How you can help victims of Hurricane Michael

There are many ways to help the victims of Hurricane Michael. Here’s how you can contribute to the storm aid.

Donate money

The Red Cross has set up community evacuation centers across Florida, Georgia and Alabama to assist hurricane victims.

To donate to the relief effort, visit redcross.org, call 1-800-733-2767 or text the word MICHAEL to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from the hurricane.

Donors can designate their donation to Hurricane Michael relief efforts by choosing that option when donating at redcross.org or when calling 1-800-733-2767.

If you are using a paper check, instead of a credit card online, write “Hurricane Michael” on the memo line of the check, if you want your donation to go to helping with this disaster. The Red Cross also recommends completing and mailing the donation form on redcross.org with the check.

The Salvation Army posted an update Friday, saying that teams are heading to Port St. Joe and Apalachicola to assess damage and needs. It may be another day before teams are able to safely get into Mexico Beach to begin service.

Donations are being accepted at disaster.salvationarmyusa.org.

Volunteer Florida, the state's lead agency for mobilizing volunteers and coordinating donations, has activated the Florida Disaster Fund to provide an easy way to donate money through its website, voluntererflorida.org, or by texting. You can text DISASTER to 20222 to provide a onetime, $10 donation or Disaster25 to 20222 for a $25 donation to Hurricane Michael relief efforts.

Donate time

Volunteer Florida’s website also has a section for people who want to volunteer. Volunteer Florida administers $32 million in federal, state and local funding to deliver national service and volunteer programs in Florida. Visit volunteerflorida.org to sign up.

Donate goods

Feeding South Florida, with warehouses in Boynton Beach and Pembroke Park, is coordinating with its sister food banks to get food, water and supplies to the affected areas.

The fastest way to help would be monetary donations to Feeding the Gulf Coast and Second Harvest of the Big Bend. But this local organization is also accepting supplies it will be shipping north.

The organization is having a hurricane help-a-thon, in which volunteers will sort through donated supplies from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at both warehouse locations: 4925 Park Ridge Blvd. in Boynton Beach, and 2501 SW 32nd Terrace in Pembroke Park. Also, supplies can be dropped off from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at both locations.

Diapers, personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies are the mostneeded, non-food items. Peanut butter, instant soup mixes and food in pop-top cans work best. Anything open, used or in glass jars can’t be accepted. And crackers, chips, cookies and soda should not be donated.

Anyone wanting to sign up is asked to visit volunteer.feedingsouthflorida.org.