Disaster Relief: Winter Storms 2021

Feb 23, 2021

Extreme winter storms of snow, ice, and freezing temperatures caused widespread power outages across Texas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Missouri, as well as other southern, central, and northeastern states, leaving communities in crisis. Texas, which experienced a system-wide power failure, has been the hardest hit. In one media bulletin, the Houston Chronicle reported that 4 million customers across the state were without power on February 15, including 1.4 million in the Houston area. The weather systems have affected food supply chains leaving empty supermarket shelves and residents with access to little or no food and clean water.

 

With the help of Charity Navigator, we have provided a list of highly-rated organizations providing relief and support to those affected by the storms. The list is not exhaustive. We have expedited the granting process so your contribution can be put to use as quickly as possible. More information on how to recommend a grant can be found below the list of organizations. 

 

 

Charity NameEINAreas of support1

Direct Relief

95‑1831116

Direct Relief is supporting nonprofit health centers and clinics throughout Texas, including by providing PPE, personal care products, and chronic disease meds, and is preparing multiple shipments for health centers and free clinics across Texas, including facilities in Dallas, Fort Stockton, Albany, Houston, and many other locations.

American National Red Cross

53-0196605

The Red Cross is sending over 100,000 ready-to-eat meals and several tractor-trailers filled with water to Texas. It is also distributing nearly 9,000 emergency supplies, include kits to help people clean up after pipes burst in their homes. Working with the government and community partners to coordinate food and water distribution where it's most needed, The Red Cross is also providing care and emergency shelter in four states.

Family Promise 52-1591461

Family Promise is working to ensure families experiencing homelessness have a warm place to sleep, by providing shelter, prevention, and stabilization services.

Operation USA95-3504080

Operation USA helps communities alleviate the effects of disasters, disease, and endemic poverty throughout the world by providing privately-funded relief, reconstruction and development aid. It specializes in reaching vulnerable populations who are in the greatest need, yet who are often ignored by governments and larger aid organizations.

Americares 06-1008595Americares saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster so they can reach their full potential. Americares is preparing emergency shipments of bottled water, medicine, and relief supplies for Texas families and local health centers affected by the 2021 winter storms.
Matthew 25 Ministries31-1348100Matthew 25: Ministries had supplies in the affected area as part of ongoing support and those supplies were used for immediate needs from the 2021 winter storms. Additional truckloads of supplies, such as bottled water, all purpose cleaner, batteries, sanitizer, food, and personal care supplies will also be sent to the affected regions.  
Good36054-1282616Good360 helps companies responsibly distribute excess goods for maximum impact and, in doing so, helps nonprofit partners deliver on their own important missions. Individuals facing challenging life circumstances get the goods they need and the products that are given help build resilient communities for the future.  
Save the Children06-0726487Save the Children believes every child deserves a future and works every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, Save the Children is always among the first to respond and the last to leave, ensuring children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. Save the Children is working to deliver critical supplies to shelters in Texas and help storm-damaged child care centers recover. 
CARE13-1685039CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. Its mission is to serve individuals and families in the poorest communities in the world. CARE facilitates lasting change by: Strengthening capacity for self-help, providing economic opportunity, delivering relief in emergencies, influencing policy decisions at all levels, and addressing discrimination in all its forms. 
UNICEF USA13-1760110The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first by providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. 
Episcopal Relief & Development73-1635264Episcopal Relief & Development is supplying emergency shelters, warming centers, food, generators, and gasoline to under-resourced communities in the greater Houston, Waco, and Austin areas, and will continue to access how it can provide support as the crisis evolves. 

 

 

How to help locally

To support local relief efforts, consider recommending a grant to a community foundation. These organizations often have extensive insight into the most urgent local needs and can often react quickly to emergenciesCheck out this community foundation locator to find one located in an affected area. 

 

To support these charities or others:

Log in to your online account by clicking the Login button in the upper right corner. Select Grant in the navigation menu at the top of the page and select Recommend a grant in the dropdown.

 

If the organization is not in your saved charities’ list, type the charity name, EIN, region, or interest area in the search bar under Find a charity. Click the magnifying glass to begin the search and then scroll down to see your search results. Charities will appear in a list below. Once found, save the charity by clicking on the star and then click select to begin the granting process. 

 

You will be asked to select a grant purpose in the first step of the process. Select Disaster Relief: Winter Storms 2021. If you want to donate to a specific cause or affected area, indicate so in the space provided.

 

If you do not have access to your online account, you can register by selecting the Login button in the upper right-hand corner. Follow the prompts to register for online access. 

 

The nonprofit community's response will be ongoing, and as such, this list are not meant to be exhaustive. Charity descriptions were provided by the charities. 

1Fees may apply 

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