Within the past week, a massive winter storm has blown through Texas, causing power outages and water shortages throughout the state. As of Thursday morning, around 500,000 homes — down from nearly 3 million homes — were estimated to be without power. And since the freezing temperatures hit last Friday, many families are low on (if not completely out of) resources like drinking water, food, and firewood.
If you’re not physically there, one of the best ways to help is by donating money to support those who are struggling across the state. As we did with our roundups of places to donate to for Black and Asian communities, we’ve compiled a guide of funds and organizations that will directly help those in need in Texas by providing food, water, warming stations, and more. We’ve vetted each organization through our own research and consulted different lists from Texas residents and activists we’ve seen on social media (like this one from Samoan organizer Terisa Siagatonu, this one from resource hub Intersectionalist Environmentalist, this one from Brittany Packnett Cunningham, this one created by @dox_gay, this one created by UT Austin Center for Community Engagement, this one from Good News by Good Good Good, and this one from Texas Tribune).
This list is thorough but by no means exhaustive, so we will update as we see more funds and organizations that can directly help until the state recovers. And if you or someone you know is in need of a warm place to stay in Texas, check out this list, complied by the Dallas Morning News, of all the warming-shelter options across the state.
Organizations providing shelter | Organizations helping the homeless | Organizations providing food | Animal resource organizations
Organizations providing shelter
Donations will go toward providing or repairing shelter for non-homeless individuals without power, heat, and resources.
Organizations helping the homeless
Donations will go toward helping the homeless population in Texas find warm shelters, food, and other necessary resources.
Organizations providing food
Donations will go toward providing food and water to individuals experiencing water shortages, power outages, and inability to access stores.
Animal resource organizations
Donations will go toward helping shelters and pets stay warm and safe during freezing temperatures.
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