Aug. 29–According to the Houston Chronicle, Gallery Furniture is opening its I-45 North location (between Tidwell and Parker) and the location in the Richmond area off Grand Parkway as shelters for families seeking refuge from Tropical Storm Harvey.
"Houstonians have a safe, dry place to take shelter at Gallery Furniture so if they can get here they are welcome," said owner Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale in the release.
Pets are also welcome, and a store representative told the Chronicle that Gallery is putting out a call for kennels to house animals.
The furniture store isn't the only Texas business that is aiding those displaced by Harvey. Many other businesses are pitching in either through material or monetary donations. Read on for a long (but not comprehensive) list of businesses that are lending a helping hand, and find out how you can donate to help Houston families, too.
TEXAS- AND NATION-WIDE:
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H-E-B's Hurricane Harvey Relief effort has worked throughout the weekend in Victoria to serve more than 8,000 meals and provide supplies to those in need, according to a Monday night news release. The grocer's Disaster Relief Units, mobile kitchens, water and fuel tankers, H-E-B trailers, mobile pharmacies and mobile business units also allow people to get medical care and pay bills on time in the wake of the storm, as well as get food and water. TO DONATE: All H-E-B, Central Market and Joe V's Smart Shop stores across Texas are offering customers an opportunity to donate increments of $1, $3, or $5 at the checkout counter. All donations, as well as a $100,000 donation from H-E-B, will benefit the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army and Feeding Texas.
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Donate to the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
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The Salvation Army is also traveling across Texas with a fleet of 44 mobile kitchens, delivering meals to those in need. Donations can be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or texting STORM to 51555.
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Amazon and Whole Foods Market will match cash donations made via Amazon up to $1 million to go toward the American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.
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Apple is also accepting donations made through the iTunes Store, which will also go toward the American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.
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PepsiCo has donated $1 million to the American Red Cross Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund and has pledged supplies like purified drinking water to areas impacted by Harvey.
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Wal-Mart will give cash and product donations of $1 million or more to various relief groups.
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Exxon Mobil donated $500,000 to Gulf Coast Red Cross organizations.
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Starbucks customers can make donations with their coffee at any location in the country, but the Starbucks Foundation has given $250,000 to the American Red Cross.
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Lowe's has made a $500,000 contribution to the American Red Cross and has set up donation stations in all of its Texas stores.
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The Home Depot has already given $1 million to the American Red Cross, in addition to sending truckloads of supplies to its Texas stores for home repairs.
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Google is matching employee donations to the American Red Cross up to $250,000, and has given another $250,000 grant to the American Red Cross.
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Various Texans, as well as celebrities, have also set up GoFundMes for Harvey relief.
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The Hearst Corporation, which owns the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News, is donating $1 million to the Greater Houston Red Cross.
AUSTIN-AREA BUSINESSES AND GROUPS:
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The Austin Diaper Bank is making care packages of diapers (adult and infant), wipes and diaper cream for families dislplaced to Austin by Harvey. TO DONATE: Make monetary donations that will go toward the diapers at the bank's website. Donate diapers in person at 8711 Burnet Road, at the back of Building B.
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Austin Pets Alive! is looking for foster families for evacuated pets as well as in-kind donations like cat litter, laundry soap and dog treats. The group has already moved more than 235 animals to its shelters after the storm. They also plan to head to Houston on Tuesday morning to help those in the area rescue strays and abandoned pets from flood waters.TO DONATE: Visit the shelter's website.
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The Bastrop County Long-Term Recovery Team is accepting donations on its website to help with flood relief for Bastop County residents.
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Family Business Beer Co., the Hill Country brewery run by "Supernatural" star Jensen Ackles and his family isn't open yet, but is already organizing Harvey relief. Partnering with Random Acts, a nonprofit focusiong on performing random acts of kindness, Family Business has already surpassed its $100,000 fundrasing goal. TO DONATE: Visit the fundraising page here.
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The Austin Disaster Relief Network, which works with more than 175 churches in the Austin area, has sent teams of trained volunteers to area shelters to help with emotional and spiritual care. Its Hope Family Thrift Store located at 1122 E. 51st St. is currently accepting donations Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Items needed include new undergarments for children and adults, new socks for children and adults, toiletries, new bed pillows and new blankets, mops and buckets, hand sanitizer, box fans, black trash bags, and inflatable mattresses.
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Not really a business taking donations, but giving incentives to donate: The Paramount Theatre is offering free film admissions to patrons who can prove they donated to the American Red Cross.
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Dell Technologies has pledged $500,000 to the American Red Cross. They have also set up a relief page on an internal company website where employees can donate.
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Tech accelerator Capital Factory hosted a blood drive through the organization We are Blood on Monday afternoon.
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Black Star Co-Op will donate $1 to relief efforts from every house beer sold through September 3.
CELEBRITY PLEDGES
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Rapper Drake and his DJ and manager Future the Prince "are working with local relief groups to aid and assist the people of Texas in anyway we can and in the most immediate way possible," according to a Monday Instagram post.
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Beyonc? is "working closely with my team at BeyGOOD as well as my pastor (Rudy Rasmus at St. John's in downtown Houston) to implement a plan to help as many as we can," according to a Monday news release in the Houston Chronicle.
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Houston rapper Paul Wall is collecting supplies to aid families in his Houston neighborhood and is planning relief events.
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Houston rapper Lil Keke is collecting donations for shoes and clothing for Harvey victims.
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Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt created a crowdfunding page on YouCaring asking his followers to donate any money they could to reach his goal of $200,000. Two hours later, the goal was surpassed and raised to $500,000. TO DONATE: Visit Watt's YouCaring page.
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