Help For Those Impacted By Hurricane Harvey

President Ronald Reagan once said, “We can't help everyone, but everyone can help someone.”  Right now, each of us has the ability, in some way, to help those in Texas who have been impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey.

Torrential rain, high winds and widespread flooding have caused what many are calling the most powerful storm ever to touch down in the United States.  In its wake, Hurricane Harvey—which has now set a record for the greatest amount of measured single-storm rainfall in the continental United States—has taken lives and left tens of thousands of people homeless.  It will be a long time before Texas recovers, but in the meantime, there are a number of ways we can help our fellow Americans who are coping with the devastating flooding:

Make a donation: A number of national organizations are coordinating efforts in Texas, like the American Red Cross, United Way, Salvation Army and Catholic Charities. There are also Hurricane Harvey-related pages on websites like YouCaring, which has a page set up by football star J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans.

Volunteer your time: Groups across the country and in New York State are sending volunteers to Texas to assist with relief efforts. A number of organizations are encouraging people to sign up to go to Texas and lend a helping hand, including Samaritan’s Purse and the Red Cross.

Give blood: Due to a summer decline in blood donors and blood drive sponsors, the Red Cross says there is an urgent need for donations across the country.  With the disaster in Texas, all blood collection organizations in the United States are making an extra effort to ensure there are sufficient blood supplies in storm affected areas.

If you’re making a monetary donation, it’s important to use caution in order to avoid organizations that are questionable, or that do not have a documented record of providing disaster relief. To obtain more information, prospective donors can contact the BBB Wise Giving Alliance at www.give.org.

It will be a long road to rebuilding for countless people across Texas.  I encourage you to join me in keeping the people impacted by Hurricane Harvey—as well as those who are in Texas helping with relief efforts—in your thoughts and prayers.