The Westwind Claws will don a white and red tabard this week in order to raise awareness of the needs of those affected by Hurricane Harvey. It currently is devastating large parts of Texas. The peak of the storm hasn’t even been reached yet and so many lost their homes already. Still they need all help they can get. There is no staying in the way of nature when it decides to unleash full power.

We can only do our best to endure and survive. Please, if it’s within your means, try to help our fellow Men and Mer outside Tamriel. Anything you can contribute with will make a massive difference in someone elses life. Money, especially if you live outside the country. Blood for the blood banks. Temporary pet shelter for the strays and abandoned pets. Volunteer work to help rescuing and homing those vulnerable people. Food and other supplies on demand during disasters.

And if you can't afford or are unable to perform any direct acts, please spread the word to your friends and family, in social networks and other channels, lend your voice to champion this cause, it won't take many minutes.

Below there are some contacts that can be useful for those that want to start. If you have any charity or opportunities to help others affected by Hurricane Harvey, please post and I will update the thread. Please, take your time to check the organizations below to see if any matches your preferences and investigate them before committing anything. One kind gesture will make a world of difference for another person, be their hero.

The American Red Cross
Been volunteering for them for years, outstanding work in Brazil during floods, I imagine the American one will be nothing less.

Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund
A local fund raising started by the Mayor in order to organize the donation coming from within the country.

The Salvation Army has provided shelter, food, and clothing to victims in Houston. In other hard-hit cities, volunteers have been assisting in the efforts to rescue victims as floodwaters rapidly rise.

The Texas Diaper Bank, which is based out of San Antonio, is putting together relief kit for families with very small children who need access to clean diapers in the midst of flooding and evacuations. Diapers take up a lot of space in a delivery truck, which means that other relief organizations have to decide between bringing diapers or food to affected areas. The Texas Diaper Bank fills in that need.

The Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi weathered the storm well, never losing power. It’s accepting financial donations now, and if you live in the area and want to help, you can also donate blood. They serve a large area, and people from many affected parts of the coast are likely to need their services.

The SPCA of Texas is taking in hundreds of animals transferred from shelters on the coast who aren’t safe where they are right now. You can donate to the organization to help defray the costs—or you can open your home and foster a displaced animal until it can be reunited with its owner.

Austin Pets Alive! is doing similar work, and has similar needs—cash, to keep operating, and volunteers to foster animals. They can also use certain pet supplies: large plastic or metal bins with lids to store food, leashes and collars, cat litter, large brooms, cat-specific beds, and liquid laundry soap. (The organization says they’re good on crates and pet food now, and don’t have much space to store them.)

Direct Relief USA offers prescription drugs and other medical supplies to those who need it in emergency situations, and works with clinics and primary care doctors to ensure that people are able to get what they need when they need it. They’re accepting financial contributions.

Portlight, which has provided inclusive relief to people with disabilities for twenty years—including in Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy—is working to ensure that people who require medical equipment and assistive technology have what they need after they evacuate, and to make sure that those same folks are able to get to safety. They accept donations via PayPal.

The Houston Coalition for the Homeless is facilitating shelter for homeless people in Houston, including offering up-to-date information about which shelters currently have space, who’s the best fit for each one, and how to get there safely. They’re accepting financial donations to continue their work.

If you’re not in one of the affected areas and you have a spare room, you can host someone by listing your home on Airbnb for free, with no service fees to anyone. Right now, most of the listings are in Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio. If you’re in any of those cities—or another part of the state that’s not experiencing flooding—you might consider listing your space so displaced people have more options.

In Dallas, Trusted World is operating three shelters for evacuees. They need donations, supplies (clean clothing, non-perishable food, toiletries, diapers, and baby formula), and volunteers to help sort out the things that people have dropped off.

Global Giving is trying to raise $2 million to help those affected by the storm. As of this writing, they’ve raised $43,000, but the campaign had just launched. The organization provides food, gas, clean water, hygiene products, and shelter in the short-term, and then funnels the remaining resources to local organizations to facilitate long-term recovery.

Here’s a list of food banks in both affected areas and in places where those affected are likely to spend some time in the immediate aftermath of the storm (via the Houston Press):

Houston Food Bank
832-369-9390

Galveston Food Bank
409-945-4232

Corpus Christi Food Bank
361-887-6291