HOW TO HELP RIGHT NOW

[Amos Magliocco]

Visitors are flooding Stormtrack and many chaser websites. Many people probably would like to help and don't know how. I've listed the donation pages for the Red Cross and Salvation Army on my personal blog. There is no question that this is the largest, most incredible and expensive relief effort in US history. President Bush just urged all Americans to donate to the following organizations. Here they are:

Salvation Army Donation Page or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY

American Red Cross or call 1-800-HELP-NOW

If others know donation sites or numbers for reliable organizations, perhaps they can post them to this thread.

 

[Jeff Snyder]

I know the the impact on humans takes priority, but there tend to be a massive number of animals and pets that are impacted by storms such as these. Many folks feel as though their pets are as much a part of their family as anyone else. For this reason...

Emergency Animal Rescue Service (Part of United Animal Nations)

Noah's Wish

 

[Amos Magliocco]

Salvation Army

American Red Cross

I want to make another pitch for these organizations. If you can donate $5, it will help a lot and it's as easy as ordering a book on Amazon. Easier, in fact.

We're looking at both the largest natural disaster in US history and the most acute refugee crisis. You can almost think of them as separate, monstrously unmanageable problems. What they have in common is that both will cost a tremendous amount of money.

The Red Cross and Salvation Army have incredible volunteers who are trained and ready to respond to these situations. They will probably bring volunteers from the entire nation to take up missions around the Gulf Coast, and their procedures and experience will save lives and alleviate suffering. We're very lucky in this great country to have well-oiled relief machines like these.

What these machines require to run is money. We're also very lucky that we can help so much by doing nothing more than clicking a few links, entering some information, and donating money electronically. That simple act will translate into targeted and efficient relief for people in desperate and terrifying situations.

You can make donations in someone's name, as a sort of gift, or in memory of people. I made a donation last night in the name of my parents, who lived in Slidell for many years. My parents have since passed away, but my father enjoyed his neighborhood friends who helped make his retirement more satisfying. My Mom worked downtown in the New Orleans VA hospital and loved the people of New Orleans and their traditions, their humor, and their fierce loyalty to one of the world's greatest cities. I came to know many of my mother’s co-workers and you could not help but feel affection for people who loved life as they do.

Whatever reasons you can find to help, they need it.

 

[Anonymous]

online donations may be easiest

I tried to donate the Red Cross' 1-800 number earlier this afternoon and couldn't get through. I hope this means the RC is flooded with phone donations. So, I went to redcross.org. The online transaction at redcross.org was quick and easy. So, online donations seem the best way to go here.


Jay Antle

 

[Carrie Halliday]

If you are in the Houston area- numerous radio and TV stations are having telethons or collecting items for those in need from Katrina and staying here in Houston. They each have their contact info, just tune in and send in!

If you are able, call the Red Cross locally and offer to volunteer at the Astrodome!

 

[Bill Hamilton]

My father contacted the Red Cross today and is offering to take in a family who is in need of a place to stay.
The Red Cross is willing to help the victims by relocating some to any place that will take them and will match a family with children with my parents.
They aren't rich but they do have two extra bedrooms that aren't being used and is offering them.

 

[Jay Cazel]

The Red Cross web site is getting slammed...it took me over 10 minites to make a donation.

 

[joel ewing]

Thanks Amos, for posting an easy way for those of us who would like to help via donations. Well done, sir.
May I also suggest that donations would be also be greatly appreciated at The Humane Society. As you can imagine, there are also displaced pets and farm animals that are in agony from this disaster too. The Humane Society has a great deal of hurricane / animal rescue experience...and it is incredible at how well-organized and quickly they mobilize at ground zero with an armada of equipment and personnel. I never realized it myself until I read about how they respond to post-hurricane events on their homepage yesterday. They are a well-oiled machine. Your donations will definitely not be wasted.

 

[Ben Cotton]

My dad's camping/outdoor goods website, GnawBone Knob ( http://www.gnawboneknob.com ) is donating 100% of the profits in September to the Red Cross, so if you've been in the market for camping, hiking, fishing or other outdoor gear, now is a great time to get it and help the Katrina relief efforts at the same time.


BC

 

[Melissa Moon]

I may just do that, Ben! I am looking for a new tent. Thanks so much for that link.

 

[Anthony Petito]

My company has stated that they will match all employee contributions made to the Red Cross. Are there any other companies out there doing this?

 

[gwalls]

I know that Nucor Steel is doing the same thing. They are matching dollar for dollar all donations given by employees.

 

[Jeff Snyder]

Originally posted by Anthony Petito
My company has stated that they will match all employee contributions made to the Red Cross. Are there any other companies out there doing this?

From WWLTV.com

8:53 A.M. - (AP): Companies move to give millions in relief.

WHAT'S BEING OFFERED

-- Companies are donating money and goods for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
-- American Red Cross says at least 30 companies had made donations by Wednesday morning.
-- The number is expected to climb.
-- U.S. Chamber of Commerce says initial corporate donations could total more than $100 million.

SOME MONETARY DONATIONS

-- Chevron: $5 million.
-- JPMorgan Chase: $3 million.
-- Citigroup: $3 million.
-- Walt Disney Co.: $2.5 million.
-- Pfizer: $2 million.
-- Abbott Laboratories: $2 million.
-- State Farm: $1 million.
-- EDS: Will match employee contributions up to $1 million.

HEALTH CARE DONATIONS

-- Eli Lilly: 40,000 vials of refrigerated insulin.
-- Wyeth: antibiotics and nonprescription pain relievers.
-- Merck: antibiotics and hepatitis A vaccines.
-- Johnson & Johnson: Pain relievers, wound care supplies and kits containing toothbrushes, soap and shampoo.
-- Abbott Laboratories: At least $2 million in nutritional and medical products.

SOME OTHER DONATIONS

-- Nissan: 50 trucks for Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.
-- General Motors: 25 cars and trucks to the Red Cross.
-- Sprint Nextel: 3,000 walkie talkie-type phones for emergency personnel.
-- Qwest Communications: 2,000 long-distance calling cards.
-- Kellogg: Seven truckloads of crackers and cookies.
-- Culligan International: Five truckloads of water.
-- Anheuser-Busch: more than 825,000 cans of water.
-- Office Depot: Contents of its five New Orleans stores, valued at $4 million.

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG...OG.ac3fcea.html

 

[Marc Grant]

Heart To Heart in Kansas City is looking for volunteers. I didn't get to hear details but I assume they may need manpower in the area to help with the rescue/recovery process.

 

[Anonymous]

I hate to make light of anybody’s effort to help, but come on “Office Depot: Contents of its five New Orleans stores, valued at $4 million.â€￾ Do they really think anything is left? Of are they just looking for a tax write off? What a joke!