Houston, we have a problem!

As many of you know, on August 24th Hurricane Harvey hit Houston and the surrounding southern Texas region. With winds moving at 130 miles per hour, many faced uncertainty, disaster, and lost everything, even their lives. I’m pretty sure that we all have family and/or friends that live in this area and have been effected in some way by this hurricane. My hope is that all of us have reached out in some way to help bring relief to those in this area. As we have experienced with other catastrophic natural disasters, it is not going to take a weekend, a month, or even the rest of 2017 to repair the damage that has taken place in southern Texas. It is going to take a long time.

Fortunately, you and I have the opportunity to take part in the rebuilding process. We all have been gifted with time, talent, and treasure that can be used to help others. I believe that we are blessed to be a blessing in whatever way that we can. Below are suggestions on how you can use your time, talent, and treasure to give aid and hope to those effected by Hurricane Harvey. Feel free to research whatever agencies that you are giving to so that you can be confident that your gift will actually reach the people of Houston and southern Texas area.

**copy and paste the web addresses into your browser**

Time

-If you have loved ones in the southern Texas area, check on them if they can be reached by phone, email, or social media. Sometimes just knowing that someone cares makes the world of difference.

-Prayer

-Social Media: take the time to point others to responsible agencies and organizations that are providing disaster relief and encourage others to get involved.

-Spend some time thinking of your own creative way to give back and implement your idea!

Talent

-The city of Houston has listed specific ways that you can help them at www.houstontx.gov

-Volunteer with your local churches, community outreach organizations, and agencies that have Hurricane Harvey disaster relief drives.

-For those of you in the DFW area who want to volunteer:

Dallas Independent School District: as they serve thousands of children who have come into the city that they did not plan for. www.dallasisd.org

Trusted World: to help sort donations collected during the Hurricane Harvey Donation Drive. www.trustedworld.org

Treasure

-Megacare Missions as they provide disaster relief to those who are still in southern Texas and those who have come to the DFW area. www.megacaremissions.org

-Give directly to the city of Houston at https://ghcf.org/hurricanerelief

Proceeds will be given to the city to support the influx of displaced families, support first responders, and to begin city repairs.

-Give to the DFW Urban League Young Professionals https://www.paypal.com/donate/?token=bixqypERpwnarBRAM7Wa12Kv1aD-iF8EgDwMg0x4YcKhgmXcJrisVWuxhXz3zQUflVewk0&country.x=US&locale.x=US

Help this group of young professionals in their effort to provide funds to buy school supplies and uniforms for the displaced children coming into Dallas who will be enrolling into the local school district.

Donate to food banks:

Houston Food Bank www.houstonfoodbank.org

Galveston Food Bank www.galvestoncountyfoodbank.org

Donate blood:

America’s Blood www.americasblood.org

Red Cross: www.redcross.org

Carter BloodCare www.carterbloodcare.org

Donate to Homeless Shelters:

Houston Coalition for the Homeless www.homelesshouston.org

Check out www.do214.com for a more extensive list of ways to offer hope and aid.

These are just a few suggestions. If you know of any other ways (no matter what city you live in), feel free to share them in the comments box so that others can get involved. God bless you for being a blessing!