It’s hard to keep up with the volumes of stories coming out of Houston right now. Each one as tragic and important as the last. I keep seeing the tweets in which people are giving out their address begging for someone to come get them and wish there was more that I could do. I’ve made donations to various organizations but it’s a pittance when you consider what is needed. Fortunately, those with the means to do so have made much more substantial donations. One such person is actress and part-time Austinite, Sandra Bullock. Sandra has both business interests and a residence in Austin, Texas. The suffering in Houston hits close to her heart. So she put up $1 million dollars to help rescue efforts immediately.
Actress Sandra Bullock is pitching in to help victims of Hurricane Harvey — donating $1 million to the Red Cross relief effort, the relief organization confirms.
“This is an incredible gift. We’re so thankful. It’s times like this when we do receive such an incredible amount of support. Especially during times of disaster, people see what’s happening in Texas and our hearts all go out to them,” Elizabeth Penniman, Vice President of Communications for American Red Cross national headquarters, tells PEOPLE. “Having someone like Sandra Bullock make this kind of commitment, it helps bring people together and open their hearts and be even more generous.”
Although the country may be politically polarized, Bullock says the disaster wrought by Harvey — now downgraded to a tropical storm and expected to dump as much as 39 inches of rain on Houston and the surrounding region — should bring all Americans together.
“There are no politics in eight feet of water,” says the star. “There are human beings in eight feet of water.”
“It’s been a tragic weekend, and unfortunately, the worst is yet to come,” says Brad Kieserman, vice president of Disaster Services and Logistics for the Red Cross. “We are beginning a massive relief effort.”
That includes providing shelter and supplies for thousands. For Bullock, she says she’s happy to do her part.
“I’m just grateful I can do it,” she says. “We all have to do our part.”
“There are no politics in eight feet of water. There are human beings in eight feet of water.” Can we all say this together at full volume, please? Good for Sandra. She has a long history of donating generously in times of crisis or to bolster a community in need. We know that Texas and New Orleans hold a special place for her so this did not surprise me but that didn’t make it any less sweet to read. I know Kevin Hart has his challenge going on and Beyoncé’s pastor said she has done more than anyone will know behind the scenes. The owner of the Houston Rockets has just upped his donation to $10 million and Jamie Foxx will host a telethon on Sept 12. Each one of them is giving valuable resources and a welcome dollop of hope.
Most of us have been devastated by what we’ve seen coming out of Houston. I’ve been alternating between watching videos of the devastation and rescue videos of both people and animals. To everyone’s efforts to help, be it a donation, sharing valuable information on social media, the reporters who interrupted reporting to rescue someone, those who grabbed their boats and barreled towards the flooded area, those who opened their businesses as shelter or any other way you’ve helped, thank you. Please refer to Corey’s post from yesterday for a link to ways you can help. Many commenters have also listed organizations, which is terrific and welcome here as well. In addition to the havoc Harvey has wrought, South Asia is currently flooding from monsoons and Montana is being destroyed by wildfires. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these disasters.
Photo credit: WENN Photos and Getty Images
It’s impossible to wrap my mind around the devastation. Some of the stories are already horrifying, and I can’t even begin to imagine what we’ll see when all that water recedes. It makes me ill to think about. I’m so sorry, Texans. We love you. We’re with you. We won’t forget you, even when the world moves on. We know this will take years to recover from.
Horrible devastation, the worst of course being the loss of lives.
I thought it crass of Sandra to donate and make SURE everyone knew how much she donated. Most corporations and wealthy, (and average), people donated, but you don’t see them wanting credit for their donations.I would hope everyone would donate what they could for such a worthy case.
It’s a wonderfully generous donation, I just wish it wasn’t going to the Red Cross.
http://www.slate.com/articles/business/metropolis/2017/08/don_t_give_money_to_the_red_cross_we_need_a_new_way.html
Yeah, I love how generous Sandy always is but she might as well have set fire to that money.
Thanks to this site, I knew enough not to donate to the ARC!
Exactly what I came to say. Every time a disaster hits I post about not donating to ARC. Such a terrible organization when it comes to aid
I was disappointed to learn that as well. I also read that the United Way Relief Fund/United Way of Greater Houston has promised 100% of donations will go to Hurricane Harvey relief. Most of us in the US are well aware of the legitimacy of the United Way from their own communities — those not aware, United Way has regional “chapters” that primarily focus on raising support locally/regionally to support locally/regionally — neighbors helping neighbors.
https://www.unitedwayhouston.org/flood/flood-donation
(I have no affiliation with any of these groups, but do know of the United Way from my own community in Virginia)
Thank you, Mumzy. I am trying to choose a Foundation to donate. I will definetely look into United way.
My first thought, too. And her donation will surely prompt many more donations to them.
Another great organization that I had not heard of until my son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes this summer is Insulin for Life. I cannot for the life of me imagine all the people with diabetes in Houston being unable to access insulin and supplies right now. It’s literally a life and death situation for so many.
http://ifl-usa.org
The article makes a very good point which is that however often and however much you donate, it’s important to look at what that organization actually does. The ARC is not the only organization that struggles with too many donations/too much money, it’s pretty common, especially for mid-sized and smaller ones and projects. The one I volunteer for had to turn down a large sum recently (again) because we simply don’t have the infrastructure and no way of spending it in a way that benefits people in need. We work with refugees and sometimes I had to refuse clothes etc. as donations because that kind of assistance is simply not what we do. People got upset, let me tell you. But we still refuse.
Wow 1 million dollars! That is extremely generous of her. She outdid the entire Kardashian family although I do not mean to make donating to the Harvey victims a competition of who gives more. I feel compelled to make a donation even if it isn’t much. I love Sandra Bullock and I think she deserved a better husband than that guy who cheated on her.
Totally agree.
Again she is very generous. I hope some extremely wasteful singers actors would give as generous.
Sandra has homes in both Texas and Louisiana, one million is a piddly amount .
Hecate, giving from the heart is NEVER a pittance. Yes, the needs are great and rebuilding will take a lot of time and money, but a person’s life WILL become just a bit easier thanks to your gifts.
The most moving image I saw yesterday was a photo of a long line of people. I believe it was taken near the convention center which is being used as a shelter. It was a line of people waiting not for food, shelter, or clothes but to VOLUNTEER to help others. That is the sort of kindness we need more of in the world…a generosity of spirit which is thankfully commonplace in my adopted city of Houston.
Love her! Well done Sandy!
And kudos do Leonardo Di Caprio for making a generous donation too.
Sandy is a class act.
+ 1
And Miley!
You’re right, just read she donated too.
miley sucks
Damn, I wish I had that kind of money to give!
We appreciate it! The devastation is just remarkable. My kids and I spent the day at the house of a family who had three feet of water in their house. In the morning, I was snippy and short with my kids for bickering and for displaying entitled teen and tween attitude. Then, we got to house and got to work. It’s amazing how much better you feel when you can DO something to help! The sense of helplessness is terrible.
Houston will rebuild, but appreciate your help. Houstonia magazine has a great list of local charities if anyone is so inclined.
I glad that you and your family are safe.
Oops. I meant that I *am* glad. Sorry.
@LT and other CB Texans, we are all thinking of you and stand ready to help you clear the detritus and start afresh. What you are dealing with is beyond overwhelming in every regard, but big, beautiful Texas spirit and pride can’t be washed or blown away. You have a large country (and world) with many millions of people who not only will, but *want* to, share whatever you need in your recovery efforts, however long.
Thank you Mumzy. Your words mean a lot. The scope of this disaster has me on tilt, it hasn’t even sunk in yet I’m sure. But the kindness and heroics I’ve witnessed are very real and reduce me to tears of gratitude.
Thank you! The outpouring of support from the national and global community means a lot!
It just sucks – we were unbelievably fortunate that while our streets flooded, the house did not. I can’t tell you how many friends and colleagues lost everything – it’s absolutely staggering.
But – as others have said – what is happening in Houston truly reminds you of what is great about this country. After Charlottesville, many people asked, “Is this who we are as a nation?” The answer is NO. Houston is who we are as a nation – we pull together, we help each other, and we do it with a smile. Houston is the most diverse city in America and it represents all that is good and hard working about our motley crew of a country.
Totally Houston strong here – and now I have to get back to washing the wet, mildewing laundry of my friends who had 3 feet of gross floodwater in the house. You don’t really know someone until you wash their underwear and concert t shirt….
I think she is an emotional person, such as myself. I literally can’t bear to see the children and elders in such dire situations. I like @Alix above wish I had that kind of money to give to these people. Hard to fathom what it might be like to lose everything and fear for your life. If this hurricane doesn’t change your perspective on your life, something’s wrong. Why is it we come together in times of horror, like after September 11th and now in Texas, and then when things calm down, we’re right back to ignoring each other. Too deep for this early, but I’m sure Sandra’s gift will help tremendously in Texas.
You know what made me bawl my eyes out? Those pictures of the elderly sitting in their flooded retirement home. Thankfully, they’ve all been rescued and are now safe, dry and sound.
I know. And to think that was one tiny, minuscule fraction of the people in similar situations. It’s beyond heartbreaking.
I was happy to see our high school (we’re in IL) set up a fund to accept cash donations for Harvey victims. They’re collecting in school today and tomorrow and next week and at all the athletic events.
Please set a little aside for Portlight. The disabled have a very difficult time with disasters: http://www.portlight.org/
Thanks to your mentioning it yesterday, I added it to a FB post as one of my recommended local charities. They will be getting some donations soon!
https://www.houstoniamag.com/articles/2017/8/29/donate-to-these-local-houston-charities
Thank you for the link, LT!
I am glad you and your family are safe!
I just love her – and let’s all try to remember to put PEOPLE above politics. I am so tired of all the political divisiveness in our country these days. If the president and politics in general is bothering you, turn off the tv and go outside and be with real people. I think all the tv coverage and nasty opinion media just makes everyone feel bad. There is plenty to feel good about in our country if we open our eyes.
And as a citizen of Virginia, Charlottesville is NOT what our country is about. That was a few hundred nasty awful people there, but we have millions of wonderful people here. Let’s celebrate them.
Just want to say as a Houstonian that I am really grateful for the caring, generous spirit of our CB commenters. It’s been very discouraging reading some of the hate and vitriol spewed against Houston by people not from here, while the waters were still rising. It’s nice to have a place to go and read comments that don’t act like people deserve to drown and lose everything because maybe they might have voted for Trump (in a city which, if they knew anything about, is the most diverse in the nation and consistently votes Democratic 🙄). Sandy’s sentiments and your support are much appreciated.
Thank you for mentioning Montana. Our big sky hasn’t been blue in a month, the smoke is so thick and persistent it resembles the smog in Beijing. If all accounts are true another 40 fires sparked overnight. Govenor Bullock has called up our national guard and we’re nearly out of funds. Meanwhile our junior GOP Senator Steve Daines is politicizing the fires by blaming environmentalists.
And my heart aches for Houston. My brother and his family live in Katy TX and he reports they are safe and dry but less than two miles away everything is under water.
A few days ago some CBers posted useful donation links and I found the Texas Diaper Bank (for seniors AND little ones during disasters.). Evidently diapers take up too much valuable space in supply shipments so are chronically unavailable at shelters, etc.
Well, when I first donated they had a little bar with what had obviously been their donation goal before Harvey–and it said 392,000 out of 20,000 donated. That felt pretty good, but I guess word is getting out: today it said over 2.3 million of 20,000 dollars donated!
Since they have an infrastructure in place with essentially a single supply goal, I feel positive they will be able to put this substantial sum to good use. And I’m really impressed that people have been so generous through word of mouth.