Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez volunteered at a Houston food bank after raising more than $3 million for Texas storm relief.
The New York congresswoman flew to the Lone Star state after a stunning fundraising effort following the devastating winter storm.
“That’s the New York spirit, that’s the Texas spirit that’s the American spirit,” she said.
Millions were left without power, heat and water after the storm hit the southern US, leaving the electrical grid in Texas on the verge of collapse and rolling blackouts enforced.
Ms Ocasio-Cortez packed lunches in Houston with Representatives Sylvia Garcia and Sheila Jackson Lee on Saturday after her fundraising effort topped $3.2 million.
“Charity isn’t a replacement for good governance, but we won’t turn away from helping people in need when things hit the fan,” said Ms Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter as she took donations for the state.
“People understand that now is the time for collective action and doing what we can with whatever we’ve got.”
Houston Food Bank is using the money to provide 30,000 meal boxes to residents in the city over the next two days.
At least 69 deaths across the US have been blamed on the cold blast.
The White House has now declared a major disaster in Texas, which allows the federal government to send additional resources to the state.
This assistance can include money for temporary housing, home repairs and low-cost loans for uninsured properties.
Warmer temperatures are expected to reach the impacted area on Saturday, bringing relief and an opportunity to begin a massive clean-up effort, which could cost insurers an estimated $50bn.
