Tweet link in header here. UPDATED 2/20/18 – New resources and donation sites for Oklahoma and Louisiana as well.
Donations for Texas
The Fight For Equity Continues!
Donate here. The Austin Area Urban League continues its emergency donation drive for the housing insecure communities of Austin, Texas.
As we continue to see unprecedented and harsh weather conditions that put our housing insecure population at risk. We have launched the #LoveThyNeighborTX campaign with the support of our fellow community-focused organizations committed to aiding in this emergency support. Together, with your help, we can provide shelter, food, water, clothing, and more this week! Show how you spread the love by donating your desired amount, sharing this page link to your network, and tagging the AAUL with the hashtag #LoveThyNeighbor
Other Resources
The following is a list of organizations that need your help in assisting Texas residents suffering from this massive power grid failure. This list is compiled from (KCETV.com) (cnn.com)(rolling stone)(cbs.com)(Austin American-Statesman)(nytimes)
From Beto, AOC and Jaquita Wilson.
- Beto and Powered by People: Donate here and monies will be distributed to the most effective agencies and organizations within the hardest hit communities of Texas to get help to those in need following the worst storm in our state’s history. Check here for up-to-date events. They are doing house-to-house wellness checks on Sunday.
- AOC’s “Support Relief efforts in Texas”: Donate here. Your contribution will be split evenly between Corazon Ministries, ECHO (Ending Community Homelessness Coalition), Feeding Texas, Family Eldercare, Houston Food Bank, North Texas Food Bank, The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, andCentral Texas Food Bank
- Jaquita Wilson: To help her in a mutual aid coalition to support this family and others, send donations to https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8x4eJokSuO “We are Central Texans, helping Central Texans. Warriors without Barriers. Our focus will be on providing for immediate and mid-term food and supply needs in the wake of the devastation of the catastrophic Texas Winter Storm. We know multiple barriers exist to people getting the help that they need and we want to remove those barriers. We have moved contributions from February Food Justice to this campaign. This mutual aid campaign is just the beginning.” Other boots-on-ground organization – Trae the Truth’s Angels By Nature/Relief Gang
Housing
The following is a list of organizations supporting the homeless communities around Texas:
- AUSTIN: The Austin Area Urban League is helping the housing insecure population find warming shelters in the Austin area. Donate here. (See above)
- AUSTIN: The Other Ones Foundation is also providing resiliency kits for residents of the campsite. The kits include basic needs for those experiencing homelessness.
- AUSTIN: 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.
- AUSTIN: Austin Mutual Aid: Austin’s mutual aid group is currently raising funds to book hotel rooms for the city’s unhoused population during the snowstorms. The group is also accepting food, water, and toiletries donations from local residents.
- DALLAS: Dallas Stop Evictions has been moving people off the streets into hotels, as well as giving them hot food, groceries, and hygiene essentials. Donate here.
- DALLAS: 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.
- HOUSTON: The Coalition for the Homeless has been on the streets of Houston doing outreach in order to get people into shelters and warming centers. Donate here.
- TEXAS: Live in Texas or nearby? Participate in AirBnB’s “Open Homes” program by either opening up your spare space to those in need or by donating. NoirBnB is offering a similar service, asking users to open up their homes if they are able to. NoirBnB can be reached by email via Concierge@noirbnb.com.
Supplies/Mutual Aid organizations
The following is a list of wish lists, where you can directly purchase supplies for those experiencing the drastic cold:
- AUSTIN: If you want to donate a warm blanket to someone who could benefit from one in Austin this week, nonprofit Front Steps is accepting blankets at their downtown location, or you can order the blanket online and have it shipped directly to the shelter.
- AUSTIN/TRAVIS CO.: The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition and the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center has posted supplies needed for people in Austin and Travis County. Buy the supplies here.
- AUSTIN: 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.
- AUSTIN: Local 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.
- AUSTIN: Austin Disaster Relief: The Austin-area network of nearly 200 churches is accepting monetary donations to help provide supplies and shelter to those in need, and is asking for volunteers to help run and transport people to 24-hour Cold Weather Shelters.
- AUSTIN: Austin Mutual Aid: Austin’s mutual aid group is currently raising funds to book hotel rooms for the city’s unhoused population during the snowstorms. The group is also accepting food, water, and toiletries donations from local residents.
- AUSTIN: Front Steps: This Austin-area nonprofit is holding a drive to help provide blankets for the city’s houseless community.
- DALLAS: Camp Rhonda, a community of homeless people in Dallas, has provided a list of their most needed supplies. Buy the supplies here.
- DALLAS: Feed The People, a Dallas mutual aid network, is providing community care and groceries and has provided a list of their most needed products. Buy the supplies here.
- DALLAS: Lucha Dallas: A Dallas-based BIPOC organization that is currently handing out hot beverages and meals to unhoused people in the city. Donations are accepted via Venmo @luchadallas.
- DENTON: Cooperation Denton: The Denton-area advocacy group is asking for material donations including batteries, flashlights, clothing and warm weather gear. It’s also accepting volunteers to help distribute supplies.
- HOUSTON: The Houseless Organizing Coalition in Houston has a list of the most needed items in its community. Buy the supplies here.
- HOUSTON: Lucille’s 1913 Community Kitchen is preparing and distributing meals in the Houston area.
- HOUSTON: Rice Mutual Aid: This mutual aid fund organized by Rice students in Houston is accepting donations to help Rice community members in need.
- HOUSTON: Crowdsource Rescue: Founded amid the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, this volunteer-based nonprofit helps rescue Texans during national disasters and is currently working to help transport vulnerable people to safer locations and deliver needed supplies. The group accepts donations and well as volunteers.
- HOUSTON: Mutual Aid Houston: Houston’s mutual aid group is currently accepting donations on GoFundMe and has provided links to other local organizations assisting during the blackout, including Houseless Organizing Coalition, Crowdsource Rescue, and the Parkhill Capital Foundation.
- SAN ANTONIO: Para Mi Gente: This San Antonio-based mutual aid fund is accepting donations to help pay for health care needs, groceries, emergency housing and other supplies.
- TEXAS: Donate to a food bank in Texas. Feeding Texas has a comprehensive list of food banks across the state, searchable by zip code.
Resources for locals to find help.
- AUSTIN: Austin360 is updating this list with local restaurants and businesses that are offering free meals. If you can safely access one, be sure to check social media or contact the restaurant beforehand to ensure supplies.
- TEXAS: The Central Texas Food Bank announced it will remain closed Monday due to the weather. However, if you are in need of food in coming days you are encouraged to dial 2-1-1 or visit 211texas.org to get in touch with Texas Health and Human Services. The service should be able to connect those in need with a wide range of services, including food, shelter and mental health services.
- TEXAS: If you are without a place to stay during this bout of extreme weather and at risk of exposure, call 512-305-ICEE to get the most up-to-date information about warming and cold weather shelters.
- TEXAS: Warming centers: list here.
Health
- FORT-WORTH: O.D. Aid is a Fort Worth-based program. It is the only overdose prevention, naloxone distribution and syringe access program serving the city of nearly 1 million people. Donate here.
- TEXAS: Fund Texas Choice is a non-profit organization that pays for Texans’ travel to abortion clinics. During natural disasters and extreme weather like what Texas is experiencing, many people in need of abortion access have to reschedule appointments and remake travel arrangements. Donate here.
- TEXAS: The Texas Equal Access Fund provides financial and emotional support to people who need help accessing abortion care in north, east and west Texas. Donate here.
- WEST TEXAS: West Fund Texas serves people seeking abortion care in west Texas and New Mexico. Donate here.
- DONATE BLOOD: (Red Cross) “Severe cold, snow and ice have canceled Red Cross blood drives in more than 30 states, impacting approximately 21,000 blood, platelet and convalescent plasma donations. As weather improves, it’s vital that eligible individuals come out to give blood to help restock the shelves — especially those with type O blood — to ensure patients have continued access to the treatments they need. Donation appointments can be made for the coming days and weeks by downloading the free Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device. People who present to donate between now and February 28 will receive a $5 Amazon gift card.“
National organizations
- The Salvation Army provides shelter, food, and other necessary items to those in need throughout Texas.
- The American Red Cross is supporting at least 35 warming centers with cots and blankets across the state. Donate to North Texas, Central and South Texas, and the Gulf Coast region of Texas.
- World Central Kitchen: Chef José Andrés’ organization World Central Kitchenis working to provide meals to those in need throughout Texas, including in Austin and Houston, and is accepting monetary donations and volunteers.
- Episcopal Relief & Development: The relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church is helping provide shelter and resources to communities in the Houston, Waco, Austin and other areas.
Animals
- Austin Pets Alive! is working to keep pets across Texas warm and safe during the freezing conditions. The group needs blankets, towels, tarpsk animal crates, space heaters, heating pads, Styrofoam coolers, dog beds, heat lamps, and monetary donations.
- Help animals in need by donating to organizations such as SPCA of Texas, and Operation Kindness. Note that some facilities, such as Operation Kindness in North Texas, may be impacted by power outages.
Journalists
- Support local journalists as they respond to the crisis and get the word out by donating to a GoFundMe for the Austin American-Statesman, the Dallas Morning News, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Oklahoma
- The Homeless Alliance in Oklahoma is asking for donations so it can operate its day shelter and extend its street outreach efforts. According to the organization, it can provide a week’s worth of lunches to a person at its day shelter with a donation of $4.
- The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma has an ongoing call for financial contributions, as well as donations of nonperishables and dry goods.
- The American Red Cross in Oklahoma is asking for monetary contributions as well as blood donations, which the group notes are in short supply.
Louisiana
- The Acadiana Regional Coalition on Homelessness & Housing,which serves eight parishes in the state, is seeking donations to both its general fund and its emergency hotel shelter fund.
- According to the Foodbank of Northeast Louisiana, one in five people in its area faces hunger. The organization says it can help provide 55 meals with each donation of $10.
INDIVISIBLE VENTURA 