Donating to Colorado wildfire relief efforts

The Cameron Peak Fire and East Troublesome Fire have displaced residents, burned hundreds of homes and threatened communities like Estes Park.

As with any wildfire, people want to help provide shelter and comfor t to those displaced by the fires, help them rebuild homes and businesses, and allow burned areas to recover and regrow. BBB has tips to help donors provide assistance while being confident that their support reaches those in need:

• Give to trusted charities — Charities with experience in handling disaster situations will be more likely to be able to provide assistance quickly and effectively. Research before donating to ensure a track record of responsible stewardship and mission success.

• Ask before volunteering or donating in-kind — Monetar y donations tend to be preferred as they are easier to gather and give the organization more flexibility. If you prefer to donate items or your time as a volunteer, make sure to ask the charity about their needs first.

• Don’t succumb to time pressure — During and right after a disaster it can feel necessar y to donate or volunteer as soon as possible. In most disasters though, the recovery is much longer and harder than the relief efforts. Making it feel like you have to act now is also one of the hallmarks of all scammers, including charity scams.

• Be cautious with crowdfunding — For crowdfunding postings, it is always safest to contribute to people and/or families that you personally know that have posted pleas for financial help. While some crowdfunding sites take precautions in carefully screening postings after a disaster, others might not.