Sending cash to an assistance organization, rather than donating goods, is the best way to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, a U.S. emergency preparedness official said on Monday, even before the extent of damage from Hurricane Katrina was fully known.
Cash donations “allow volunteer agencies to issue cash vouchers to victims so they can meet their needs,” said Michael Brown, undersecretary of homeland security for emergency preparedness and response.
Meanwhile, local law enforcement officials cautioned potential donors to be sure their dollars go to legitimate agencies. Read below for tips to ensure your dollars go to where they’re needed most.
Donate cash to:
: 800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English, 800-257-7575 Spanish
: 800-508-2848 or mail a check to McCormick Tribune Foundation, 435 N. Michigan Ave. Suite 790, Chicago, Il., 60611 Donations
The foundation will match the first $1 million to the campaign at 50 cents on the dollar. The Broncos, the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Rockies, the Denver Newspaper Agency, which handles business operations for The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News, are among partners in the effort.
: 303-321-3399
Operation Blessing: 800-436-6348 America’s Second Harvest: 800-344-8070
Donate to or volunteer with:
Adventist Community Services: 800-381-7171
Catholic Charities USA: 703-549-1390
Christian Disaster Response: 941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee: 800-848-5818
Church World Service: 800-297-1516
Convoy of Hope: 417-823-8998
Lutheran Disaster Response: 800-638-3522
Mennonite Disaster Service: 717-859-2210
Nazarene Disaster Response: 888-256-5886
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: 800-872-3283
Salvation Army: 800-725-2769
Southern Baptist Convention/ Disaster Relief: 800-462-8657, ext. 6440
United Methodist Committee on Relief: 800-554-8583
Take supplies to:
Champion Ford of Boulder has volunteered to be the unofficial drop point for
the Katrina Relief Fund in Boulder. The dealership will be collecting
water, clothes, shoes, blankets, non-perishable foods and additional items
for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, loading up its trucks, and driving the donations to Red Cross shelters in the affected areas of
Louisiana. The dealership is located at 3200 28th Street in Boulder, 303-939-8600.
Medical supplies only:
The Denver Osteopathic Center at 10555 E. Darthmouth Ave., Suite 200 in Aurora is challenging the medical community to donate money, medical supplies, injectable vaccines, insulin and/or injectible antibiotics. They ask that donors call ahead to ensure the office is open, before dropping off medical supplies. Contact Kristina Schramm, office manager, at 303-991-4651.
Concerning pets:
The Humane Society of the United States is moving into Mississippi to begin a multi-state animal rescue and recovery effort in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. The HSUS Disaster Response Unit is a four-wheel drive truck and 38-foot air-conditioned trailer, equipped with rescue, sheltering, and communications gear as well as pet food and supplies.The HSUS is supporting the evacuation of animals from the Louisiana SPCA to shelters throughout Texas for adoption. The HSUS Southeast Regional Office located in Tallahassee is partnering with the Florida State Agricultural Response Team to assess animal needs and to provide rescue and sheltering of animals in south Mississippi. The costs associated with The HSUS’ rescue efforts are expected to exceed the organization’s previous major disaster responses, which include aiding the animal victims of last year’s tsunami, and responding to the series of hurricanes that hit Florida last year. The HSUS is accepting donations to support its disaster response efforts on its web site
or by sending checks to HSUS Disaster Relief Fund, 2100 L Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037.
Tips to ensure donations go to hurricane relief:
Attorney General John Suthers says “scam artists” are taking advantage of the catastrophe. Before giving, he and Jefferson County District Attorney Scott Storey advise that potential donors do their homework to ensure the donations don’t go into the wrong hands. Their tips are below:
Learn about the charity; ask questions. What is the charity’s name, address, telephone number and purpose? Charities must provide this information to you. If a charity won’t provide the information or provides only vague answers you may want to consider supporting another charity.
Ask for the solicitor’s registration number and the registration
number of the charity he or she is representing.
Verify the information with the Better Business Bureau and the Secretary of State. The Better Business Bureau can be reached , or at 303-758-2100. The Secretary of State can be reached , and go to their section called Licensing Center, or call 303-894-2200, press 2. Most charities operating in the state are registered here and you can verify their credentials. You can also check their disclosure and financial statements here.
If the charity is required to file the federal form 990 or 990-EZ
with the IRS, ask to see it.
Ask your tax advisor or the IRS if your donation will be
tax-deductible. The fact that a charity has a tax identification number
does not necessarily mean your contribution is tax-deductible.
Find out how your money will be spent. Determine what percentage will go to administrative fees and fundraising and how much goes to the charity. This information must be provided. Be wary if the telemarketer does not know or cannot ascertain this information.
Be wary if the charity does not want to provide information about
its programs and finances. Reputable charities will gladly provide the
information requested.
Watch out for charities with names that sound similar to
well-known organizations. Sometimes these sound-alike names are simply
intended to confuse donors.
Donate by check made payable to an organization, rather than through cash given to an individual.
If solicited in person, ask to see identification for both the
solicitor and the charity.
Certain well-known charities such as the Red Cross will never
solicit donations over the phone.
Beware of unsolicited email. There have already been reports of
email that purport to be solicitations from the Red Cross. The emails
have links embedded in them that will take you to a fake Red Cross
website. Further, such unsolicited email may spread computer viruses. Do
not respond to any email soliciting donations from any organization.
Instead, go directly to the organization’s website or call to make
donations.
Be wary if the charity requests cash, your credit card or Social Security number or wants to send a person directly to your home to obtain the money. Also, beware of those who use high pressure tactics.
If you believe that you have been solicited by a fraudulent
charity, please file a complaint with the Secretary of State website:
or , 1-800-222-4444.
If you feel uncomfortable simply, say “No thank you.”
For further information on this topic or other areas of consumer fraud/economic crime please contact the District Attorney’s Office at 303-271-6931. Seniors may want to call the Seniors Hotline at 303-271-6980. Consumers can report suspected fraudulent charitable solicitations to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office at (303) 894-2200 ext.
6407.
