The Good, the Bad and the Unread started in Texas, and many of us live in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey. Some of us are still riding out the storm. We have a firsthand look at how much relief efforts are needed, and know that in times like these everyone wants to know the best way to help.
You can use Charity Navigator to help determine if a non-profit organization is legitimate. They have a list of recommended organizations for Hurricane Harvey relief.
The American Red Cross is always a good place to start. Right now, they need money and donations of blood, especially if you live in the DFW area (where they’re currently storing additional inventory for affected areas). You can text HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. You can also make donations at any Lowe’s in Texas or any Starbucks.
To maximize your donation, Amazon and Whole Foods Market are matching donations (up to $1 million) to American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey Relief. They also have a wish list of items needed for the relief effort.
United Airlines is offering bonus miles to MileagePlus members who donate to the American Red Cross, AmeriCares, Airlink or Operation USA can earn bonus miles, as detailed here.
Author Kate Messner is hosting a KidLit Cares auction to benefit the American Red Cross.
H-E-B has launched their own mobile relief efforts. At H-E-B stores throughout Texas, you can also donate to the American Red Cross for Texas Flood and Hurricane Relief, The Salvation Army and Feeding Texas at checkout.
To help efforts to evacuate and shelter residents:
- Louisiana Cajun Navy – Assisting evacuation efforts and can use your support.
- Portlight – Helps the disabled and elderly access the resources they need
- Houston Coalition for the Homeless – Helping the homeless and displaced find shelter
This is a list of open shelters in the Houston area; you can look up their donation policies. Homeless Houston also has a list of open shelters and a link to where to donate.
To help efforts to provide food:
- Houston Food Bank – Currently, one worker is in place to help support city and county shelters. Other volunteers had to leave because it wasn’t safe to stay. I’ve personally volunteered with the Houston Food Bank, and it is one of the largest food banks in the nation and provides food to over 1/3 of children in Houston in the free and reduced lunch. It serves a vital function in our community at the best of times.
- Emergency Aid Coalition – Food and clothing in the Houston area
- Target Hunger
- Food Bank of Corpus Christi – Currently open
- Corpus Christi Food Pantry and Assistance
- Galveston Food Bank
- Food Bank of the Golden Crescent – Serves Victoria and re-opened today
- South East Texas Food Bank
- San Antonio Food Bank – In emergency response mode and urgent need of donations (monetary and in-kind) and volunteers
- Central Texas Food Bank
- Brazos Valley Food Bank
- Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley
To help efforts to shelter animals:
- Austin Pets Alive! – Doing well with in-kind donations, but still in need of monetary assistance to help evacuated animals
- SPCA of Texas
- Houston Humane Society
- San Antonio Humane Society – Currently matching gifts
Other aid:
- Direct Relief – Provides medical supplies
- Texas Diaper Bank – Currently their site is down due to exceeding their usage limit; hopefully their web host (SiteGround) will soon come to its senses and restore the site; provides diapers to both babies and the elderly in emergency situations
- Homeless PERIOD Project ATX – Helps get period supplies to women in emergency situations
- Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund – Established by Mayor Sylvester Turner to help the Greater Houston Area
- Texas Library Association Disaster Relief Fund – Provides assistance to libraries affected by the storm
