Anais Gutierrez
Celebrities are coming together to help relief Hurricane Harvey victims. The list of stars donating and bringing awareness is endless, as they try to help the victims in Houston.
Each one has come with an idea for it. Kevin Hart started a challenge to raise money, the Kardashian clan directly donated money to the Salvation Army and the Red Cross and so on.
Coming together in difficult times
As Harvey continues to devastate the Houston area, Hollywood is coming for help in a heartfelt gesture from celebrities.
Harvey made landfall four days ago as the fiercest hurricane to hit the US in 13 years. And while cleaning up and rebuilding is going to take a lot of time, and money, A-list stars are already in for help.
Comedian Kevin Hart took to Instagram on Monday to encourage people to help the relief efforts via the Hurricane Harvey Relief Challenge.
“I’ve just been caught up to speed with everything in Houston going on with Hurricane Harvey and the shit is unbelievable,” Hart said in a video on Instagram.
“I’m challenging a lot of my celebrity friends to follow my lead to donate $25,000 to Hurricane Harvey, to the Red Cross.”
As for Hart’s reasoning behind the Hurricane Harvey Relief Challenge, his message was simple.
“I think we’ve all participated in a lot of challenges. Some meaningful, some meaningless,” he said.
“I’ve been a person that’s partaken in several of them. I’m starting a real challenge. And I’m gonna lead the charge in stepping up this way.”
Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and DJ Khaled have all completed Hart’s challenge.
“I think we’ve participated in a lot of challenges on the internet, some meaningful, some meaningless, but we’ve all done them,” Hart said. “At this point, I’m going to start a real challenge.”
And he’s not the only one with an initiative to help.
NFL star JJ Watt launched a fundraising drive Sunday and raised $500,000 within two hours. With an assist from Houston Rockets star Chris Paul, who donated $50,000.
Watt posted that the effort quickly surpassed initial $1 million goal and announced a new goal — $4 million.
#PrayForHouston
Celebrities such as Demi Lovato, Miranda Lambert, Eva Longoria, Chelsea Handler and LeBron James have shared kind messages via social media with the hashtag #PrayForHouston.
Kim Kardashian took to Twitter on Tuesday to announce her clan was giving %500,000 to help Harvey victims. A spokeswoman for the reality star says half was given to the Red Cross, and the other half to the Salvation Army.
Kardashian West announced the donation on Twitter on Tuesday, saying, “Houston we are praying for you.” She used the hashtag #HoustonStrong.
Long-time support of the American Red Cross actress Sandra Bullock donated $1 million to the organization.
“This is an incredible gift. We’re so thankful. In times like this when we do receive such an incredible amount of support. Especially during times of disaster,” said Elizabeth Penniman, Vice President of Communications for American Red Cross national headquarters.
“Having someone like Sandra Bullock make this kind of commitment, it helps bring people together and open their hearts and be even more generous,” Penniman added.
Th star has a home in Texas and encouraged other to help those devastated by flooding caused by Harvey.
Bullock says the disaster should bring all Americans together.
“There are no politics in eight feet of water. There are human beings in eight feet of water,” she said.
As for Houston native Beyoncé, she’s currently working with her charity, BeyGOOD, to assist those in her hometown affected by Harvey.
Houston we are praying for you! My mom, sisters & I will be donating $500,000 to @redcross and @salvationarmyus today #HoustonStrong
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) August 29, 2017
Jump in, and help other
So far Harvey has taken away the lives of 31 people, and more than 30,000 people are affected by the floodings. FEMA has supplied five million meals so far to evacuees. 210,000 people have registered with the agency for assistance, according to reports.
Harvey made landfall again early Wednesday, roaring in western Louisiana. Aside from the Houston area, the Galveston area is pretty affected.
f you’re looking for a way to help, there are different ways to do it, not only donating money.
Millions of people in Texas have been displaced by Harvey and the subsequent flooding the storm has caused. To assist in finding evacuees temporary shelter, Airbnb has set up a portal on its website dedicated to those seeking urgent accommodations.
As Chelsea Clinton tweeted, one way to help out is by donating your unused airline miles.
Source: CBS
