a helping hand

Houston nonprofits need help during the coronavirus pandemic

Kids' Meals helps alleviate food neediness for Houston preschoolers.

In any time of crisis, it's natural to want to be able to help, to feel like one can do something, even something small, to assist someone else. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to grip Houston and beyond, organizations that are used to providing for those in need are feeling the squeeze of dwindled supplies and donations.

For Houstonians who are in a place to assist, here are some organizations collecting money and supplies.

Interested in helping a specific Houston charity? Check out our handy Charity Guide.

Houston Children's Charity
Dedicated to improving the lives of Houston's underprivileged, disabled, and abused children, the organization was established in 1996. The group cancelled its annual gala, but is hosting an online auction to raise funds. Check the organization's website for further details.

Kids' Meals
While school-aged children can often get meals at school — and many schools throughout the area continue to provide this service — Kids' Meals helps alleviate food neediness for area preschoolers. The nonprofit typically provides 3,000 meals to youngsters; since the advent of the coronavirus pandemic, the need has increased to 6,000 as the organization looks to help cover preschoolers' siblings, too. Those who can help are encouraged to donate here.

Second Servings of Houston
Founded in 2014, this is the area's prepared and perishable food rescue organization. Its main goal is to pick up unused food from retailers, hotels, and restaurants and deliver it to sites throughout Houston. Restaurateurs with overstock can click here for details if they want to donate food. Others who wish to help can donate online.

Southern Smoke Foundation
Founded by Houston James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Shepherd in 2015, this organization raises funds to help members of the food and beverage community facing hardships. With Houston restaurants reduced to curbside pickup, takeout, and delivery options, the need for relief is great.

Those working in the hospitality sector who are affected by coronavirus closures and hours reductions can apply for assistance from the organization's Emergency Relief Fund here. For those who've helped make dining out Houston's unofficial city pastime, consider making a donation that could help a favorite server, bartender, chef or other hospitality professional.

The American Red Cross - Houston
The American Red Cross - Houston desperately needs donations of lifesaving blood, platelets, or AB Elite plasma. The blood shortage could impact patients who need surgery, emergency victims, and cancer patients. The organization insists that donating is a safe and urges organizers to maintain scheduled blood drives.

charity

tapping into safety

Bike trail connecting EaDo and Third Ward shines with new lights

Photo by Daniel Ortiz

Solar lamps will light up the Columbia Tap Trail before the FIFA 2026 World Cup, with more to come.

The Columbia Tap Trail is getting safer and brighter. The Greater Southeast Management District and the East Downtown Management District announced on Monday that Phase 1 of their Columbia Tap Trail Comprehensive Improvement Initiative had begun, which will install 50 solar powered lights along the trail before the start of the FIFA 2026 World Cup with more to come later.

"The Columbia Tap Trail is more than a bike path. It is a vital artery connecting communities that have shaped Houston's history," said Brian Smith, board chair of the Greater Southeast Management District. "This project demonstrates what's possible when districts, city officials, and federal partners work together to create safer, more accessible public spaces. This $7.5 million investment isn't just about lighting. It's about building a trail that serves our neighborhoods for generations. With the world's eyes on Houston this summer, we're proud to showcase infrastructure that will serve our community long after the final whistle."

When completed later this fall, Phase 1 will have installed 300 new lights along the 10-foot-wide paved parkway. Further improvements as part of Phase 1 will include emergency call boxes, improved signage, and safety features at the various intersections.

Houston is in the midst of a massive expansion of both its public parks and access to the city through walking and bike paths. The Columbia Tap Trail is a 4-mile trail from Dixie Drive to Emancipation Avenue that serves as an important artery for Third Ward and East Downtown. It follows the path of the old Tap and Brazoria Railway, a vital method of exporting goods from Houston that was largely built by enslaved Black Texans. Naturally, Black communities sprang up around the trail, making it a hub of accessibility for generations to come.

Improving the trail opens up alternative and safer paths than driving to destinations like Hermann Park, the Houston Zoo, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science thanks to links to the Brays Bayou Hike and Bike Trail at the southern end, as well as numerous schools, neighborhoods, and small businesses. Along with the Hill at Sims and the larger Bayou Greenway Network, Houston greenspaces and parks are becoming thoroughfares. Houston Council Member Dr. Carolyn Evans-Shabazz, who frequently uses the trails, applauded the city's commitment to improving and revitalizing the trail system.

"The Columbia Tap Trail has long been a priority for our office because it directly impacts public safety, mobility, and quality of life for the neighborhoods it connects," she said. "As someone who lives in the District of Destination and personally uses this trail, I understand firsthand how important these improvements are to the residents, students, workers, families, and visitors who rely on this corridor. Nearly two years ago, we brought this need to Mayor John Whitmire, and I am grateful that he recognized the importance of this historic trail and worked with us to move these improvements forward."

parks sustainability