Help Hurricane Katrina Victims

UPDATE: The list was updated and reorganized on August 31, 2005 in the AM. This post was originally published on 08-30-2005 at 08:21 AM.

Government agencies and private relief organizations are mounting what the Washington Times reports is the largest mobilization ever for a natural disaster after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast.

You can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina by making a financial donation to any of the following charities:

For a complete list of charitable agencies recommended by FEMA, visit http://www.fema.gov/rrr/help2.shtm.

The American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is launching the largest mobilization of resources in its history for a single natural disaster. More than two hundred Red Cross shelters are housing thousands of residents who fled Katrina’s wrath. More than 200 emergency response vehicles and countless other Red Cross resources are en route or on the scene to provide hot meals, snacks, bottled water and distribute other much-needed relief supplies.

You can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina by making a financial donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.

You can make a secure online contribution by visiting the Red Cross Online Donation Page.

You can also donate by phone:

1-800-HELP-NOW
(1-800-435-7669)
English speaking

1-800-257-7575
Spanish Speaking

Adventist Community Services

(800) 381-7171 or online at http://www.adventist.communityservices.org/index.html.

America's Second Harvest

(800) 344-8070 or online at http://www.secondharvest.org/default2.asp.

Archdiocese of Miami-Dade

Monetary donations are being accepted by the Archdiocese of Miami, Catholic Charities, Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, 9401 Biscayne Blvd., Miami Shores, FL 33138.

Catholic Charities USA

1-800-919-9338, or online at http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/.

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee

(800) 848-5818 or online at http://www.crwrc.org/donate/online.html.

Checks be made out to "CRWRC," earmarked "Hurricanes 2005," and sent to 2850 Kalamazoo Ave. SE, Grand Rapids, MI, 49560 or PO Box 5070, STN LCD 1, Burlington, ON, L7R 3Y8.

Church World Service

(800) 297-1516 or online at https://secure.churchworldservice.org/catalog/display.php?product_id=177.

Convoy of Hope

(417) 823-8998 or online at http://www.convoyofhope.org/ .

Episcopal Relief & Development:

1-800-334-7626 or http://www.er-d.org/.

Feed the Children

(800) 627-4556 or online at http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=usw_hurricane_katrina.

The Greater Miami Jewish Federation

Monetary donations are being accepted by The Greater Miami Jewish Federation, 4200 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33179.

Or online at www.jewishmiami.org/pledge.cfm and make a notation in the comment box for Hurricane Katrina Relief.

For more information, call 305-576-4000.

Hearts With Hands

Online at http://www.heartswithhands.org/.

Lutheran Disaster Response

(800) 638-3522 or online at http://www.elca.org/disaster/.

Mennonite Disaster Service

(717) 859-2210 or online at http://www.mds.mennonite.net/.

Operation Helping Hand

The Miami Herald, El Nuevo Herald and the United Way of Miami-Dade have activated Operation Helping Hands to help hurricane victims:

Operation Helping Hands c/o United Way of Miami-Dade, P.O. Box 459007, Miami, Florida 33245-9007.

Operation Blessing

(800) 436-6348 or online at https://www.cbn.com/giving/ob/option.asp?m=alertbar&so=3.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

(800) 872-3283 or online at http://www.pcusa.org/pda/.

Salvation Army

1-800-SAL-ARMY, or online at http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

United Methodist Committee on Relief

1-800-554-8583, or online at http://www.methodistrelief.org/site/pp.asp?c=bhKNI4PHIpE&b=876335.

United Way

Online at https://volunteer.united-e-way.org/hurricane-katrina/donate/

Donation, funding and assistance issues, as well as many policy decisions are handled at the local level, and questions relating to these issues are best addressed to local United Ways.

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is accepting donations at its 3,800 stores and Web site, www.walmart.com.

Charity Navigator offers these suggestions ensure your donations get to those who need it:

Give To An Established Charity: Don't let an unscrupulous charity take advantage of your goodwill. Find a charity with a proven track record of success with dealing with this region and this type of disaster. Avoid fly-by-night charities created specifically to deal with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Even well-meaning new organizations will not have the infrastructure and knowledge of the region to efficiently maximize your gift. If you do feel compelled to give to a new charity, be sure to get proof that the group is in fact a registered public charity with 501 (c) (3) status.

Designate Your Gift: Worried that your donation will go towards the charity's general operating fund or saved for an upcoming crisis? This is a very understandable concern. Many charities do encourage donors not to designate their gifts so that the charity can decide how best to utilize the money, but depending on your confidence in the charity's ability to make that determination, you may want to tell the charity exactly how to use your gift. By designating your gift specifically for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, you'll ensure that your donation will be used for the victims of this particular disaster.

Avoid Telemarketers: Be wary of fundraisers who pressure you to make a contribution over the phone. Never divulge your credit card information to someone soliciting you via the phone. Instead, ask the fundraiser to send you written information about the charity they represent and do some research on your own. Once you feel comfortable with the charity, send the organization a check directly in the mail, or give through their website, thus ensuring 100% of your gift goes to the charity and not the for-profit fundraiser.

Research And Follow Up: As always, take the time to find a charity you can trust. Charity Navigator offers this list of highly-rated charities working in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to help you in your efforts. Use our free financial evaluations to search for other well-run charities worthy of your support. And be sure to follow up with the charity in a few months to find out (a) how your donation was put to use and (b) if they need additional support to complete the recovery effort.

California Yankee gives a sincere and hearty thanks to the following blogs for linking to this post and helping to spread the word on how to help the victims of hurricane Katrina:

The All Spin Zone
Arcane Gazebo
Babalu Blog
Basil's Blog
Cacciaguida
Dean's World
Dummocrats
Dusting My Brain
EveTushnet.com
Hyscience
Gristmill
Inthehat
Minipundit
Nonplussed
Parking In Bitterman Circle
Political Animal
Rocket Jones
Scared Monkeys
Shutterblog
The Stakeholder.

And the other blogs at which I am a contributor:

PolState
RedState
The Command Post.

Technorati Tags: flood aid, Hurricane Katrina

Comments

[Joe Garland]

Noah's Wish to help with animals

[California Yankee]

Lonewacko,

According to The Day, thesoutheastern Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers.

This Friday and Saturday, the offices will host two all-day training sessions to “fast track” new volunteers to help with disaster relief in the regions affected by Hurricane Katrina, Bolen said. Nationally, the Red Cross is looking for 9,000 volunteers to respond to the scene.

“If there's somebody who can make a three-week commitment, they can really make a difference,” she said. “It will be a hardship disaster assignment. The volunteers may have to sleep in tents or in community shelters, and there may be no electricity or air conditioning.”

Friday's session will teach new volunteers the ins and outs of disaster relief, while Saturday's session will focus on CPR and first-aid training. The Red Cross will conduct interviews and complete approval processes for new volunteers on an expedited schedule to enable those who qualify to leave for the hurricane zones by Monday or Tuesday, Bolen said.

Volunteers must be at least 18 years old and healthy. Transportation will be provided by the Red Cross.

[Lonewacko]

Are any of these organizations looking for volunteers? I might consider a trip there from L.A.

[George]

International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) http://www.iocc.org 1-877-803-IOCC (4622).