Summary
With so many Austinites without food, water, and electricity, we've put together a list of ways for you to get and give help locally.
Action Box
If you are able to, choose one of the organizations below and make a donation to help our neighbors in need.
Many Austinites are without food, electricity, or water. Scroll through our list below for more info on ways to get and/or give help.
Feel like we forgot something? Send us an email at info@theaustincommon.com. You can also check our Instagram page @The_Austin_Common for the most up-to-date info.
For Information …
Every day, Austin Mayor Steve Adler is going on Facebook Live to provide updates.
Mayor Pro Tem Natasha Harper-Madison (District 1) has been putting together Facebook Live videos regularly with the latest info. You can watch them here.
Austin City Council Member Greg Casar (District 4) has put together a resource list with key city phone numbers & info on what to do if you lose power/water.
Austin City Council Member Leslie Pool (District 7) has put together a resource list guide with info on warming shelters & safety tips.
Austin City Council Member Alison Alter (District 10) has put together a list of key resources & info from the city.
Travis County Judge Andy Brown has put together a resource guide with county-wide info.
For all water-related info, visit Austin Water’s website or Twitter page.
For all energy-related info, visit Austin Energy’s website or Twitter page.
To Donate…
The Community Resilience Trust (a collaborative dedicated to ensuring an equitable disaster response) has an emergency relief fund to support Austin’s unhoused residents & provide basic needs during the storm.
I Live Here I Give Here launched a matching Amplify Disaster Relief Fund that benefits 130+ nonprofits on the AmplifyATX.org giving site whose missions focus on Basic Needs, Disaster Relief & Emergency Response, Human Services, and/or Housing, Shelter & Homelessness.
The Austin Area Urban League has launched the #LoveThyNeighborTX campaign to provide shelter, food, water, and clothing for Austinites in need.
Austin Mutual Aid is raising money to book hotel rooms for those without water or shelter. They’re also accepting donations of toiletries, sleeping bags, first aid kits, coffee, care packages, etc. at their donation center, located at 207 West 4th Street.
DAWA (Diversity Awareness & Wellness In Action) is giving away direct cash assistance. You can contribute by sending money to @dawheals via Venmo.
Food Blogger @ATasteOfKoko has launched a GoFundMe page to pay local restaurants to provide free meals to our community, as well as to local hospitals and emergency workers. You can donate here.
Good Work Austin is coordinating with local restaurants to provide meals for our community. You can donate to their ongoing Community Kitchen program (which feeds the underserved in Austin) here.
The Austin EMS Association is raising money to feed EMS, firefighters, and hospital workers. You can donate here.
Do Good ATX is accepting donations to provide non perishable food & baby food to local families. You can donate via Venmo (@dogoodatx) or the Cash App ($dogoodatx). They’re also accepting donations of wood, propane, and candles. To donate, simply message @DoGoodATX on Instagram, starting with “Stay warm donations.”
Austin Pets Alive has a list of donation requests on its website so that it can keep its animal shelter running through this storm and its aftermath.
A fundraiser for the Rebekah Baines Johnson Center (a residential community for 160 low-income seniors in East Austin) has been launched on GoFundMe.
The Sustainable Food Center has set up a Farmer and Rancher Relief Fund to help local farmers who have lost crops because of the storm. You can donate here.
Casa Marianella (which provides shelter, food, and full supportive services to homeless immigrants) needs water and food. Information about how to donate is available on their Instagram page.
Communities of Color United is accepting donations for their ongoing mutual aid efforts. You can learn more about how to donate here.
The Austin Disaster Relief Network is raising money to help families impacted by the winter storm.
The Other Ones Foundation is helping Austin’s homeless community through the winter storm. You can donate to their work here.
Foundation Communities (which provides affordable housing in Austin) has an emergency assistance fund to provide direct relief for food, water, rent, and medical assistance.
I Live Here I Give Here has created the ILHIGH Amplify: Disaster Relief Fund to provide matching support for over 130 local organizations focusing on Basic Needs; Public Safety, Disaster/Relief, and Emergency Response Human Services; and/or Housing, Shelter & Homelessness.
The Black Leaders Collective Fund is supporting a coordinated effort to provide critical emergency aid to community members impacted by recent winter storms. They are also advocating for changes to policy and government systems to lessen the severity of these types of events in the future.
The Asian Family Support Services of Austin provides critical services to immigrant survivors and is currently providing direct assistance to clients with grocery and water needs.
To Volunteer…
Community Resilience Trust needs volunteers to help provide admin support in coordinating volunteers, provide meals, etc. You can sign up for that here. Community Resilience Trust is also looking for drivers to help transport unhoused neighbors (as well as supplies). You can sign up for that here.
Do Good ATX needs volunteers with 4WD to help pick up and deliver donations. To sign up message @DoGoodATX on Instagram, starting with “Vehicle For Assisting.”
The City of Austin needs volunteers to help at its cold weather shelters. You can sign up to volunteer here and sign up to provide transportation to the shelters here.
Austin Mutual Aid needs drivers to help transport groceries and supplies. You can sign up here.
A Neighborhood Networking for Mutual Aid Google Sheet has been created by the Sustainable Living Guide. Use it to share what support you can offer and how people can access it.
The Travis County Democratic Party is organizing a wellness phone bank to check in on seniors and make sure they’re safe and have water and food. You can sign up to volunteer here.
Communities of Color United needs volunteers to help drive around supplies, cook food, and find supplies. You can sign up here.
If you’re in need…
Water
Several local breweries are opening their doors to fill water containers & provide a warm place to recharge devices. These include Black Star Coop, the Brewtorium, Meanwhile Brewing, Batch, and the ABGB. Follow @TxCraftBrewers on Instagram for more updates. Eater Austin also has a list of local breweries and restaurants with water.
Natural Grocers is giving away free water at all of their stores – 4615 N. Lamar Blvd., 1335 E Whitestone Blvd. in Cedar Park and at 1301 W. University Ave. in Georgetown.
Food
Several local businesses and organizations have teamed up to pay local restaurants to provide free food for the community. To find out which restaurants are giving away meals, try following these Instagram accounts – @DeepEddyVodka, @GoodWorkAustin, @Bumble, @ATasteOfKoko
Austin Mutual Aid is getting emergency supplies to Austinites in need. Fill out their Google form here.
A Neighborhood Networking for Mutual Aid Google Sheet has been created by the Sustainable Living Guide. Use it to list your needs and connect with those able to help.
When Where What Austin has assembled a spreadsheet with restaurants that are open & those that are giving away food.
The Facebook group Eat Drink To Go is sharing information about open restaurants and grocery stores with supplies.
Shelter
The Austin Justice Coalition has a warming center at Servant Church (1605 E. 38 1/2 St.). There will be warm food, coffee, tea, snacks, PPE, and menstrual supplies.
Call 512-305-4233 for shelter info
A full list of the city’s warming shelters can be found here.