As Texans continue to assess the damage caused by the devastating winter storm last week, the work of rebuilding and repairing communities most affected begins. Here’s our list of just a fraction of the great local organizations that are working to support their neighbors still impacted by the devastations of the storm in Austin, Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio communities. Whether you’re in need of assistance or looking for a place to donate, we hope this list points you in the right direction.
Austin
ATX Urban League: The Austin Area Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to providing economic empowerment, educational opportunities and the guarantee of civil rights for African Americans and other underserved/underrepresented populations in in the Austin/ Central Texas region.
Austin Mutual Aid: Community initiative to work together with the unhoused and recently unhoused and people from many walks of life to provide aid for low income and unhoused people in the Austin area.
Black Leaders Collective: A coalition of CTX leaders who serve to advocate and amplify the Black community by uniting to take charge and fight for our values.
Central Texas Food Bank: The Central Texas Food Bank’s mission is to nourish hungry people and lead the community in the fight against hunger.
Free Lunch: “Free Lunch ATX is a quarterly magazine and organization run by Austin creatives who reduce food insecurity by growing, cooking, and serving food, and engaging in food access advocacy.”
Good Work Austin: Collaboration of independent small businesses who want to do the right thing for their workers, the economy, and the environment. Provides small businesses with access to low-cost health care and counseling options for their staff and a community of business owners to share resources and support.
Dallas/Fort Worth
The Bridge: The Bridge is a Homeless Recovery Center. Current needs requested: include bottles of water, hand warmers, scarves, gloves, and hats. Otherwise, you can help by making a cash donation online.
Genesis Women’s Shelter: Originally created to give women in abusive situations a way out. In need of more monetary donations.
Hope’s Door Resale Store: Focused on building lives without violence. Currently in most need of monetary donations.
North Texas Food Bank: The North Texas Food Bank is committed to helping our community through this disaster by feeding our neighbors and connecting them to resources that can address their basic needs during this difficult time. During the aftermath of the winter storm, The North Texas Food Bank will be continuing its Mobile Pantry distributions throughout the 13-county service area.
Our Calling: On the frontline of the battle to cure homelessness. Currently looking for volunteers and monetary donations.
Houston
Houston Food Bank: Your monetary gift will help provide food, water, hygiene items and cleaning supplies to the thousands of families in need. Once disaster needs are met, any remaining funds will go towards helping provide food for people facing hunger in our community.
Meals On Wheels: Interfaith Ministries’ Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston and Galveston County program provides home-delivered meals to approximately 4,900 homebound seniors and disabled adults in five counties – Harris, Galveston, Montgomery, Liberty and Chambers. Additionally, our Animeals program delivers pet food to over 1,300 cats and dogs of Meals on Wheels clients so they do not feel compelled to share their limited food and resources with their furry friends. Volunteer your time, donate needed supplies, or make a monetary donation.
Urban Harvest: Urban Harvest is directly connected to farmers in Houston and the surrounding area through our weekly Saturday Farmers Market. These farmers are facing massive crop loss due to the recent freeze and need our support now. Your donation of any amount will go directly to helping farmers recover their recent losses and prepare for the next season. You can also support farmers by shopping at an Urban Harvest farmers market, or any local farmers market in your area.
Volunteer Houston: Browse their listings and volunteer with local nonprofits who need your help in the Winter Storm recovery process. Volunteer Houston offers a web-based tool for nonprofits, schools, government offices and volunteers to autonomously post and respond to volunteer opportunities in the greater Houston area and Gulf Coast region of Texas.
West Street Recovery: Non-profit West street Houston is starting the long rebuild and recovery process with the help of donations. Many of our community members have structural damage from burst pipes and subsequent flooding.
San Antonio
American Red Cross Serving Central and South Texas: More than 360 Red Cross disaster workers are providing shelter, have served more than 30,400 meals and snacks, and distributed nearly 9,000 emergency supplies, including kits to help people clean up after pipes burst in their homes.
Salvation Army San Antonio Area Command: The Salvation Army is asking for donations to support San Antonio families fighting to survive the cold.
The Salvation Army continues to provide warm meals and safe shelter to individuals and families without electricity, water and those experiencing homelessness.
SAMMinistries: SAMMinistries prevents homelessness in San Antonio through a compassionate, holistic approach that brings self sufficiency, pride and dignity to struggling families with nowhere else to turn.
San Antonio Food Bank: The San Antonio Food Bank is preparing to provide emergency outreach to community members in need after being affected by the recent winter storms. It needs more than 500 volunteers to help at seven mega mobile food distribution sites over the weekend.
San Antonio Pets Alive: San Antonio Pets Alive was forced to close locations this week due to the storm, but their work has continued to keep their dogs and cats warm. Please consider making a gift so San Antonio Pets Alive can continue to give second chances to homeless pets in need.
