How you can help Texas families left in the dark

Across the Lone Star State, people are doing what they can to help.

ByHaley Yamada and Eric Noll
February 19, 2021, 6:58 PM

As catastrophic winter weather leaves Texans without power and water, communities are stepping up to show their support.

In hard-hit Houston, the nonprofit Texas Relief Warriors cooked and served donated eggs for those in need of breakfast.

"Everybody's going to have a hot meal," said Cara Adam, the group's founder. "We have more food coming so we'll probably be helping about 2,000 people."

On Friday, Adams shared an update with "World News Tonight."

"Thank you to everyone that has donated. We've been able to raise almost $50,000 and we have sent out probably close to 18,000 meals," said Adams.

PHOTO: People try to connect power cables to a car battery to change their smartphones during a power outage on Feb. 16, 2021 in Houston. Winter storm Uri has brought historic cold weather, power outages and traffic accidents to Texas.
Elias Mejia, Bryan Mejia, and Victor Zelaya try to connect power cable to a car battery to change their smartphones during power outage caused by the winter storm on Feb. 16, 2021 in Houston. Winter storm Uri has brought historic cold weather, power outages and traffic accidents to Texas as storms have swept across 26 states with a mix of freezing temperatures and precipitation.
Go Nakamura/Getty Images

Across Texas, businesses, private citizens and nonprofits are doing what they can.

Eric Cooper with Feeding America said volunteers have shown up in numbers.

"The sun is out today, and we've got lots and lots of volunteers serving thousands of families," said Cooper. "Together we'll make sure our communities get the food that they desperately need."

In Dallas, a recycling center is offering firewood for families, while Genesis Women's Shelter & Support is asking for blankets, flashlights and warm clothes. They've since received donations from all 50 states.

The founder of Feed the People Dallas mutual aid fund, Vanessa Wilmore, told "World News Tonight" that they're working hard to make sure people have shelter and food.

PHOTO: People wait in long lines at an H-E-B grocery store in Austin, Feb. 17, 2021. Millions of Texans are still without water and electric as winter storms continue.
People wait in long lines at an H-E-B grocery store in Austin, Feb. 17, 2021. Millions of Texans are still without water and electric as winter storms continue.
Montinique Monroe/Getty Images

"Right now, we are working on getting people into hotels and getting them food," said Wilmore. She said that with donations from across the country, they have been able to buy more food.

"The nation is taking care of the Lone Star State," Wilmore added.

In Bell County, Texas, husband and wife Victoria and Bobbie Dill and their friends embodied what it means to be good neighbors, buying hundreds of sandwiches to give away.

"I know we come back to a warm house with food," he said. "So it was my duty, and my mission to get somebody with something."

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