If you want to donate money to the Hurricane Harvey victims and would prefer to give to local on-the-ground charities and relief organizations, then you’ve come to the right place.
Our friends at Bellyitch Blog have curated a list of local and other charities.
Given that there are a lot of people out there scamming and setting up bogus GoFund pages, it is important to do your homework.
For any non-profit, before hitting that Donate Button, consider first checking out websites like Charity Navigator, Charity Watch and the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving website that rate charities before giving.
Check out the list:
1. The Food Bank of Corpus Christi can provide 7 meals to displaced Harvey victims for just $1.
2. The Texas State Bar is organizing attorney from the state and all over the country that can help victims apply for FEMA aid, replacing lost documents, or fielding insurance claims questions, landlord-tenant issues, home repair contracts, etc. Sign up HERE! (I did because although I’m not a practicing attorney, I think I am a whiz at landlord and tenant law.)
3. The Texas Organizing Project Education Fund is collecting donations for its Harvey Community Relief Fund that will go where needed most though the organization is still ascertaining how to best channel donations, but it could go to personal hygiene items to legal aid and advocacy.
4. Kimberly Reed of NextGen Storm Leads in Denver Colorado hosting a supplies drive on September 8 and is trying to get contractors from across the US to volunteer to come help people rebuild. Find her on her Facebook Page HERE. She is not collecting CASH.
5. Direct Relief is top rated and is providing on-the-ground assistance as well. The organization has committed $200,000 to help storm victims and made $100 million in medical supplies available. The nonprofit dispatches crates (see above photo in header) which contain critical medicines and supplies, are currently with health clinics being impacted by Hurricane Harvey
6. The Catholic Charity of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is collecting supplies to distribute to families and stock at the various parishes that are open and providing shelter, food and supplies. You can also donate cash. As a Catholic and someone familiar with the work of Catholic Charity, I can attest that most of the funds are spent where it matters.
7. Team Rubicon organizes military vets and reserve men and women and sends them to assist first responders to deploy emergency response teams.
8. The Houston Humane Society is help the four-legged victims, and provide them with the shelter and care they need while their owners recover. It has created its own Harvey Donation Fund you can contribute to.
9. Texas Diaper Bank – Texas Diaper Bank is putting together disaster relief kits for families with young children. You can donate here.
10. Americares says that for every $10 donated, it can provide $200 in Aid in the form of water distribution, aid and mobilizing medical outreach with its local partners.
11.Southwest Airlines Southwest is collecting Rapid Rewards points to donate to partner organizations to get relief workers, assistance to first responders and search and rescue teams that are directly involved with disaster relief in areas affected by Harvey. The points donations enable relief workers and volunteers to travel to areas in need. Click here to donate frequent flyer points to Harvey relief efforts.
