While Hurricane Harvey continues to drop rain in the Houston area, many of us are watching in horror as we try to figure out what we can do to help people in need. There is still a lot of uncertainty for Texas residents, many of whom are still stranded, homeless or displaced. Texas has a strong, resourceful, community, but they are going to need a lot of help from their friends.
Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has established the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund to accept donations for flood victims. The fund has been established through The Greater Houston Community Foundation. The GHCF helps connect potential donors with non-profit organizations.
Food, Water and Medicine Needed
GlobalGiving is a crowdfunding platform. They have established a Hurricane Harvey Fund with a goal of raising $2,000,000. Funds will be used first to provide life-sustaining resources such as food, water, and medicine. As the rebuilding effort begins, remaining funds will be used to aid in long-term recovery efforts.Local Food BanksPlease consider donating money to local food banks. They are able to procure food and water more efficiently and maximize the benefit of your donation to the community.
- Houston Food Bank
- Galveston Food Bank
- Food Bank of the Golden Crescent (Victoria)
- Corpus Christi Food Bank
- Southeast Texas Food Bank (Beaumont)
- Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley (Pharr)
- Brazos Valley Food Bank (Bryan)
- Central Texas Food Bank (Austin)
- San Antonio Food Bank
Help Pets In Need
"What’s happening in Texas is a singular, destructive, and perilous moment for the state’s human residents. That’s true for the animals, too."
Wayne Pacelle, CEO, Humane Society of the United States
Wings Of Rescue is helping the local shelters evacuate animals to other regions of the country. This is necessary to make room for the swelling number of pets displaced by Harvey. All evacuees are being sent to no-kill shelters.
So far, Wings of Rescue have flown 108 cats and dogs out of Louisiana shelters to make room for displaced animals. Yesterday they flew animals from San Antonio to Morristown, N.J., and today from San Antonio to Oregon and Washington. Another flight is planned from Lafayette, La., to Colorado Springs, Colo.
Best Friends was one of the first animal rescue groups with boots on the ground during Hurricane Katrina. They have already deployed a disaster response team to Houston in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. The organization provides resources to rescue stranded animals, deliver supplies and transport displaced pets.