How you can help
Relief organizations are doing double duty responding to the whammy of hurricanes Harvey and Irma in a twoweek time frame.
On Monday, as the now-Tropical Storm Irma continued its perilous trek northward — and a third hurricane was lurking near Turks and Caicos — jurisdictions begin to pick up the pieces and assess the toll. And Americans, again, are eager to help.
Some organizations where you can direct your dollars:
UNICEF USA says it is focusing on children and is on the ground with staff and equipment for water treatment, hygiene and more in the Caribbean. Catholic Relief Services
is collecting donations to respond to Irma and to prepare for Hurricane Jose for people in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Cuba and other islands.
World Vision is providing immediate supplies as well as long-term aid to families along Irma’s path. The Christian humanitarian organization says 90% of a donation goes directly to help those in need.
The Red Cross, whose management has come under fire in recent years after a con-- gressional report and media inquiries into its administrative and fundraising costs, says it has mobilized its second hurricane response in two weeks and is providing aid after Irma and Harvey. Operation USA, a Los Angeles-based disaster relief group, offers a wide variety of ways to lend a hand, from sending a check to donating air mileage.
Americares, which is providing emergency health care access in Texas for Harvey victims, also is partnering with health centers in Florida.
GoFundMe, a crowdfunding platform, has created a landing page that aggregates all campaigns created by and for Floridians as well as relief efforts in the Caribbean. People can donate to a directi-mpact fund or create their own fundraisers.
PayPal, which operates a worldwide online payments system, has launched a disaster relief campaign. It also sponsors a telethon called Hand in Hand — A Benefit for Hurricane Relief, airing Tuesday at
8 p.m. ET on multiple networks and featuring more than
40 celebrities. Habitat for Humanity is working with its local offices in Florida and the Caribbean to help families clean up after Harvey and Irma and will help with rebuilding.