The devastation in Houston is incredible. Areas throughout the greater Houston area have reported up to 60 inches of rain in a 24 hour period. It's the worst Hurricane in the U.S. since 2005. It may take years for the area to recover and you may be asking yourself, what can I do to help? Here's a list of reputable agencies that are set up to take your donations:

  • American Red Cross. To donate visit redcross.org, call 1- 800-RED CROSS or text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
  • GlobalGiving: visit https://www.globalgiving.org/harvey.Donors can also text HARVEY to 80100 to donate $10 to GlobalGiving's Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. You can also send a check by writing,"Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund" in the memo line and mailing it to GlobalGiving, 1110 Vermont Ave NW, Suite 550, Washington DC, 20005.
  • Save the Childrenwww.savethechildren.org. Your donations to this agency will go towards working to meet children and families’ immediate needs
  • Apple: Apple has set up a donation link directly on iTunes and App Store.Visit www.apple.com. These donations will go directly to the American Red Cross.
  • Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.  This fund is set up to accept tax-deductible flood-relief donations. Online credit card donations can be made at www.ghcf.org.

According to a story appearing in USA Today, the best thing you can do is to donate money but make sure you are donating to reputable organizations.

Blood centers are also anticipating a shortage and are putting out urgent pleas for donations from all areas of the country. Also causing shortages is the fact that blood banks and collection centers are closed along the coast because of the storm, so it's a double whammy for the blood collection in the area and the aftermath of the storm will stress existing supplies.

People wishing to donate blood should contact the Red Cross here in the Treasure Valley

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