Trying to help a world of hurt

As hurricanes and earthquakes rip through our planet, the people who inhabit this globe are increasingly in shock. Texas. Florida. Mexico. Puerto Rico. The Caribbean. What part of the planet will be next? It seems misery has gone global, with floods in South Asia and famine in parts of Africa, as well.

The entire globe appears to be suffering, our Mother Earth engulfed in pain. Nature — despite its beauty and splendor — is relentless, with a wildness that cannot be fenced in. The extreme weather of 2017 likely won’t stop; the Atlantic hurricane season continues through Nov. 30.

Scientists had said all along this year was likely to be nasty. At the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center, forecasters had estimated a 45 percent chance of an above-normal season, with 11 to 17 named storms. By last week, there were 13 named tropical cyclones, with four — Harvey, Irma, José and Maria — major storms. Each reached a Category 4 or greater status. This could end up as one of the most active seasons on record.

Meanwhile, the recovery continues. For those of us fortunate enough to be living without the destruction of hurricanes or earthquakes, we must do what human beings do in times of distress. We must aid our fellow humans, reaching out as best we can to relieve their suffering. Compassion fatigue cannot overtake us. Too many people are in pain right now.

Some 3.4 million people in Puerto Rico are without power because of Hurricane Maria, the island’s energy grid nearly destroyed. The recovery will take months of hard work and effort, hampered by the U.S. territory’s debt, isolated status as an island and the reality that emergency assistance is strained because of previous disasters. Recovery must go on in Texas because of Harvey and in Florida because of Irma, as well.

Yet we must also look south of the border to our neighbors in Mexico, where scenes from recent earthquakes are heartwrenching. The images of children being pulled from the rubble of their school cannot be forgotten. More than 400 people are dead in the quakes, including one on Saturday, and many people can’t return to their homes because the buildings were damaged. They will need our help.

As with any disaster, people who want to donate must investigate so that their dollars actually go to the people who need help. Charity Navigator can help you decide where your dollars go.

In cities in the United States, community foundations — close to the ground — are good places to send money, as are groups such as Catholic Charities or United Way, both of which have local outreach on the ground.

For international disasters, there are many choices. NPR listed several ways to help in Mexico. There’s Project Paz, started by a group of Mexican friends in New York to help children affected by drug-related violence, that now will have an earthquake fund, or the Global Giving Mexico Relief Fund that will assist with immediate and long-term assistance.

For Puerto Rico, Global Giving is there, too, attempting to raise $2 million for local relief efforts. Americares is focusing on providing emergency medical supplies and other basic resources. Oxfam, the international aid group, is assisting in both the Caribbean and Mexico. There are many ways to give.

Locally, we know our faith communities and charitable groups once more will be raising money and sending supplies to those who need help. This is a year of disasters, with many citizens of the world in need of our assistance. From the relative safety of New Mexico, we will help as we can, sending our dollars and our prayers to relieve the suffering we see on our television screens.