How to help
Here’s how you can help victims of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma: The five living former U.S. presidents have launched One America Appeal, a nonprofit charity to provide relief to disaster victims. You can read more about it and donate at www.oneamericaappeal.org/.
The Columbus Dispatch will accept donations for flood relief at the ticket window and during major stage presentations at its Fall Home & Garden Show this weekend at the State Fairgrounds in Columbus. Funds collected will be provided to the Salvation Army.
Next month, the Columbus Foundation will give donors an option to support the Houston Community Foundation’s Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund during its Big Give event Oct. 10-11. See www.columbusfoundation.org.
Sites such as CharityNavigator.org or GuideStar can help you avoid scams and locate groups that pass muster.
In Texas, CharityNavigator names the Houston SPCA, Houston Humane Society, Houston Food Bank, Food Bank of Corpus Christi and San Antonio Humane Society among highly rated local charities in the most-affected areas.
It also proposes donating to well-known relief organizations such as the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army.
To support Red Cross volunteers, call 1-800-733-2767, go to redcross.org or text “HARVEY” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. U.S. Apple users also can donate to the Red Cross through iTunes.
To donate to the Salvation Army’s food and shelter efforts, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY, go to helpsalvationarmy.org or text “STORM” to 51555. Mail checks designated “Hurricane Harvey” to The Salvation Army, PO Box 1959, Atlanta, GA, 30301.
Religious groups also are raising money for emergency disaster relief.
To donate to the United Methodist Committee on Relief, go to umcor.org. To donate to the Mennonite Disaster Service, go to mds.mennonite.net. To donate to Catholic Charities, go to catholiccharitiesusa.org.
Crowdfunding sites are yet another option. GlobalGiving.org is about halfway to its goal of raising $5 million for disaster relief and long-term recovery. GoFundMe.com and YouCaring.com also have dedicated spaces on their websites for hurricane fundraising.
If you suspect that an organization or individual is fraudulently seeking donations, call the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud at 866-720-5721 or email tips to disaster@leo.gov.
And consider donating again later. Donations pour in after disaster strikes. But recovery takes far longer than days and weeks, when financial support can dwindle.