Spending $$$ Online

That's what so many folks would be doing this week fromTuesday, July 8 at 12:01 am through midnight on Friday, July 11 (EDT).

Why? Because of Amazon Prime Days. This usually big sale has expanded this year from two to four days (48 to 96 hours) for Prime members to shop millions of bargains. Admittedly, we both had wish lists prepared for online shopping.

However, that changed after learning of last weekend's devastating flash floods in the Texas Hill country along the Guadalupe River with the loss of so many lives and so much property.

Instead of shopping for deals, I decided to do something else — read and learn about the organizations collecting monetary donations. While many, if not all, have online click to donate. My preference is old style with checks sent by mail. I needed to find mailing addresses.

With so many worthwhile organizations, the decision became a personal choice of which one(s). Difficult to only select one, my choices were narrowed down to a few, some are described below. Disclaimer: Please note that these organizations are just some that caught my attention. This post is not endorsement of one vs. another. There are many noteworthy organizations to support and your choices may, of course, differ.

This is one that I kept reading about for Kerr County and Kerrville, TX, relief efforts. In Kerrville, the local police department and some local groups are now prioritizing monetary donations as food or water donations were not needed. 

The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, an area nonprofit group, launched the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund to help support local response, relief and recovery efforts.The foundation will direct funds to organizations providing rescue, relief, and recovery efforts as well as flood assistance. The Fund will support the communities of Hunt, Ingram, Kerrville, Center Point, and Comfort. 

All donations will go to organizations helping with the emergency. Monetary donations  can be sent to: Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, 241 Earl Garrett Street, Kerrville, TX 78028. Checks should be made payable to Kerr County Flood Relief Fund.

Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR) is an Austin-based nonprofit group that serves all citizens of the State of Texas deploying at the request of law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency management agencies. It specializes in emergency response using ground search and rescue, flood and swift water rescue teams, K9 search dogs, drones to aid in the search for the missing. The group was aiming to raise $100,000 to sustain its efforts. 

 

Services are free to requesting agencies and are staffed trained professional volunteers. TEXSAR consists of multiple divisions across Texas and deploys to all 254 counties in the state. Since 2004, it has evolved into one of the largest non-paid search and rescue organizations in the Texas.

All funding comes from sponsors, corporations, and the community. There is never a charge for its services. Donations can be mailed to TEXSAR, 13501 Ranch Road 12 Ste. 103 Wimberley, TX 78676.

Friday’s flooding devastated the fire house of the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department’s. The flood waters destroyed the interior of the station and ruined much of what was inside the building, including essential gear and equipment. Patrick is a former NJH firefighter, so this organization was on our donation list. 

This station, which is the base of operations for search and rescue in Center Point lost all of its emergency equipment in the flood. Area residents have banded together to volunteer to clean up what they can and support the firefighters. Monetary donations are welcomed: Center Point VFD, PO Box 494, Center Point, TX 78010-0494

The United Cajun Navy is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing disaster relief and emergency response services to communities in need.

Founded in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the organization has since grown to become a critical part of disaster response efforts across the United States. The United Cajun Navy’s mission is to swiftly and effectively mobilize volunteers and resources to areas affected by natural disasters, ensuring that those in need receive timely assistance.

Unlike traditional relief organizations, the United Cajun Navy is not a government agency or large nonprofit. It's a decentralized network of volunteer-based groups of private boat owners who assist in search and rescue efforts during natural disasters, particularly in the Southern U.S. These groups, often from Cajun communities in Louisiana, use their boats and skills to rescue those stranded by natural disasters. Donations can be mailed to: United Cajun Navy, 2053 W Magna Carta Place, Baton Rouge LA 70815.

Currently, Samaritan's Purse is responding to deadly flash flooding in central Texas. This non-denominational evangelical Christian organization provides spiritual and physical aid to people worldwide. Since 1970, Samaritan’s Purse has helped meet needs of those who are victims of war, poverty, natural disasters, disease, and famine. Samaritan's Purse mobilizes staff and equipment and enlists thousands of volunteers to provide emergency aid to victims of tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and other natural disasters in the U.S. 

The Salvation Army is mobilizing in response to severe floods in Texas. Its services include providing emergency aid, food, drinks, emotional and spiritual care, and critical supplies to survivors and rescue workers. 

For those who support Salvation Army disaster services, 100% of that donation is applied to the disaster relief operation selected. The Salvation Army never applies an administrative fee to any disaster gift. If disaster donations exceed identified needs, excess funds will be restricted to support future disaster services. For information and service locations, visit www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.

World Central Kitchen (WCK) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that provides food relief. It was founded in 2010 by Spanish-American chef and restaurateur José Andrés following the earthquake in Haiti and has since responded to Hurricane Harvey, the 2018 lower Puna eruption, 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes and the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.

World Central Kitchen’s Relief Team is in central Texas to support communities impacted by catastrophic flooding in Hill Country on Friday, July 4. When disaster strikes, WCK’s Relief Team mobilizes to the frontlines to start cooking and provide meals to people in need. By partnering with organizations on the ground and activating a network of food trucks or emergency kitchens, WCK provides freshly made, nutritious meals to communities impacted by disasters quickly and effectively. 

Direct Relief provides disaster relief across all 50 U.S. states and throughout the world and has staff on the ground in Texas. The organization is in communication with responding search and rescue groups, camps and healthcare partners in affected areas, including National Emergency Management and Response, which deployed personnel to Kerrville in response to the flooding. 

To meet needs related to extreme weather in Texas, Direct Relief has committed an initial $50,000 in direct funding and made its $90 million stockpile of medications and supplies available to responding organizations.

Direct Relief is nongovernmental, nonsectarian, and not-for-profit. It relies entirely on private contributions to advance its mission and perform a wide range of functions. Donations can be sent to: Direct Relief, 6100 Wallace Becknell Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93117.

Of course, not only individuals, but countless companies and celebrities countrywide have contributed funds to Central Texas relief efforts. It was heartwarming to read about many.

No doubt many fellow bloggers have favorite organization(s) they support. In times of recent disasters, we've contributed to some that were new to us and favorites as well.