Texas Donations: How You Can Help The Victims of Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey, now a tropical storm, has made landfall again.

Harvey’s costly effects are not anticipated to be as devastating as the Category 4 hurricane that ripped through Houston and other parts of Texas beginning last Friday. However, Harvey’s potentially deadly rainfall have left Texans facing a gruesome reality: at least 22 people are currently known to have passed away, while tens of thousands are left homeless in storm-ravaged areas that could take months or longer to bounce back.

 A message from the Texas Manufactured Housing Association

All of our thoughts and prayers are with our members and the people of East Texas.  We would encourage all our members to consider helping our fellow Texans, including donating to causes involved in the rescue and shelter efforts.

The untold damage of Hurricane Harvey and the resulting flooding will take time to sort out.  Tens of thousands are displaced from their homes and some estimates say more than a half a million people will need some form of disasters assistance.

We have been in contact over this past weekend with our various contacts in the governor’s office as well as FEMA. The Texas  Manufactured Homes Association (THMA) has pledged to help in both the immediate future and long term rebuilding efforts to come.  We are organizing within our membership ranks to prepare in the event our industry, in particular, can play a role in the recovery efforts.

While we work with our Texas factories, TMHA also asks retailers and community owners to take stock of their resources.  In the past, we have been asked to provide information on retailer lot inventories, as well as any spaces or rental units within communities to house displaced persons.  We will keep our members updated if and when any of these types of requests come to TMHA.

Until then, please donate, contribute, and pray for our fellow Texans in this difficult time.

• Bastrop County Long Term Recovery Team has, by necessity, become quite adept at helping Bastrop communities bounce back from disasters, and Smithville has been hit particularly hard by the flooding.
• Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund was created by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to accept contributions that will help Houstonians with the long recovery process.
• Red Cross is always there in a moment of need. I’ve toured the Red Cross command center and seen the excellent work it’s doing — again.  You can text HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
• Central Texas Food Bank is part of a coordinated effort by food banks across the state to provide food and water to those in need.
• Austin Pets Alive is helping shelter pets from the affected areas.

Gathered by the New York Times, the below organizations stand ready, willing, and able to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Local organizations

The Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund of Houston’s mayor, Sylvester Turner, which is administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation.

Houston Food Bank and the Food Bank of Corpus Christi are asking for donations.

The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center is reporting a critical shortage, and has extended hours at all of its San Antonio-area donor rooms. To donate, call 210-731-5590 or visit their website for more information.

Carter BloodCare covers hospitals in North, Central and East Texas. To donate, call 877-571-1000 or text DONATE4LIFE to 444-999.

To help animals suffering from the disaster, visit the Houston Humane Society or the San Antonio Humane Society. The Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has set up an animal emergency response hotline (713-861-3010) and is accepting donations on its website.

The Texas Diaper Bank in San Antonio is asking for diapers and wipes, which can be dropped off in person or mailed to 5415 Bandera Road, Suite 504, San Antonio, Tex., 78238.

The United Way of Greater Houston flood relief fund will be used to help with immediate needs as well as long-term services like minor home repair. Visit their website to donate or text UWFLOOD to 41444.

The L.G.B.T.Q. Disaster Relief Fund will be used to help people “rebuild their lives through counseling, case management, direct assistance with shelf stable food, furniture, housing and more.” It is managed by The Montrose Center, Houston’s longtime community center for the area’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population.

For more options, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends checking with the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster for a list of trusted disaster-relief organizations in Texas.

National organizations

The American Red Cross is accepting donations on its website. You can also text HARVEY to 90999 to donate $10.

AmeriCares takes medicine and supplies to survivors.

Catholic Charities provides food, clothing, shelter and support services to those from all religious backgrounds.

Donations to the Salvation Army can be made online, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) or texting STORM to 51555.

AABB, which coordinates a task force to manage blood collection efforts during disasters, put out a call on Sunday for blood donations in the aftermath of Harvey. Most in demand: those with type O-positive blood.

Those interested in donating blood may contact the following organizations:

• AABB: 301-907-6977• America’s Blood Centers • American Red Cross: 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)• Armed Services Blood Program: 703-681-5979

Online-only organizations

Airbnb is waiving service fees for those affected by the disaster and checking in between Aug. 23 and Sept. 25, and can guide users in creating a listing where their home is offered to victims free.

GoFundMe has created a page with all of its Harvey-related campaigns, including one started by the country singer Chris Young, who donated $100,000, and another created by the president and chief executive of the Rockport-Fulton Chamber of Commerce.

YouCaring has a fund-raising page set up by J. J. Watt of the Houston Texans with a goal of $3 million. By 4 p.m. Tuesday it had raised more than $2 million.

GlobalGiving’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund supports local organizations by helping to “meet survivors’ immediate needs for food, fuel, clean water, hygiene products and shelter.” It will also assist with longer-term recovery efforts.