Oh, Houston. This is equally your saddest yet strongest hour.
This storm has wreaked “unprecedented” and “catastrophic” damage over the last few days which is very real and not being sensationalized. It’s not limited to one area, but widespread across the entire metro area, which is massive. Downtown, uptown, suburbs and inside the loop. All of it.
But equally, the spirit of this incredible city has risen so strongly that I truly lack the words to describe it. Houston has always been a city that takes care of it’s own – and not just in word, but in deed and in spirit. Having lived in 2 1/2 major US cities before Houston, I can say without a doubt that there’s no place else with the deep love and respect for its people. Today, I ventured out for the first time in days to the local grocery, where the line was 30 minutes deep just to get in, and as I checked out, the cashier looked me right in the eyes and asked, “How is your home? How is your family? Are you OK?”. I was so overwhelmed by this simple exchange of humanity that I almost burst into tears right there, but amazingly I didn’t (since I basically feel like a pressure cooker), and I answered, “we are OK, thank you. We are very lucky. How about you?” and just like that, we connected in a way that is so simple yet so necessary for communities to survive.
Like I said, I obviously don’t have the words, but luckily some others do:
The Good Thing Harvey Washed Away
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Oh, pray for one, and two, help in any way possible. Here are some options below.
Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. Set up by our Mayor, this is a special fund specifically for Harvey.
Houston’s #1 everything, J.J. Watt has set up a special fund.
Our friends at Sugar & Cloth are sponsoring a drive and matching families with those that can sponsor their necessities.
NPR has a fantastic list here.
And finally, if you are a brand, or company, that has been a partner of Luxe With Kids in the past and able to send items, especially diapers, baby products, baby clothing, etc., please reach out to me directly at candace at luxe with kids dot com as I’m helping a group of local bloggers coordinate donations that will go DIRECTLY to the front lines (we’re not taking anything ourselves, just connecting providers & needs).
Above all, thank you for the outpouring of love and concern. We can feel it, and it means the world.
XX
Calligraphy by Joyful Ink Calligraphy