people affected by Hurricane Harvey.
–Zagat has compiled a list of restaurants in Texas and beyond that are donating proceeds to or collecting donations for Harvey evacuees.
–Texans in New York are collecting donations through YouCaring to then disburse to Save the Children, Houston Food Bank and Austin Pets Alive!
8/30/17:
-Mayor Adler is asking Austinites to help put together welcome kits for Hurricane Harvey evacuees in Austin. Learn more here.
-As of 4:30PM CST, Austin Pets Alive! is requesting crates in addition to many other items.
-According to Fox 7, Central Texas Food Bank is in need of funds and volunteers. Learn more here.
-I created a Facebook Fundraiser for Houston Food Bank because 1.) They have a 100% rating on Charity Navigator 2.) People need food right now and 3.) There are over 6.3 million people in the greater Houston area. If you’re not sure where to donate, please consider donating to this fundraiser.
-My friend Tom Harjo shared this excellent post from Colorlines on which charities support communities of color. Consider donating to Black Women’s Defense League, RAICES (free or low-cost legal services for immigrants) and ICNA Relief (a Muslim nonprofit that provides aids to those who need it).
–The Mohawk is holding a Hurricane Harvey fundraiser featuring Black Joe Lewis, The Octopus Project, Robert Ellis, Walker Lukens and more.
-For those of you in West Texas, Marfa Public Radio compiled a list of ways you can help.
–Market Watch has offered some creative ways to help victims including offering airline miles or donating cryptocurrency.
8/29/17:
-My friend Lindsay shared this GoFundMe from a friend. The story will break your heart, but it has a happy ending. Please consider donating.
-Texas Democrats and Indivisible will be cooking meals for Harvey evacuees at the New Braunfels Food Bank this Saturday 8/31. You can sign up to volunteer in the here.
-At 3PM CST, Texas Diaper Bank put out a call for volunteers.
-Austin will be turning the Austin Convention Center into a “mega shelter” for evacuees.
-A new law in Texas will limit claimants’ rights when filing with insurance companies. There are many reports stating that hurricane victims should file claims before this Friday. Read about it at Dallas Morning News.
-For people in the Austin area, AustinTexas.gov has compiled a list of common Hurricane Harvey questions and answers and ways you can help.
–Mayor Adler of Austin also has a helpful list on how to help.
-Texas’ famous grocery chain HEB is enabling customers to add $1, $3 or $5 to their grocery bills that will go to American Red Cross for Texas Flood and Hurricane Relief, The Salvation Army and Feeding Texas. (HEB has also provided thousands of meals from their mobile kitchens in Hurricane affected areas.)
–Business Insider created an excellent list of nonprofits you should donate to based off Charity Navigator’s recommendations, including St. Bernard Project, which helps areas rebuild after disasters, and Samaritan’s Purse, which provides aid during crises.
-Speaking of Charity Navigator, if you want to research a nonprofit before donating, search nonprofit’s name at CharityNavigator.org. They rate the nonprofit’s finances, accountability and transparency.
–Eater Austin shared a list of Austin-based restaurants who are donating proceeds to victims of Hurricane Harvey.
–Donald Trump is visiting Austin this afternoon. I leave this with no comment.
8/28/17:
-Here NPR’s list of ways to help, including donating to The Greater Houston Community Foundation, which the mayor created to help victims of the hurricane, and United Way of Greater Houston.
–Texas Monthly has a great list on how you can help which includes donating to Texas Diaper Bank, Austin Pets Alive! and Portlight, which helps people with disabilities during disasters.
-KUT, Austin’s NPR station, compiled ways for Austinites to help including donating items to Austin Disaster Relief Network and donating blood through We Are Blood.
–Huffington Post’s list includes donating to Coalition for the Homeless in Houston, which cares for the city’s homeless population, and Rockport Chamber of Commerce, which is collecting funds to help the city rebuild.
–Slate’s list includes donating funds to Houston Food Bank, Galveston County Food Bank and Corpus Christi Food Bank.
–The Independent recommends donating to All Hands, a nonprofit “that addresses immediate and long-term needs of communities impacted by natural disasters by engaging and leveraging volunteers, partner organizations and local communities,” and Americares, which provides emergency medical supplies to disaster areas.
-Quartz shares how you can lend your time by signing up for Volunteer Houston or All Hands.
-GoFundMe has page where you can see all Hurricane Harvey GoFundMe campaigns.
–AirBnB is waiving all services fees for people affected by Hurricane Harvey until September 1st.
Please add additional resources in the comments and I will add to the list.
2 Comments
Catholic Relief Services (in this case, it’s going through Catholic Charities USA) is another great way to done to help – here’s the link: https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/CCUSADISASTER
OK, so you’re Jewish, a writer, AND you used to live in Austin? Are you kidding me? Maybe you’re a lost sister. A lover from a parallel dimension. A female version of me. Or just someone I wish I’d known before you left but am glad I didn’t because I’d be missing you terribly right about now? PS Hurricanes suck; Harvey really sucked, like hard.