How to Help Harvey Victims?

[snot]

I’m concerned: after the disasters in Katrina and Haiti, people were asked to donate to the American Red Cross, but it came out that that agency was not spending the money in the ways you and I might think appropriate.

Are there any threads here exploring what citizens can do that might really be most helpful? And/or collecting reports, so we know what’s really going on, as opposed to whatever official accounts we’re given?

[bathroommonkey76]

1. How to help the victims of Hurricane Harvey

Hurricane Harvey devastated Texas after making landfall near Corpus Christi on Friday night. The slow-moving storm left behind flattened communities and historic flooding in Houston and other parts of Texas throughout the weekend.

If you would like to help those affected by the storm, here's what you should keep in mind.

You can send a text to help right now
The Red Cross said they depend on financial donations to help provide immediate relief. They have already set up a way to donate to victims with a simple text. Text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. You can also visit redcross.org or call 1- 800-RED CROSS.

Check the charity

Before you donate to a charity, make sure you know where your aid is going. The Center for International Disaster Information recommends checking with a charity monitoring organization like GiveWell, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or the Better Business Bureau before donating.

Make sure your donation is secure by going through an organization's official website or sending a check in the mail. Charity Navigator says you should never donate over the phone, email or unknown social media pages, as these are easier for scammers to target.

Give cash, not supplies

Most charities prefer monetary donations. These are more flexible and cause less of a strain on the charity, allowing them to help more, the CIDI explained.

"Unlike material donations, cash involves no transportation costs, shipping delays, or customs fees. It also enables relief organizations to spend more time providing aid by spending less time managing goods," the organization explained on its website.


http://abc13.com/weather/how-to-help-the-victims-of-hurricane-harvey/2348094/

[Nevernose]

2. Here's a link to a large, non-Red Cross list

Link to tweet

Click through the links for lots of great places for donations. Some would probably take "stuff" or time, too.

We'll be donating to the SPCA and the Coalition for the Homeless whenever my spouse gets home (my wallet's in the trunk ).

[TexasBushwhacker]

3. Time yes. Stuff no.

Unless it's a truck full of bottled water, it is MUCH easier for them to use cash to buy the things that are needed.

[Nevernose]

5. Absolutely

But honestly? I didn't read the OP very closely and wasn't sure what they were asking for, so I threw in the weasel words. Sue me

Also, at least the San Antonio food bank is looking for "stuff" (just looked at their website) and I think the diaper people will take diapers.

But you're right: most places need money and time.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

4. Check them for efficiency and transparency first

I highly recommend checking out any charity you're considering here first:
https://www.charitynavigator.org/

I find the A-Z index easiest to use. I won't contribute unless it has a good rating with Navigator unless it's a small, local charity someone has knowledge of and recommends.

[TexasBushwhacker]

6. I'd like to recommend a wonderful organization

The Houston Furniture Bank. It's like a food bank, but with funiture!

http://houstonfurniturebank.org/about-us/our-story/

[dalton99a]

7. Beware of scams that follow natural disasters

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-storm-sandy-scams-idUSBRE8A41BJ20121105
Beware of scams that follow natural disasters

Take care if you want to help victims by donating to charity. Be particularly leery of charities that have sound-alike names that are similar to other, well-known organizations.

Beware of paid fundraisers who call on the phone to solicit donations. If you’re interested in what they have to say, get information about where you can find out more about the organization and how you can donate once you have had time to think about it.

Following a deluge of scams tied to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, the U.S. Department of Justice established the National Center for Disaster Fraud. The center warns of requests via social media (often urging users to click on a photo) or email soliciting donations. It also urges recipients to not click on links. Instead, independently seek information about a charity you are interested in.

The NCDF also urges consumers to avoid cash donations. There will be no record the organization will have received the money, and you will not have a record for tax purposes. Any request for donations via money transfer services should be viewed as illegitimate.

[uppityperson]

8. Here's some sites with links on them where to donate, for pets, diapers, etc

http://www.nola.com/hurricane/index.ssf/2017/08/tropical_storm_harvey_here_are.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-to-help-hurricane-storm-harvey_us_59a166dde4b0821444c37515
https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/how-you-can-help-hurricane-harvey-victims

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. They are asking for $$$, not stuff at this time.

Handling 'stuff" takes too many people/storage/time when the area is still in the rescuing people stage.
The flooding is massive, esp. around Houston.
blood donors are needed.
anyone in the area who has a flat bottom small boat for rescue is asked to call Houston Sheriff dept.

Twitter and Facebook have up to date latest info on needs.