We may be more than a thousand miles away from Hurricane Harvey’s impact but there are still many ways that Hoosiers can help positively impact the lives of those in need. When donating money or supplies, be especially aware of who you’re assisting. Unfortunately during times like these, criminals can prey on eager humanitarians just trying to help.
In order to ensure your assistance will get into the right hands, work with legitimate, well-known relief agencies such as FEMA or The Red Cross. The Red Cross already experiences blood shortages during the summer months and with the addition of injuries incurred during this natural disaster, they are even more in need of donations.
Individuals also have the ability to submit monetary donations to help Red Cross coordinate emergency relief efforts to provide disaster relief as quickly as possible. To schedule an appointment, locate a blood drive near you or to make a monetary donation visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS [1 800 733 27677].
Additionally, the Indiana Department of Homeland Security provides the following warnings and tips about responsible giving and volunteering.
Avoid the use of social networking sites that promote impromptu collections drives. Not only can this lead to scams, but it could also potentially lead to crowded warehouses of unrequested items and clogged distribution channels in the impacted area. Cash donations can be managed much easier since the type and amount of supplies required can change frequently. Providing monetary donations to valid agencies allows volunteers to acquire the needed supplies and address the most urgent needs more quickly and efficiently.
If you’re looking to provide volunteer assistance, be sure you have a plan before heading for impacted areas. As much as volunteers play a vital part in disaster recovery, sometimes well-meaning individuals who show up without prior contact or coordination with disaster management personnel can further complicate or even hinder response and recovery operations.
Contact a volunteer organization before heading out and inform them of your specific skills so you can be directed to the area where you can provide the most assistance. Make necessary arrangements for things you’ll need while volunteering such as appropriate clothing, food, water and a place to stay. If you’re unsure of what you’ll need, ask the organization you’ll be working with.
A list of legitimate relief agencies as well as more information about how you can help victims of Hurricane Harvey can be found here.
