How to Help Storm Victims in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma
It’s a scary time for a lot of our friends, and we want to help. In a conversation Thursday with songwriter Sara Hickman, she shared how desperate the situation is on the ground in Austin, Texas and throughout the state, adding that the homeless, as well as elderly and ailing people who rely on machines that have no power are among those overlooked in crises like these.
Even now, as power comes back online for many, people still suffer from lack of shelter, food and water.
Below, you’ll find a few ways to help, gleaned from postings across the web. Feel free to comment with links to more! We’d really appreciate it.
Homeless Alliance Oklahoma is collecting donations.
In Louisiana, the Acadania Regional Coalition on Homelessness and Housing is doing great work.
Crowdsource Rescue is focusing efforts on getting to senior citizens in Texas
NY Magazine has an exhaustive list of organizations that help the homeless and underserved throughout Texas
Via Sara Hickman, and our friends at Western States Center:
Mobile Loaves and Fishes got out with food trucks and volunteers to assist in getting the word out and provide transportation to warming centers.
The Other Ones Foundation opened up a limited-capacity indoor shelter at the state-sanctioned site and shuttled people to the City’s shelter.
Austin Mutual Aid distributed cold-weather supplies over the weekend and raised money to get people into hotel rooms.
Front Steps is collecting blankets to distribute.
Austin's Free Lunch program is accepting donations to make sure people experiencing homelessness have access to a home-cooked meal. (I THINK this is the link, but not positive)
Free Lunch delivered soup to residents of the Esperanza Community on Sunday.
Austin Pets Alive! is accepting donated items like animal crates, blankets, dog houses, dog beds, tarps, towels and space heaters. The shelter is also accepting donations to purchase necessary items and assistance in picking up and distributing supplies.
Also weather-specific donations and a needs wish list from ECHO, with items like sleeping bags and tents.
Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center has been distributing coats, sleeping bags and other cold-weather gear all weekend and can take donations. Providers have also been going into camps to find people and get them shelter or information on how and where to find shelter.
Maximizing Hope is raising money to get people into hotels for the next few nights.
From CNN:
In Austin, the area Urban League has started the #LoveThyNeighborTX campaign to raise money for hotel rooms, food, water, clothing and other basic needs of the housing insecure communities.
Mercy Chefs is providing hot meals, clean drinking water and USDA Farmers to Families grocery boxes in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
The Houston Food Bank is also distributing food to those in need.
Austin small business Free Lunch is making deliveries of home-cooked meals, blankets, hand warmers and hygiene kits to the Esperanza Community residents, a state-sanctioned shelter/campsite in the city.
The Other Ones Foundation is also providing resiliency kits for residents of the campsite. The kits include basic needs for those experiencing homelessness.
Dallas-area organizations Austin Street Center, OurCalling, The Stewpot, Union Gospel Mission, and Oak Lawn United Methodist Church are pooling funds to help pay for temporary shelter as well as Covid-19 rapid tests for those in need.
Lucille's 1913 Community Kitchen is preparing and distributing meals in the Houston area.
Caritas of Austin also helps those experiencing housing insecurity in the Austin area. You can support their work by making a monetary donation or ordering items from their Amazon wish list to be shipped directly to the center.
The Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County is supporting warming centers throughout Houston and Harris County.
Austin Pets Alive! is working to keep pets across Texas warm and safe during the freezing conditions. The group needs heating pads, Styrofoam coolers, dog beds, heat lamps and monetary donations.
