How can you help those hit by the disaster?

Everybody can lend a hand!

Additionally, the Red Cross trains volunteers to work with members of the military, veterans, and their families – as well as volunteers to promote and carry out blood drives and recruit blood donors. Local Salvation Army units conduct ongoing training of volunteers, which it calls "critical partners in helping us fulfill our promise to America of 'Doing the Most Good.'" Many Salvation Army units across the country list their volunteer opportunities through Volunteer Match. To get involved, visit the Volunteer Match website and search with the keyword "Salvation Army." Catholic Relief Services cooperates with a number of local and national groups, including the Catholic Network of Volunteer Service. It has two great resources, both of which are available through its web site: The Response Directory of Volunteer Opportunities and the Volunteer Profile, offering information about nearly 200 volunteer programs.

Everybody can lend a hand!

Shouldn’t we collect used clothing and blankets? One agency that organizes volunteers to send blankets is the Mennonite Central Committee. However, again, a key to helping is coordinating your efforts with such a group. Following hurricanes, earthquakes, devastating tornados and disastrous floods, people everywhere want to help. However, advises the University of Florida’s Disaster Handbook, “despite the public's best intentions, donated goods that are unsolicited or inappropriate frequently cause more harm than good. Unnecessary and unmanageable items can compete with essential relief goods for the limited capacity of personnel and operating facilities, and in turn, delay the delivery of necessary provisions to those most urgently in need.”

Everybody can lend a hand!

Should you send food and medicine to the disaster area? Unless specifically asked for, donations of food are discouraged. In most disasters, food scarcity is not an immediate problem. Again, look for the specific lists of needed items before you send anything. What about medicine? The arrival of unnecessary medicines at a disaster scene can be a burden rather than an asset. Medical supplies are highly specialized commodities that must have a distribution channel of qualified personnel. If medical supplies are called for, medicines sent must have a shelf life of at least six months after arriving at the disaster site, and they must also be clearly labled. Old prescription medications should never be sent.

Everybody can lend a hand!

What do disaster victims need most? Money. Financial contributions are the most useful form of disaster assistance. They help guarantee that relief workers have the funds necessary to provide disaster victims with needed supplies in a timely fashion. Donating money also eliminates many of the logistical concerns such as transportation, distribution and spoilage frequently associated with donations of unsolicited, unsized clothing and perishable mixed food items. Money also helps the local economy recover. Beware of scams claiming they are helping. Respected relief agencies to consider for donations include the Network for Good, Southern Baptist Relief Services, Samaritan’s Purse, the Catholic Relief Services, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team, the Mennonite Central Committee, the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army -- as well as other local or national charities that you know and trust.