What You Can Do to Help Fort Bend County

August 30, 2017

Our hearts are with the entire Houston area as Harvey recovery efforts begin. As we regroup and evaluate how our communities and residents have been affected, we wanted to offer a list of where you can seek or give help:

Emergency Information and Help

Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management

Provides up-to-the-moment information on evacuations, shelters and road closures.

FEMA Disaster Assistance
1-800-621-3362

Provides assistance with finding your nearest FEMA Disaster Recovery Center and filing a claim.  

House the Homeless

Airbnb

You can open your home to disaster victims through Airbnb. Hosts are covered by the Airbnb Host Guarantee and Airbnb’s fees are waived.

Hurricane Evacuee Camping

Hurricane Harvey evacuees can stay for free in Texas state parks. Please call parks to check availability.

Feed the Hungry

East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry
281-261-1006 

In addition to operating a food pantry, the East Fort Bend Human Needs Ministry seeks address the basic human needs of persons in temporary financial crisis in East Fort Bend County.

Houston Food Bank
713-223-370

The Houston Food Bank is open and in need of volunteers. You can also help by donating money and ready-to-eat staples such as like pop-top meat / fish, powdered milk, cereal, canned fruit, fruit cups, peanut butter and jelly.

Second Mile

281-261-9199

Second Mile will be closed through Sept. 4 due to the hurricane, but you can still donate online. Once re-opened, the organization will need donations and volunteers.

Feeding Texas

Feeding Texas is a statewide charitable organization that works alongside state and federal relief efforts during major disasters.

Help Man’s Best Friend

Fort Bend County Animal Services

The facility has been working with Austin Pets Alive and San Antonio Pets Alive to transport shelter animals. They can help if you need to rehome your pet due to the hurricane, but cannot hold your pets if you wish to reclaim them.

Houston Humane Society
713-433-6421

The Humane Society is working with a skeleton crew to help the animals in their facility. Donations of pet food and other items are greatly appreciated.

Volunteer Your Time

The American Red Cross

In addition to blood and money, the American Red Cross is looking for volunteers to staff local shelters.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army also is looking for people to help at its shelters.

Volunteer Houston Virtual Reception Center

Volunteer Houston has activated an online Virtual Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) for those interested in providing assistance to the Greater Houston Region flood relief efforts.

Samaritan’s Purse

Samaritan’s Purse is already mobilizing and is preparing to enter affected areas as soon as floodwaters recede. There are multiple opportunities to volunteer. Sign up here.

Donate Money

H-E-B Stores

All H-E-B, Central Market and Joe V’s Smart Shop stores across Texas give customers an opportunity to support victims through donations of $1, $3, or $5, which can be added to their total grocery bill.

American Red Cross

1- 800-RED CROSS or text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is ready to provide physical, emotional and spiritual care to survivors and relief workers and will remain in impacted communities supporting long-term disaster recovery efforts and providing ongoing assistance to those in need.

The United Way of Greater Houston

The organization has launched a relief fund, anticipating that the needs of Harvey will exceed their current disaster relief fund. You can specify which county you wish to donate funds to, including Fort Bend County.

Greater Houston Community Fund

A broad-based relief fund established by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. The Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund will accept tax deductible flood relief donations for victims that have been affected by the recent floods.

Fort Bend Forward

The mission of the Fort Bend Harvey Recovery Fund is to raise financial resources to disburse to nonprofit organizations serving flood victims in our local community. Funds will be disbursed based on input from the Fort Bend Recovers network of nonprofit organizations and diverse community leaders with no overhead or administrative fees. 100% of all donations received will have a direct impact on the community and donors may request that their individual contribution be directed to a specific city within Fort Bend County, if desired.