Helping Houston
Good morning friends! I had planned to post about skincare today, but in light of the recent devastating events in Houston and the surrounding areas like Rockport, Corpus Christi, Port Aransas and more, I’m postponing that so I can just talk to you from my heart today.
Image via Rifle Paper
Although we haven’t been badly affected by the storm, so many of our friends and neighbors have. We had heard it was going to be bad over the weekend, but it’s just been getting worse and worse. 50 counties flooded, 30,000 people are in shelters, and 56,000 911 calls were made in just 15 hours. More than 2,200 water rescues were conducted in Houston alone. Can you even imagine? And those numbers are probably outdated by now.
Thankfully, we’ve been safe inside our home with power, glued to the tv. We’ve tried to keep the normalcy in our house and with our kids, and even on the blog and social media, but it’s been difficult when you know that all around you is a disaster of epic proportions. We’ve been on the phone and texting our friends and family, checking in hourly to make sure everyone is okay as the rain kept pouring and water kept rising.
We’ve witnessed on tv so many families (many with young children) being rescued by boat from their flooded homes. I saw a senior citizen community with elderly people sitting for hours in wheelchairs with water up to their laps while they waited to be rescued. I’ll never be able to get that image out of my mind. I see my own grandma in those ladies and I feel sick that they had to go through that. They must have been so scared and felt so vulnerable sitting there in wheelchairs for so long.
Once families have been rescued, many have ended up in shelters. I’ve seen babies laying on the hard floor, their parents in a state of shock about what to even do next. Where do you go and what do you do when your home is flooded and you’ve lost everything?
Animal shelters with dogs and cats waiting to be rescued also broke my heart. It’s all so sad. I’m sure you’ve seen the news too, and are feeling the same way. Heartbroken.
But, I’m also hearing the stories of neighbor helping neighbor and seeing all those everyday heroes who have been so courageous to risk their own lives to save those in need. It just makes you want to cry with emotion over the whole thing. And yet, it’s still supposed to keep raining all day tomorrow too. Please Lord, hear our prayers!
Although our home is dry, we’re basically trapped in because there is high water all around us. Being IN it, and okay, while so many people around you are suffering, makes you feel so helpless. I’ve only been able to pray hard and give money and offer our home and clothes/supplies to friends and family I know in need.
I gave to the Houston Food Bank and the Red Cross and I know many of you want to help too, from Houston and throughout the US and even overseas. I’ve been corresponding with so many of you on Stories and your compassionate hearts have really touched me! Thank you for checking in and for sharing your hurricane experiences with me. It makes me feel less alone while I’ve been isolated in this house. I want to get out and give someone a hug! So I just keep loving on my family!
Perhaps one more way I can help is to share here a list of places you can donate to help victims of Hurricane Harvey.
And Houston Moms Blog has a wonderful, detailed post about how you can help with money, supplies, volunteering, and even with the kids that I’d encourage you to check out.
I know you have hearts to pray and give where you can, and I know the people of Houston appreciate you so much! I also know our city is strong and we will continue to pull together and help each other. Thank you for your support and prayers!
Just wanted to let you know in case you hadn’t seen, but I think your skincare post also automatically posted.
I am sending good thoughts your way! I live in a northern state and it’s hard to feel so helpless watching all this. Please stay safe!
I saw that. Thank you for letting me know. It was automatically scheduled, so it accidentally went live.
Ok, just wanted to make sure you saw it, I figured it was pre-scheduled. 🙂
Thank you for sharing the HMB link. Our team has fully curated that list to be a trusted resource. Houston WILL get through this. Sending you love and prayers from Katy – also on a little island here and feeling helpless at the moment.
Thank you so much for that comprehensive list! I know so many people want to help.
You’re the only person I “know” in Houston so I’ve been checking your blog and social media as often as I can to see how you guys are doing. So glad you’re safe and dry in your home!! My thoughts and prayers go out to all those affected in Houston and surrounding areas.
Thank you so much Jenna. I really appreciate it.
You and your family, friends and all those affected are in my thoughts and prayers.
Thank you so much Wendy. I’m waking up feeling so sick over all of this this morning. I can’t believe I woke up and it’s still raining.
I’m following you from years now. When I heard about Harvey I immediately thought to your family. You’re safe, I’m relieved and pray for Texas.
Thank you so much for thinking of our family. All the way across the ocean. Big hugs!
Thank you for posting this! So important.
Thanks Jen!
Thank you for this, Megan. One of my dearest friends live in Piney Point Village; she and her husband had to be evacuated from their beautiful home on Sunday morning. They are safe, thank God. So much devastation. You are right; we all want to help, so thank you for pointing us in the right direction.
Hi Richella! How is your friend’s home? I hope no flooding. We are trying to help in anyway we can. We just got home from making a donation at the GRB Convention center. It’s heartwarming seeing all the people come together to help.
Thanks for posting, Megan. I checked this morning just to see if you had, as I’ve been thinking of you all as I’ve heard the reports. Continue prayers for everyone involved. I’m glad you guys are safe, albeit trapped right now.
We were able to get out and make a donation today. We are happy to be able to help in whatever way we can right now.
Hi Megan, I’m a long time reader and I usually don’t comment (I typically read on my phone or iPad and its a pain for me to type on those devices). However, I really want to tell you that I am praying for you and all the residents of Houston, and how much I appreciate you using your blog and social media to spread awareness of the tragedy and also to bring attention to ways we can help. I see so many other fashion bloggers moving on with life as usual, no mention of Harvey, and I appreciate you using your platform for good, not just to get more likes or make money with affiliate links. You have such a beautiful heart and even though I may not comment, I love your blog and everyday I look forward to getting a glimpse into your world.
I get that about commenting! Your comment is so sweet, I’m trying to do what I can. It’s been hard feeling fortunate that we are safe and dry, yet at the same time feeling so bad for everyone who has lost their homes.
I too have been checking your blog daily as you are the only person I “know” in Houston. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire state, and with your family.
Thank you for sharing the links to donate as well!
Thanks for checking on us Lindsey! We are doing good here, we just want to help!
Thinking of you and your family!! Thank you for the donation links too. It’s great to see people coming together in the midst of so much tragedy. The human spirit really is amazing. We have family and friends in various areas of Houston and so far their homes have been spared. It’s a big relief, but I know there will be challenges in the days, weeks, and months ahead. Keeping you all in our prayers!❤️❤️❤️
Humanity is really good at its core! Thank you for your prayers Aubrey!
My Dallas nephew took his young daughter out last night and bought a cart full of diapers and formula. They then dropped it off at a Dallas shelter together. I admire that he took the time to do that when he could have just written a check. I think teaching our children the act of giving is so important. I am in Indiana and praying for Houston. (I am also donating here as many Indiana first responders are now in Texas.)
I agree! That’s why we got our son involved in collecting things from the house to give and took him with us to drop off the items. He hand-picked books from his collection to donate! Thank you so much for your prayers Alice!
My husband is a Dallas area fireman. He is on his way home as I type from 2 days of water rescues down there. He told me he has never seen anything like it and he has been a fireman a long while. Through all this devastation and what seems like such divide in our world it does my heart good to see ALL the men and women pitching in and coming together to help people in need. Take care.
I feel the same way! Everyone is just loving on and helping in any way that can! It brings tears to my eyes!
I have been thinking of you and your family since I heard Harvey was making landfall and am glad to see you’re all okay. I cried reading this post as this is such a heartbreaking thing for anyone to experience and I can’t even imagine what you’re all going through. I’ve been wondering all day what I can do to help, so thank you for sharing these resources. We’ll keep you in our thoughts and are sending virtual hugs to you all.
Julia, thank you so very much. I can tell reading your words how sad you are for everyone. I’ve cried too, so you’re not alone.