Harvey Flooding Disaster: How You Can Help
BOSTON (CBS) -- As Harvey continues to dump historic amounts of rain on the flood-ravaged Houston area, there are many organizations that are helping to raise money for aid and services in the wake of the disaster.
In Boston, Mayor Marty Walsh announced there will be a "Help For Houston" drive across the city from Tuesday to Thursday.
"As we have done in other emergencies and which has been done for us, Boston will step up and help through the darkest hours," Mayor Walsh said in a statement. "I've made it clear to the Mayor of Houston that Boston is here for them. Let's come together as a city, contribute in any way we can, and show Houston that they have Boston's full support."
Volunteers will collect new clothes, blankets, toiletries, diapers, baby formula, and non-perishable food at several locations:
- City Hall (3rd floor lobby and 5th floor Mayor's Office lobby)
- 1010 Massachusetts Ave (5th floor)
- Bolling Building (1st floor lobby)
- 26 Court Street (1st floor lobby)
- Boston Centers for Youth and Families sites
The American Red Cross has set up a page for Hurricane Harvey relief donations.
The organization has been providing shelters, supplies, and volunteers on the ground.
Robert Kraft, the New England Patriots owner, made a pledge to match the first $1 million raised by the Red Cross for Harvey relief.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner put together a Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund through the Greater Houston Community Foundation. If you would rather send a gift to help aid Houstonians, a list of acceptable items and instructions can be found here.
In Rockport, Massachusetts, residents are raising money to help those in Rockport, Texas, hit hard by the storm and its aftermath.
"As their neighbors in spirit, from Rockport, MA, we are looking to raise money to make an impact as they rise from the destruction Mother Nature has indiscriminately thrown in their path," the GoFundMe page reads.
You can donate to that effort here. They are focusing on medium to long-range aid projects.
Houston Texans defensive end J. J. Watt has started a YouCaring page that takes donations large and small to put toward assistance for Houston. It has a goal of $500,000.
"The people of Houston are very resilient," Watt told CBS This Morning. "The people are always willing to help each other, and that's why we started the fundraiser, that's why we've started this situation, so we can get the help that these people need. There's going to be families that need to be put back together, there's going to be communities that need help rebuilding their homes, their parks, everything, and that's what we're going to try to do."
The Salvation Army has an Emergency Disaster Services arm that is taking donations to help Harvey victims.
Portlight Inclusive Disaster Strategies is a group that helps disabled people. They are asking for donations as they work to help older adults and those with disabilities in the flood zone.
Catholic Charities USA has set up a page to aid in long term recovery after the Hurricane Harvey disaster.
Austin Pets Alive!, a no-kill animal shelter, has set up a website for donations in the wake of the hurricane and flooding. They're raising money to help shelters in the direct line of Harvey.
Direct Relief is an organization working with local health and emergency providers, and you can donate to them here. They have already made $100 million worth of medical supplies available after the disaster.
The Houston Food Bank has said they will reopen to provide disaster relief ASAP. In the meantime, you can donate here.
The Texas Diaper Bank works to meet the basic needs of babies, disabled children, and older adults. They said they are in need of cash and diaper donations to help families displaced due to flooding and hurricane damage--you can donate here.
