Lucky me, I got to see Houston last October attending the Arts Festival Conference, visited old friends in a grand old neighborhood, stayed downtown at an historic hotel and spent the weekend in Galveston, driving for miles along the Shipping Channel where the cargo ships come and go from the Gulf of Mexico. Ten months later, disaster.
A friend of mine Cynthia Reid, former art director of The Woodlands Waterway Art Festival, keeps me on her mailing list and I asked her today what I could do, as I hear such conflicting reports about the Red Cross. Her reply:
"I agree with you about the Red Cross. I know they do very good work, but I understand that funds cannot be directed to any one place so the money might end up going to someplace other than SE Texas. Here are a few places that I think would put donations to good local use.
1. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has established the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund -- https://ghcf.org/
2. Jerry's Artarama in Houston has set up a sigh up genius to donate money that will be turned into gift cards and given to local artists who have lost studios, art, supplies, etc. I understand (but have no actual corroboration) that they are matching the donations. http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c054faaa629a3f49-jerrys
3. Many animals have been lost or abandoned and are homeless, either sitting in shelters or wandering the streets. To help them, http://www.houstonhumane.org/
4. J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans has spearheaded the Houston Flood Relief Fund and they have received donations from Walmart and Ellen Degeneres. https://www.youcaring.com/victimsofhurricaneharvey-915053
Thank you for asking. Connie, is there any way you could send this list out in your next newsletter? I know there are people all over that would like to give but don't want their donation to go to the wrong place."
So here you have it. Maybe this will be helpful to you. Best to all. Stay safe.
Comments
Thank you both. Such a fine gesture, Susi. And thank you for that affirmation about Jerry's, Pen. That's where I sent my money.
Just saw a piece about on TV. Money better than goods seems to be the most helpful. The piece said that after Sandy Hook that every child in the school got 5 teddy bears and many more were given to charity. The answer: don't send teddy bears to the kids in Houston, I guess.
Yes, Jerry's Artarama is indeed doing what they said they would. One of the first companies to step up and offer assistance. Many of us that were not flooded feel like we dodged a bullet. To give back thousands of Houstonians are giving their time and skills to help those in need, therefore us self employed folks are taking time from making a living to help others. Needless to say, it is hard to sell art in this time period, and who knows when our economy will be totally back up to speed. But we will continue!
Greater Houston Community Foundation - https://ghcf.org/ (as mentioned above)
Rescued Pets Movement - https://www.rescuedpetsmovement.org
Hope this helps!
#artforharveyrelief