We never intended to stand up a call center in response to Hurricane Harvey. We simply did a quick welfare check on our members by texting 3,500 local members in Houston. In 3 hours we had identified 70 homes needing to be “mucked out” and 270 potential volunteers.

Waters were still rising, so we used our system to geo-target homes in need and coordinate volunteers very close by to assist. We spent days checking on folks that were pushed out of their homes, until they could get back into them and begin the recovery process.

All of this was unexpected, but a great example of activating our community as leaders and resources in a time of need for our members and the community at large.

Read more at this in-depth coverage of the call enter.

Following our work in responding to Hurricane Harvey those impacted still needed assistance rebuilding their lives. In order to help these families we secured funding through multiple sources, including the Mayor's Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. We were the only veteran non-profit to receiving funding from the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. The fund was established by Mayor Turner and Harris County Judge Emmett and is administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation.

In total we distributed $225,000 in financial assistance to Harvey victims, 30 complete Thanksgiving Day meals, toys to over 500 children, and 30 Christmas trees with ornaments.