Houston is waking up to a tough start this holiday week. Monday’s storms brought two confirmed tornadoes to the northwest side, leaving more than 100 homes damaged and entire neighborhoods sorting through debris. It’s a lot to face at any time, but especially heading into the holidays.

One thing Houston never fails to show, though, is how quickly people look out for one another. First responders, neighbors, and volunteers were out within minutes, checking in and helping folks get what they needed.

If you or someone you know was impacted, here are some recovery resources—available in multiple languages (Spanish here)—plus tips to avoid scammers as repairs begin.

I hope you and your loved ones are safe, and that the holiday brings a moment of calm in the middle of all this.

P.S. I’ll be out for the holiday and back in your inbox on Monday. As always, I’m grateful for you—and for this resilient, beautiful Bayou City. 💙

As we head even deeper into the holidays, I want to highlight another giving opportunity that’s been going viral on social media. (It’s also a sneak peek of some organizations we’ll be highlighting in our annual giving guide!)

Deep within a small Virginia town in 1979, the idea for an Angel Tree was born. When a local shopping mall was unable to house its Red Kettles, it told local Salvation Army officers, Captains Charles and Shirley White, that they could use the Christmas tree display.

What started as hanging a few cutout angels with children’s clothing sizes written on them has turned into a program that, nearly 50 years later, helps provide millions of families with holiday presents.

In Houston, the Greater Houston Salvation Army has set up multiple physical Angel Trees across the metro. You simply pick a child off the tree, purchase the items, and drop them off for donation.

You can also choose a child online and make the donations there. For a full list of children and Angel Tree locations, visit here.

🦃 Houston’s 76th annual H-E-B Thanksgiving Day Parade rolls through downtown tomorrow morning with mascots Toro, Clutch, Orbit, and Diesel as grand marshals. (Axios Houston)

🚔 A federal jury awarded $13 million to the family of 75-year-old Charles Payne, ruling that Houston police policies allowed an officer to drive recklessly in the 2021 crash that killed him. (Houston Public Media)

🌊 Learn how the nearby Moody Gardens, usually known as a tourist attraction, is helping Gulf Coast conservation efforts. (Chron)

🕊️ After the deadly July floods that killed at least 138 Texans, many families are heading into Thanksgiving still rebuilding homes, routines, and a sense of normalcy. (Houston Public Media)

✈️ Will you be traveling for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday? Here’s everything you need to know if you’re flying out of IAH or HOU. (Axios Houston)

🗣 US Rep. Al Green (D-Houston) called for the impeachment of President Donald Trump after reviewing reports that the president threatened violence against members of Congress. 

💽 Skip Amazon or Target and celebrate Record Store Day at these local Houston vinyl stores. (Houston Chronicle)

What are your favorite ways to give back during the holiday season?

By Sierra Rozen

Small Business Saturday is just around the corner on Nov. 29, and it’s the best time to step away from the big box stores and show some love to your local businesses.

At COURIER HTX, we like to support local businesses year-round through our weekly newsletter series, Support Small. Check out some of our highlights from this year below.

Some of the businesses we’ve featured:

🍕 Pizzana

☕ Waygood Coffee

🥞 Citizens of Montrose

🍣 Hando

👻 Betelgeuse Betelgeuse

Do you want to support COURIER HTX’s mission while showcasing your products or services to an engaged audience of 20,000+ subscribers?

Email advertising@couriernewsroom.com for more information.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Sierra Rozen with stories from Ryan Pitkin. It was edited by Paula Solis.

COURIER HTX is free to read for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.