Although local programming is no longer 24-hour storm coverage, some people's homes are STILL underwater. Thousands are in shelters, thousands more are displaced, living with friends or relatives.
What I've seen because of Hurricane Harvey is incredible. From Rockport to Beaumont and beyond, people have come together. Every single person I know here....EVERY ONE has helped in some way. Donating supplies, sorting donations, making and serving meals, washing laundry, taking in people who've lost homes, ripping out drywall, lugging soaked carpets to the curb...you name it, people are doing it. Shelters, sorting centers, and food pantries were so overwhelmed that they were turning away VOLUNTEERS!
And while Texas has pulled together, out-of-state help has poured in, too. People with boats from all over the US, loaded up their trailers and drove to Texas, pulling people from the water...and sleeping in parking lots when they needed rest.
A food blogger friend, one I've never met in person, messaged me soon after the storm. She had diapers and blankets to send. She wanted to send money to the food pantry where we were working to supply the shelters.
The clean-up will be big, a marathon they say. Our hearts are bigger.
I'll be touching base down the road about more ways we can help rebuild. In the meantime, if you want to help, here are some outlets that I trust.
JJ Watt Houston Flood Relief Fund. JJ is a football player with the Houston Texans. He's always giving back to the community, and this is no exception. He started with a goal of raising $200,000. The fund now has in excess of $28 million. JJ is adamant that the monies raised go directly to victims, not administrative costs. I love that.
Salvation Army. Your donation can be marked to go to people affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Catholic Charities USA. 100% of the funds collected will go to flood victims.
St. Anthony of Padua Harvey Relief Fund. This is our home parish. I trust it implicitly and know that donations go directly to help those in need.
St. Anthony of Padua Amazon Relief Registry. St. Anthony's runs a food pantry year round. Within 6 hours of the call for donations for the storm (including clothing, blankets, etc.) more than 20,000 square feet of donations were collected. 85 truckloads of clothing and bedding went out to shelters across two counties. In just 3 days, 500 people had volunteered. St. Anthony's updates the Amazon list frequently with current needs.
As for the cookies...I thought buttercream frosting seemed more comforting than royal icing. Plus no one around here wants anything to do with FLOOD icing right now. I used this recipe for the cookies (cut to 3/8" thick) and this recipe for the buttercream. I piped the frosting using a #3 tip.
To all in the path of Hurricane Irma, know that all of our collective Texas hearts are with you. ♥
