Where do you donate towards Harvey victims?

[CatWoman]

Can the Red Cross be trusted?

[mnhtnbb]

1. There are a lot of options besides the Red Cross

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/28/us/donate-harvey-charities-scams.html

There's a well known civil rights attorney gathering supplies people can purchase off Amazon, ship to his office, and they are
planning to deliver by truck.

Link to tweet

[CatWoman]

2. thanks

this is just heartbreaking

[eleny]

13. Husband researched and found Houston Food Bank to be rated very highly

So that's where we've donated so far.

[Not Ruth]

3. The Red Cross is part of the fascist state I believe, based on their history of micro aggressions

racism, fund raising practices, etc.

Islamic Relief is a good choice. They have a Disaster Response Team in TX now serving the more vulnerable members of the community. They work with the Red Cross, without doing the harm that the Red Cross does. So it is like supporting the good parts of the Red Cross.

http://irusa.org/hurricane-harvey-emergency/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzfGz3KT_1QIV0EwNCh0ZVAlfEAAYASABEgLoGvD_BwE

[mnhtnbb]

4. Local Red Cross organizations can be very helpful.

After our house fire 10 years ago, a representative of the Red Cross was at the site within two hours with a debit card
that had $350. on it for us. Since we got out with what we were sleeping in (my husband sleeping in his underwear),
that $350. was much appreciated to get the three of us some clothes. I did manage to grab my purse as I ran
out, but my husband did not have his wallet, his glasses, car keys, pants, or shoes.

So, I will not support dissing local Red Cross. I think if someone wanted to donate to the Red Cross, though, I would search
out the local chapter (ours is by county) and make the donation directly to them.

[anneboleyn]

8. Yes. We had some relatives helped by the Red Cross as well. They were extremely effective.

[TrishaJ]

16. Yes. I donated to the Red Cross...

I've seen their presence everywhere in Houston by photo and video. Another to Austin Pets Alive to assist with care for lost or stranded pets.

on edit: after reading through this discussion I also gave to the Houston Food Bank.

[cilla4progress]

5. Cash is better than stuff

President Obama recommended red cross, so I did some there.

NPR had a good list.

I wanted to use PayPal who say they vet charities and pay for all fees. Limited list there but I chose Houston Humane Society.

Now watching flooding moving east throughTexas, there will be many more opportunities...

Beyond tragic. My heart is breaking. Been through loss of home and all possessions myself in a forest fire in 1994. I know the fear and despair.

This may not be entirely accurate but I keep thinking this is tRump's America.

[anneboleyn]

6. Yes, NPR has a good list, and the Red Cross IS good (see the ratings of the charities online)

You can look up a charity and its rating -- how much money is spent on salaries, etc. I personally would not give $$$$ to any person or ad hoc organization that can't be monitored and/or doesn't have a public record -- we've just been burned way too many times to trust even the most sincere-sounding individuals.

[mitch96]

7. I donated to the Houston and Austin Food Bank

The Austin food bank is up and running providing hot meals to people in Houston NOW! They are shipping the food in from Austin. The Houston food bank is getting its shit together and will be providing meals in Houston soon.
I looked on Charity Navigator and both Austin and Houston food banks use 100% of the donated money for what they do, which is provide food for people who are hungry.
Lord knows that's gonna be a bunch of hungry people in Houston.
For reference the Red Cross uses 77% for it's goal and 23% for administrative fees...Offices and salaries etc
The United way of Greater Houston uses 91% of its money for aid. Not to detract from the Red Cross's job and I like a more efficient operation for my money.. That's just me... YMMV
m

[anneboleyn]

10. 77% for a giant like the Red Cross is pretty good. The food banks in Houston are a great suggestion

Massive charities do need admin and staff. Yes, of course some are better but when one is dealing with a 90-100% turn-around the charity is almost always composed entirely of volunteers. A massive org like the Red Cross needs more staff than say a local volunteer-run charity. The good thing is that with the magic of the internet we can donate to multiple organizations that serve different needs.

[Stuart G]

20. Thank You for sharing this ..that is where I will give ...

Very important information,,,,your words exactly:

."I looked on Charity Navigator and both Austin and Houston food banks use 100% of the donated money for what they do, which is provide food for people who are hungry. ....."

............The United way of Greater Houston uses 91% of its money for aid.............

[FM123]

9. Red Cross was super easy to do, texted HARVEY to 90999 & $10 was donated.

[Lurker Deluxe]

11. seems to be a popular one

https://www.youcaring.com/victimsofhurricaneharvey-915053

[OldHippieChick]

12. I'm never a big fan of Red Cross or United Way, etc.

because they have large overheads and part of any donation goes to administrative purposes. Plus, United Way gives money to Boy Scouts, among others, who do not really need it.

I will be sending $$ to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance: https://pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-info/DR000169/?appeal=PDA&package=HH17-ABB

I feel confident that money will go directly to victims and supplies for victims. Local congregations send teams for clean-up and repair and they bring their own supplies and pay their own way. The PCUSA money can be used to house them, but those accommodations are generally tents w/ cots.

[moondust]

14. Slate article slams Red Cross.

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/metropolis/2017/08/don_t_give_money_to_the_red_cross_we_need_a_new_way.html

Additionally, a red flag for me was the fact that they canceled their party at Mar-A-Lago after Drumpf's Charlottesville comments. Same with Salvation Army. WTF are charities doing wasting money on expensive parties at Mar-A-Lago? Have your bash at a convention center or someplace for free and spend the money helping people. Sheesh.

[Not Ruth]

24. NPR slams Red Cross

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/30/547435136/red-cross-exec-doesn-t-know-what-portion-of-donations-will-go-directly-to-harvey

[spanone]

15. Google will match whatever you give....

[TexasBushwhacker]

17. I'd like to put in a good word for the Houston Furniture Bank

It's like a food bank, but with furniture! Clients are referred by organizations like the Red Cross and come in and go "shopping" to furnish their homes. The help victims of fires and floods regularly, as well as formerly homeless people. You can read more about them here:

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

[gratuitous]

18. My rule of thumb is through anyone I've donated through previously

Charity Navigator has a good website for checking out charitable organizations.

If you're looking for a concrete suggestion, the Church of the Brethren Disaster Relief Fund stretches its dollars so far they scream. In addition to providing long-term support for rebuilding projects, EDF also staffs Children's Disaster Services. Since 1980 Children’s Disaster Services (CDS) has been meeting the needs of children by setting up child care centers in shelters and disaster assistance centers across the nation. Specially trained to respond to traumatized children, volunteers provide a calm, safe and reassuring presence in the midst of the chaos created by tornadoes, floods, hurricanes, wildfires any natural or human caused disaster.

See the websites at:

www.brethren.org/edf and

http://www.brethren.org/cds/

[OliverQ]

19. Think i'm gonna donate some to Houston Food Bank and Houston SPCA.

[onethatcares]

21. gave to the Diaper Bank

dedicated to Houston. Will donate again to an animal shelter. Anyone know a good one?

[hamsterjill]

22. For animal lovers

Austin Pets Alive is helping to get pets out of the shelters in the affected areas so that those shelters can then take in found pets from hurricane hit areas.

https://www.austinpetsalive.org/


Some rescuers that I know (personally) who are ON THE GROUND in Houston and doing great things!! These rescuers have individual rescue organizations, but are currently working together to get more animals out. They are also working in conjunction with Austin Pets Alive.

Katie's Roadside Rescue: http://www.krrtx.org/

Mission: Miracle K9 Rescue Inc. (Matt Montes) http://www.missionmiracle.org/

Katie and Matt are both working at taking animals out of flooded areas. They were in boats yesterday doing actual rescues. Matt was involved in a rescue late yesterday and drove his truck into an area that flooded unexpectedly. He lost everything, but he's still down there helping other rescues.


Rescued Pets Movement (RPM). This rescue actively transports dogs and cats from the Houston kill shelter and transports them to other areas in the nation for adoption and rescue. They are actively helping in the rescue of stranded animals in the flooded areas.

http://www.rescuedpetsmovement.org/

There are many, many other worthy organizations. These are simply ones that I know and feel comfortable about suggesting. Anything that is donated to any rescue organization is appreciated and needed.

Thank you all for helping Texas!!!!

[Not Ruth]

23. This is an interesting list if you want to donate to women of color

http://bit.ly/SupportBlackWomenHOU

[leftynyc]

25. There are a lot of

NYers who ar still pissed at every Texan rep or sen that voted against helping us after Sandy. What many of us are doing is focusing on the pets that have either lost their humans or have become separated from them. Muddy Paws is great organization and they're organizing getting a bunch of pets up to NY for fostering until they can be reunited with their humans or adopted if their humans are gone or can no longer take care of them.

[Hekate]

26. Direct Relief. They have an outstanding record.

[DFW]

27. My friends in Dallas have a company-wide donation collection

Clothes, money, whatever. I'm sending mine there, as I know they'll make sure it isn't wasted or stolen.