Houstonians have stepped up and are answering a call to action. They are lending a helping hand to the communities in southwest Florida.

On Wednesday, Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwest Florida.

HOUSTON – Many local businesses and organizations have opened food and water distribution sites in the Houston area in the wake of the recent winter storms. Various distribution sites pop up daily, so please keep checking this list if you’re in need. Houston Community College-North Forest CampusTexas State Representative Senfronia Thompson, NACC Disaster Services, Teamsters Union, Houston Community College (HCC)- North Forest campus, HCC Trustee Rhonda Skillern-Jones, Peoples United Summit, and other volunteer groups host water and food distribution in northeast Houston. The organizers will provide food and water for about 1,000 vehicles. Pet owners will receive free pet food, supplies, and information on additional resources such as the Houston Humane Society’s free spay/neuter program.

Marissa McKimm with the Cajun Navy hit the road and made the trip for a woman in desperate need of food and water. When I hear that word, it’s a reminder that we’re in this together, we’re not alone,” said McKimm, a Cajun Navy community outreach volunteer. While her services have been restored, she said she hasn’t been able to get help until she connected with Cajun Navy. And it’s full food, full of food,” McKimm said. For more information about the Cajun Navy, to donate or to register for assistance, visit: cajunrelief.org.

Hundreds of Houston families received much-needed food at a distribution drive at Gallery Furniture Tuesday.

HOUSTON – There was a steady stream of people pulling up all day Friday picking up supplies. We make that connection,” said Marisa McKimm, a community outreach volunteer with the Cajun Navy. It’s people helping people.””Thanks to all the Texans and Houstonians who have kept the faith in the last five days. Tough times never last, tough Texans do,” said McIngvale. If you would like to donate and register for assistance, visit Cajun Relief.

LAKE CHARLES – The Louisiana-based Cajun Navy is reaching out to help their neighbors in Texas facing difficulties from the winter storm. According to its website, the Cajun Navy Foundation is a 501(3c) charity, whose mission is “to empower communities across the country with the knowledge of how to use technology, social media and mobile apps to take action in their own communities in the midst and aftermath of a disaster.”They’ve had plenty of disasters to deal with in Louisiana and now hope to use that experience to aid those in Texas. In a Facebook post, Cajun Navy made sure to state they’re still there in Louisiana to help the people there, just that now they will mobilize folks in Texas to replicate their Louisiana efforts. Volunteers can register to help by filling out an online form.

One wedding planner turned renowned recovery effort organizer has now set her sights to bring help from Houston to the hardest-hit areas of Louisiana after Hurricane Laura. It was then on Labor Day weekend, the volunteer non-profit organization, Recovery Houston, was born. Recovery Houston went on to gain hundreds of volunteers and take on larger projects, long-term recovery efforts and even beautifying an east Houston school affected by Hurricane Harvey. This weekend, Labor Day weekend, were deploying teams to get Houston boots on the ground to go help our Cajun sisters and brothers, Creech said. Theres work for everyone, said Blaise Mladenka, Recovery Houston board member and long-time volunteer.

While Houston was spared from the worst of Hurricane Laura, people still wanted to provide relief to those in need. Danny Stevens of Spring collected supplies for folks in Louisiana on Friday. A lot of people in Louisiana came over to help Houstonians during Harvey, and I felt weve got to help those people out since they helped us, he said. Itll show the support that theyre not alone, that they have other people that are supporting them, especially from Houston, Ottey said. Stevens said he collected enough to fill up two pickup trucks but may have to squeeze everything into his truck.