Harvey Victims Desperately Need Our Help

[Mrs. Robinson]

The devastation created by Hurricane Harvey is beyond anything we could ever imagine.
As of today, it still isn't over as more rain is expected.

While prayers are fine, these people need help in the form of monetary donations.
Donations of money goes directly to help where needed. Donations of clothing, water, medical items, etc., require many people to disseminate the articles, which is time wasted when they could be performing a more needed function.

Please consider making a donation through one of the many charities, news stations, or to any bona fide organization that is collecting specifically for the victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Some of the possibilities for donating are:

The Salvation Army, The American Red Cross,

To make a $10 donation to the Red Cross, text the word HARVEY to 90999 and the money will be charged to your phone bill.

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

To make a tax-deductible gift, go to Ways to Give - Austin Disaster Relief Network (https://adrn.org/give/) and make a donation to the “Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.”

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.

Animals are in need of desperate help, also.

You can donate directly online to The Humane Society of the United States:

Protect Animals | Give a Gift - The Humane Society of the United States (https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Donation2?df_id=22819&22819.donation=form1&s_src=ad_bing_search_brand_082817)

and/or

The SPCA of Texas -- Hurricane Harvey - SPCA of Texas (https://www.spca.org/hurricane-harvey)

Avoid Being Scammed. Before giving money to an organization, do your research.
Charity Navigator, which identifies worthy charities, has a handy list of organizations that are responding in the aftermath of the storm.
For advice on avoiding fraudsters, check out tips from the Federal Trade Commission.

Any donation, however small, is a huge help!

[Schaumburger]

The devastation created by Hurricane Harvey is beyond anything we could ever imagine.
As of today, it still isn't over as more rain is expected.

While prayers are fine, these people need help in the form of monetary donations.
Donations of money goes directly to help where needed. Donations of clothing, water, medical items, etc., require many people to disseminate the articles, which is time wasted when they could be performing a more needed function.

Please consider making a donation through one of the many charities, news stations, or to any bona fide organization that is collecting specifically for the victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Some of the possibilities for donating are:

The Salvation Army, The American Red Cross,

To make a $10 donation to the Red Cross, text the word HARVEY to 90999 and the money will be charged to your phone bill.

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

To make a tax-deductible gift, go to Ways to Give - Austin Disaster Relief Network (https://adrn.org/give/) and make a donation to the “Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.”

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.

Animals are in need of desperate help, also.

You can donate directly online to The Humane Society of the United States:

Protect Animals | Give a Gift - The Humane Society of the United States (https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Donation2?df_id=22819&22819.donation=form1&s_src=ad_bing_search_brand_082817)

and/or

The SPCA of Texas -- Hurricane Harvey - SPCA of Texas (https://www.spca.org/hurricane-harvey)

Avoid Being Scammed. Before giving money to an organization, do your research.
Charity Navigator, which identifies worthy charities, has a handy list of organizations that are responding in the aftermath of the storm.
For advice on avoiding fraudsters, check out tips from the Federal Trade Commission.

Any donation, however small, is a huge help!

Thank you for posting this information.

[NotGolfer]

Thank you for posting! But along with this be careful of where you donate. Some are "for profit" and a very small percentage goes where it's truly needed. You'd think "Red Cross" would be wonderful but only 10% of the $$$ goes to the sources in need.

[fw102807]

Thank you for posting! But along with this be careful of where you donate. Some are "for profit" and a very small percentage goes where it's truly needed. You'd think "Red Cross" would be wonderful but only 10% of the $$$ goes to the sources in need.

Don't know where you got this information but the agencies that rate charities state that 90% of the funds goes to the resources in need.

Charity Navigator - Rating for American Red Cross (https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3277)

[Mrs. Robinson]

Thank you for posting! But along with this be careful of where you donate. Some are "for profit" and a very small percentage goes where it's truly needed. You'd think "Red Cross" would be wonderful but only 10% of the $$$ goes to the sources in need.

Don't know where you got this information but the agencies that rate charities state that 90% of the funds goes to the resources in need.

Charity Navigator - Rating for American Red Cross (https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3277)

Personally, I do not donate to the Red Cross, but I mentioned them because they do work all over the world. I did not go to Charity Navigator because my post was specific to Hurricane Harvey, not to the Red Cross everywhere.

Obviously, many people donate to the Red Cross. I mentioned them along with a few others. There are still many charities that are helping out in Texas and anyone who donates should do their own study but to keep in mind what Charity Navigator posts is not significant to donating to this one specific cause.

[bagboy]

A donation to the The American Red Cross can be specific to Hurricane Harvey.

[fw102807]

Personally, I do not donate to the Red Cross, but I mentioned them because they do work all over the world. I did not go to Charity Navigator because my post was specific to Hurricane Harvey, not to the Red Cross everywhere.

Obviously, many people donate to the Red Cross. I mentioned them along with a few others. There are still many charities that are helping out in Texas and anyone who donates should do their own study but to keep in mind what Charity Navigator posts is not significant to donating to this one specific cause.

Not sure you understood my post. According to this site 90% of the funds do benefit the cause. Red Cross is a very highly regarded organization.

[rexxfan]

Not sure you understood my post. According to this site 90% of the funds do benefit the cause. Red Cross is a very highly regarded organization.

If you want 100% of your donation to go to a specific cause, look into donating at www.mercuryone.org.
--
Bob C

[Mrs. Robinson]

Not sure you understood my post. According to this site 90% of the funds do benefit the cause. Red Cross is a very highly regarded organization.

You are correct; I did misunderstand your post.
When I checked The Red Cross I saw that 90% figure and was even more confused about what you meant.

I said nothing because I didn't want to get into a P---ing contest.
Glad it didn't work out that way! :1rotfl:
Thanks for the correction.

[Taltarzac725]

The news stations have been showing work done by the Red Cross in the Houston area. One Blood is also pitching in this area with collecting donations of whole blood, platelets, plasma, and red blood cells. The blood banks or other collection agencies are obviously not operating during this flood.

I hope that people in Houston had flood insurance in addition to hurricane insurance. Many Texans without flood insurance as Harvey keeps hammering Gulf Coast - ABC News (http://abcnews.go.com/US/texans-flood-insurance-harvey-hammering-gulf-coast/story?id=49491944)

[Bradley]

Mrs. Robinson...Thank you for your wonderful post, and thank you all for your donations and prayers for all of the people in S/E Texas. We are native Texans and from Houston. Our son and daughter in law are Houston Police Officers. They have been working 12 hour shifts with only 4 hour rest periods at the stations since this storm began. We ask for your prayers for all of the first responders and volunteers in Houston and South Texas, especially for the family of Sgt Steve Perez who lost his life serving the great city he loved.

[Villageswimmer]

Houston Food Bank
525 Portwall Street
Houston TX. 77029
Or google and use credit card.
I've done a lot of research. Highly rated. Very low overhead. It's easy to find charity ratings online.

[rivaridger1]

The food banks in general are extremely efficient charities. The Food Bank of Corpus Christi is another good choice.

[slipcovers]

I received an email yesterday from Choice Hotel reward asking me to donate my points. I did donate all, and they would match. Very easy to do, one click after log in.

[lyndastahl]

Does anyone know if anyone from are area would be going down to Texas to help

[Mrs. Robinson]

Does anyone know if anyone from are area would be going down to Texas to help

Before anyone goes down to help, unless it is with an organization, you should make sure they can use you. Do you have a certain expertise?

Don't forget -- volunteers who travel there need room and board. That might not be so easy to find unless you are part of a group and even then -- who knows???

[Schaumburger]

Mrs. Robinson...Thank you for your wonderful post, and thank you all for your donations and prayers for all of the people in S/E Texas. We are native Texans and from Houston. Our son and daughter in law are Houston Police Officers. They have been working 12 hour shifts with only 4 hour rest periods at the stations since this storm began. We ask for your prayers for all of the first responders and volunteers in Houston and South Texas, especially for the family of Sgt Steve Perez who lost his life serving the great city he loved.

My hat is off to all of the first responders and volunteers in the Houston area and South Texas. The recovery of this area will take many months, perhaps even years. :bigbow:

[dewilson58]

It's just an estimate, but I just heard over 80% of the impacted homeowners don't have flood insurance.

[upstate]

Our son is flying search and rescue missions and has said the damage is devastating. And he has been deployed twice overseas.

[Wiotte]

It's just an estimate, but I just heard over 80% of the impacted homeowners don't have flood insurance.



Yep, and that will be the biggest fight in congress. How or not to appropriate funding either in grants loans/both to people who may or may not be able to afford a loan.

[bimmertl]

[QUOTE=fw102807;1441262]Not sure you understood my post. According to this site 90% of the funds do benefit the cause. Red Cross is a very highly regarded organization.[/QUOTE



How the Red Cross Raised Half a Billion Dollars for Haiti — ProPublica (https://www.propublica.org/article/how-the-red-cross-raised-half-a-billion-dollars-for-haiti-and-built-6-homes)

[fw102807]

[QUOTE=fw102807;1441262]Not sure you understood my post. According to this site 90% of the funds do benefit the cause. Red Cross is a very highly regarded organization.[/QUOTE



How the Red Cross Raised Half a Billion Dollars for Haiti — ProPublica (https://www.propublica.org/article/how-the-red-cross-raised-half-a-billion-dollars-for-haiti-and-built-6-homes)

I was going to dismiss this as false news but upon researching found unfortunately it is true.

[bimmertl]

Looks like Red Cross off to shakey start with Harvey funds.

Red Cross Won'''t Release Harvey Relief Numbers, Continuing a Long, Troubling Trend (https://www.yahoo.com/news/red-cross-won-apos-t-160118739.html)

[CWGUY]

Looks like Red Cross off to shakey start with Harvey funds.

Red Cross Won'''t Release Harvey Relief Numbers, Continuing a Long, Troubling Trend (https://www.yahoo.com/news/red-cross-won-apos-t-160118739.html)

:sad: Like some others, I will not donate to the Red Cross. I have my reasons. That being said.... I got online yesterday and made a donation to :thumbup:"The Salvation Army" and another to the :doggie:"Humane Society of the U.S." both earmarked for their Disaster Relief Fund.

Please don't let your dislike or distrust of a charity keep you from giving to others. Thank you.

[Villageswimmer]

Google CharityWatch. Search for American Red Cross. High overhead including very high salaries of their leadership. Costs them $30 to raise $100. Their rating is B. There are many efficient charities to help Harvey victims.

[Mrs. Robinson]

I just donated my Southwest Airline points to go towards Harvey, in any way they can be used.
I am sure other airlines are doing the same.
Please think about donating your miles.
Every little bit helps.

[Northpoint]

Does anyone know if anyone from are area would be going down to Texas to help
Fross and Fross Wealth Management is collecting donations at their building in Sumter Landing near Winn Dixie. They will get the donations to The T&D Family of companies, who are sending trucks full of the donations to Texas.
Below is the information from their Facebook post.
-----
Donations can be dropped off at Fross and Fross Wealth Management – 910 Old Camp Rd, Bldg. #90 between 9:00 and 5:00. Please do not leave donations outside during non-business hours.* We are located in Sumter Landing near Winn Dixie.

We are accepting the following donations through Wednesday 9/6 at 5pm:
- Water, sports drinks
- Nonperishable food items
- Diapers, baby wipes, and baby formula
- Toiletries (soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, tooth brushes, deodorant)
- Feminine hygiene products
- Medical Supplies (band aids, first aid supplies)
- Blankets, sleeping bags and pillows
- Cleaning supplies (dish soap, disinfectant wipes, garbage bags, etc.)
- Moving boxes, backpacks and duffle bags
- Batteries for flashlights
- Pet food, cat litter, towels
- The only clothing items that are needed at this time are packs of new underwear and socks.
*Fross & Fross will be closed Monday, September 4th.

[dewilson58]

Nice to see the Dells donating so much. The rich usually just get the negative press and being successful is bad.

Adding some info:

Tech billionaire and Houston native Michael Dell has committed $36 million to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

The pledge from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation is the largest contribution to date. It follows a long list of corporate donations to help the storm's victims and aid with recovery.

The founder and CEO of Dell and his wife Susan on Friday also announced the launch of the Rebuild Texas Fund, along with Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

The pair has already donated $17 million to launch the fund. The goal is to raise more than $100 million for immediate relief efforts, as well as longer-term recovery and rebuilding.