Texas is currently going through a harrowing humanitarian crisis, with over 3 million households out of power for days in the midst of unprecedented freezing weather and winter storms.
And even from hundreds of miles away, one of NYC’s own is helping to make sure the people are taken care of.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who represents Queens & the Bronx, began a fundraiser to help take care of Texans on the ground on Thursday (Feb. 18). They raised $1 million in less than a day, and now are already up to $2 million.
The money is split between five Texas organizations getting on-the-ground relief to Texans, offering food assistance, homelessness relief, elder care and more. That includes Feeding Texas, ECHO (Ending Community Homelessness Coalition), and others. They are currently working to add more local organizations to fundraising efforts.
Holy smokes.
Our Texas relief mobilization has already raised $325k for food, housing, elder care & direct relief straight to vulnerable Texans.
This might be a little crazy… but can we raise $1M by midnight?
💯% goes to Feeding Texas, ECHO & more: https://t.co/TTIiNimja7 https://t.co/OO57AoLmR9
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 19, 2021
She clarified that “Charity isn’t a replacement for good governance, but we won’t turn away from helping people in need when things hit the fan. People understand that now is the time for collective action and doing what we can with whatever we’ve got.”
Though Ocasio-Cortez started the fundraiser in NYC, she is headed to Texas this weekend to meet with Houston congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia and will highlight the efforts happening on the ground.
We’ve now raised $2 MILLION in relief for Texans & are adding more orgs.🙏🏽
I’ll be flying to Texas today ✈️ to visit with Houston rep Sylvia Garcia (@LaCongresista) to distribute supplies and help amplify needs & solutions.
Let’s see how far we can go: https://t.co/4PQkp4gG9v
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 19, 2021