The Gulf Coast will weather the storm with your help. We know you want to give back, so here are some ways you can lend a hand.

Nurture an animal
The Houston SPCA is asking for items off their wish list. You can make a drop-off from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. While you’re there, find out how you can help. Volunteers are needed to feed baby squirrels, load up animals displaced by the hurricane and even foster four-legged evacuees. (map)

Feed a family
The Houston Food Bank is accepting much-needed donations between 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. They also need volunteers in their warehouse from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. to help pack disaster relief boxes for families affected by Ike. Children as young as 8 can volunteer. (map)

Hug a tree
The city’s green spaces were ravished by Ike. Put the pretty back in the parks by helping to clean up debris at Hermann Park from 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.,
or joining the Green Work Party at Memorial Park on Saturday from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Or, you can organize a group to clean up your favorite outdoor area.

Send a text
You can donate $5 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund – which is crucial in helping local families devastated by the storm – by text messaging GIVE to 2HELP. (The charge will show up on your monthly statement and you can text as many times as you want.) Or, you can call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit www.redcross.org to make a larger donation by credit card.