How to Help Hurricane Harvey Victims
by Sami Cone
Sep 05, 2017
If you're like our family, your heart hurts every time to see footage or hear accounts of what is still going on in Houston and the Gulf Coast. What's worse is that the flooding continues to the point where tens of thousands of families still cannot return to their homes to assess the damage.
For everyone wondering how to help Hurricane Harvey victims, I've compiled resources for you to review to decide upon which way is the best for your family.
How to Help Hurricane Harvey Victims
* The Texas Diaper Bank, which is based out of San Antonio, is putting together relief kit for families with very small children who need access to clean diapers in the midst of flooding and evacuations.
* The American Red Cross has set up a "wish list" on Amazon. Click "see the list" and you can send food and other items to victims by adding to your cart and checking out. Just make sure you select The American Red Cross shipping address to ensure the goods are sent to the people who need it.
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* Portlight, which has provided inclusive relief to people with disabilities for twenty years—including in Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy—is working to ensure that people who require medical equipment and assistive technology have what they need after they evacuate, and to make sure that those same folks are able to get to safety. They accept donations via PayPal.
* To donate to the United Way, visit their website or text "UWFLOOD" to 41444.
* The Texas Department of Agriculture’s STAR Fund is a resource made up entirely of private donations that go to farmers and ranchers affected by the storm.
* HoustonFoodBank.Org is accepting money donations and also looking for volunteers to serve.
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* Food banks in the area are working in overdrive to remain fully stocked. Organizations worth investigating include: Brazos Valley Food Bank, Central Texas Food Bank, Corpus Christi Food Bank, Food Bank of the Golden Crescent, Food Bank of the Rio Grande, Galveston County Food Bank, Houston Food Bank, San Antonio Food Bank, and Southeast Texas Food Bank.
Now that I've listed all the ways to help above, there is something important to keep in mind: CASH IS KING. According to Forbes, while you may want to send food and other items, the infrastructure may not support those donations. Many organizations have been clear that cash, or cash equivalent, is preferred. Keep receipts if you intend to claim those donations on your tax return.
Of course, there are many more ways to help Hurricane Harvey victims, so if you've heard of other non-profits that could use support, please feel free to leave a comment below or share on our Facebook page.
Thanks to Cool Mom Picks, Texas Monthly & The Today Show for many of the tips above. Featured image from Operation Blessing International.
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Sami Cone
Best-Selling Author & Speaker
Sami Cone is the best-selling author of "Raising Uncommon Kids", is known as the "Frugal Mom" on Nashville's top-rated talk show "Talk of the Town" and educates over a million listeners every day on her nationally syndicated "Family Money Minute". She is proud to call Nashville home with her husband, Rick, and their two ‘tweenage' children.
