Texas Flooding Disaster Relief: Ministries That are Helping

Guidance for giving to ministries helping in the flooding disaster

Catastrophic flooding in Central Texas and the Texas Hill Country over the July 4th weekend has claimed over 80 lives, with most of the deaths occurring along the Guadalupe River, which runs through Kerrville. Other persons are still missing.

Operation Blessing Global Deployment Manager Bob Burke in Texas after the floods / Video screenshot

Camp Mystic, a privately-owned girls camp, acknowledged the loss of 27 of its campers and counselors who were swept away in the flash flooding.

Other counties impacted by flooding include Travis, Burnet, Kendall, and Williamson, all in the Central Texas area.

“Texas is grieving,” Sen. Ted Cruz said during a Monday morning press conference. Cruz also called on the church to help those who have suffered and lost loved ones during this catastrophe.

Christians are usually among the first who are ready to offer aid and assistance to those in need, a tangible way to love their neighbors as commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ.

MinistryWatch encourages those who wish to support the disaster victims to exercise caution in choosing the organizations to which they donate.

The Old Rules Apply. Just because there’s a crisis, that doesn’t mean a ministry that has been poorly run suddenly becomes well-run. In fact, often a crisis causes a weak organization to break. That’s why, even in the midst of crisis and urgent appeals, take an extra moment to do your homework. MinistryWatch gives ministries a Donor Confidence Score, a Financial Efficiency Rating, and a Transparency Grade. (You can search on a ministry and check their scores here.) Don’t give money to poorly rated ministries, or to ministries that do not share enough information to produce a rating.

Beware of “Matching Gifts” or “Challenge Gifts.” These sorts of giving schemes can be legitimate, but in times of crisis, they are often used to heighten the sense of urgency.  Educate yourself about Challenge Gifts and Matching Gifts by clicking here.

Boots on the Ground. When crisis erupts in a far corner of the world, it is too late to establish a presence there. Ministries that are the most effective are those who have already been operating there. They have “boots on the ground”: personnel, partners, processes, and infrastructure. Give to these ministries.

Ask Where the Money is Going. Ministries with a real plan should be able to tell you where the money is going. If the fundraising appeal doesn’t specifically say so, ask. If the ministry doesn’t respond with clear and specific answers, it’s possible it is just using the crisis opportunistically, hoping for a financial windfall.

We have compiled a list of ministries who are assisting in the Central Texas flooding below, along with their donor confidence score, if they are profiled in the MinistryWatch 1000 database.

1. Operation Blessing: With a donor confidence score of 90, Operation Blessing has deployed a disaster response team to Kerrville. It is providing hot meals for residents and first responders, and plans to coordinate volunteer relief efforts to aid families who have lost loved ones. For more updates about their work, see their website.
2. Samaritan’s Purse: The disaster relief ministry affiliated with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, says it has been on the ground in Kerrville since Saturday. A disaster relief unit is deploying today (July 7) and will stage its operations from San Antonio. Samaritan’s Purse has a donor confidence score of 56, meaning donors should exercise caution in donating to it.
3. Convoy of Hope: According to its website, Convoy of Hope is en route to the affected area with team members and relief supplies, and is working with local partners and first responders to meet the urgent needs of evacuees and survivors. However, it has a donor confidence score of 32, which means we recommend withholding giving from this group.
4. The Salvation Army has deployed an emergency disaster team to Kerrville. It was on the ground assisting with reunification and a mobile kitchen early in the disaster because it has a center in Kerrville. The local center is the designated volunteer coordination center for the Kerrville effort. However, the national organization has a donor confidence score of 40, which means we also recommend withholding giving from this group.
5. Texans on Mission, formerly called Texas Baptist Men, has chaplains on the ground in the Central Texas area, and plans to deploy teams this week to help with flood recovery, asset protection, and a variety of other services. While Texans on Mission is not in the MinistryWatch database, it has been involved with disaster relief since 1967. However, it does not file a Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service.
6. The Churches of Christ Disaster Relief has been in touch with congregations in Kerrville and San Angelo about providing needed supplies to those affected by flooding. It provides voluntary manpower and assistance during times of disaster through local church congregations. It is not part of the MinistryWatch 1000 database, but files a Form 990 with the IRS.
7. The Ark of Highland Lakes is a local faith-based ministry located in the Burnet County town of Marble Falls that has already engaged with flood victims and volunteers to provide assistance to those in need. It is distributing food and is training teams to assist victims in mucking out their homes. It also plans to help with long-term recovery. The Ark is not in the MinistryWatch 1000 database, but does file a Form 990 with the IRS.
8. Mercy Chefs: This relief ministry has made its way to Kerr County to provide hot, chef-prepared meals for victims, first responders, and volunteers. “In moments like these, a meal is more than food—it’s a lifeline. Although our hearts are grieving for this community, we’re thankful that we’re here, feeding body and soul in Kerr County,” they wrote on social media. Mercy Chefs has a Donor Confidence Score of 72, meaning donors can give with confidence.
9. World Vision: World Vision has shipped a truck load of relief supplies, including water, food, cleaning supplies, storage containers, blankets, toys, generators, and hygiene kits, from its Dallas warehouse to church partners who have  “boots on the ground” in Central Texas, who will distribute the supplies. Its staff is continuing to monitor the effects of the flood and is prepared to continue supporting impacted families in the short and long term. World Vision has a donor confidence score of 89 out of 100.
10. Matthew 25 Ministries: This relief ministry based out of Ohio started on-the-ground disaster relief centers on July 9, including in San Angelo, another city hit by flooding. Their centers include showers, laundry services, and clean-up supplies. Matthew 25 Ministries has a donor confidence score of 73 out of 100.