Given the tremendous need for those impacted by Sandy, this
week’s post identifies specific ways you can help.
Having been intimately
involved in my community’s emergency response and recovery from Irene, -we were
an “island town” in Vermont-there are some important things to keep in mind
that generally aren’t mentioned, along with all the places you can donate to
and ways to help when you can’t make a cash donation.
• Recovery is going to take months or longer. Help as
you can for as long as you can. Just because it does not appear in your paper’s
daily headline, it doesn’t mean that needs have been met. Recognize that help
comes in many different ways and at many different times.
• A lot of relief information-where to make donations,
volunteers needed, fundraisers, workdays etc. is appearing on-line. If you have
a particular area/community that you are interested in helping, once a site has
been established, check it weekly.
• While ways to make cash donations are outlined below,
be wary of newly formed organizations. People want to do something, and as well
intentioned as they may be, raising money for Sandy Relief, with no designated
charity-or a charity to be named-are red flags. There are plenty well
established organizations that are involved or will be involved in this relief
effort, so target your money where you know it will be put to work. If you have
questions, use sites like Guidestar and Charity Navigator .
• Unless a town has an organized relief fund already
established, don’t send checks to a town marked “for Sandy Relief.” This
creates major issues on multiple levels. In the midst of dealing with FEMA and
other agencies, town management doesn’t need phone calls and people coming in
asking about “the money.” Figuring out how to distribute it can be the worst
type of nightmare. Instead, identify
organizations within a community that are doing relief work and make donations
there. These can be fire and rescue departments, community action agencies
(more about these below), churches, hospitals, food pantries etc.
• Avoid using the “V” word, “victim.” At the moment, “flood
victims” is being used to raise money, but over time it really doesn’t help
people to think of themselves as a “victim.” They will not continually need to be “rescued,” and not all
of life problems stem from Sandy. Assuring them that they are resilient is a
lot more helpful then calling them a “victim. “
• In the next week to ten days, those impacted may act
in ways that look strange to the observer. However, they are generally normal reactions to a very
abnormal situation. Ultimately, the number one outcome to this sort of event is
resilience. Our brains are wired for this. Long story short, unless the person
is a danger to self or others, let them process as they need to.
• The week to ten days following the event, is generally the time where neighbors
and community band together. There can be an air of euphoria about this
experience of everyone pitching in and helping. However, that feeling of good will is already
disappearing in some areas. The hardest part is ahead. The new reality of what you are left
with sinks in. The paper work to obtain aid can be overwhelming and daunting.
Putting energy, money and time is critical from this point forward. In the
first 10 days following Irene, all I had to do was make one post about what we
needed at the shelter, and we were swamped with donations. Six months later,
when we were moving our last homeowners back in, I had to make lots of phone
calls and beg for help.
• Just showing up to help, if you don’t live in the
community, or have strong ties to it, can be a nightmare for those running the
relief effort. If at all possible, call or e-mail ahead to see if they can use
your help. Check websites to see what types of volunteers are needed. Remember,
those most impacted are going to have needs for a long time, so try to
volunteer when a clear need has been established. There is and will be lots of
opportunities for “hands on” volunteering
• If shelters are asking for food, bring healthy
items. People can eat not knowing what they are putting in their mouths. Fresh
fruit, raw veggies and nuts are much better than donuts and brownies. I now
hate brownies or any baked good made from a box. If you and a group of friends,
or your business, want to donate a meal for a shelter, work it out with the
person in charge. Please don’t see a request for food donations as an excuse to
unload your food pantry of expired items, dented cans etc.
• While we all need purpose and “to be needed,” this is
about meeting the needs of those impacted, not meeting the volunteer’s “need to
be needed.”
• Whether you have money to donate or not, as Hope for New York noted,
as the number one thing people can do, is pray-for the safety of those in need,
those providing emergency care and shelter and that all may respond with
compassion and hospitality.
The most immediate needs are rescue, shelter, food, and
accurate information. To help out during this phase, consider donations to the
following:
• The American Red Cross can be supported in one of the
following ways:
- Text
the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation
- Send
a check to American Red Cross, PO Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013
• Faith based relief groups
• Donate blood. Check for scheduled blood drive
locations and make an appointment by going to www.redcrossblood.org or call
1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767)
• Food Banks
• Check to see if your state has set up a website about how
you can help. Because Vermont was so impacted by Irene, it is not surprising
that the Vermont’s Community Foundation has already set up a site called After Sandy: How Vermont Can Help Try googling your state’s name and Sandy Relief to see what you can find.
The recovery phase, which will last for months in some
communities and years in others, requires a long sustained response. You can
help in the following ways:
• If you have friends, family or know people that are
impacted, consider doing the following:
-Send gift cards for gas, food,
hardware stores, and places like Target and Walmart
- Send
notes of encouragement
- Help
with clean up, housing, child care, meals etc. as you can
- Offer
your home as a place to stay if they are displaced. Offering the opportunity to
take a hot shower, have a meal in your home, watch TV, take a nap, or do laundry can make all the
difference.
- Be
their advocate as they go about trying to fill out FEMA and other grant and aid
forms. This can be a very challenging process, and having someone to help you
through can make all the difference.
• Many of the communities, towns and even states will
set up websites to let people know what’s needed and when. Monitor on a regular
basis and help when you can.
• Community Action Agencies are local private and
public non profit organizations that provide a wide array of services including
housing, assistance with utility bills, home weatherization, job training, food
pantries and coordinating community initiatives. These groups will be
intimately involved helping people most impacted. Many will have relief efforts
specifically for those impacted by Sandy. To learn more about the specific CAAs
in the various communities, go to the Community Action Partnership Find a CAA website
• Many of the fire and rescue units, particularly in
the coastal and rural areas, are volunteer. They can use donations to help
restock equipment and supplies, purchase items that may have been lost or
destroyed during recovery operations.
• States impacted have 2.1.1 resource numbers and websites.
A United Way project, you can dial 2-1-1, or use the websites to identify community specific
information and referral resources for food, housing, medical etc. If you wish
to do targeted giving in a community, this is a good way to learn which
organizations are in place. Many will soon start posting specific requests for
donations, volunteers etc.
• Check Facebook for newly forming pages regarding a
particular community.
• Organizations, such as the arts and libraries, that don’t have an immediate impact on
the relief effort, still need to be supported when they have their annual giving
programs. An integral part of their communities, they are important in helping
communities re establish themselves.
How to help when you can’t make a cash donation
• Organize: a fundraiser, food, clothing or furniture drive, or volunteer work party at your church,
work, among friends etc.
• If there is a particular community or group of people
you want to help, set up a Lots of Helping Hands website to help coordinate relief efforts.
• Donate blood
• If you live in one of the areas hit, volunteer as you
can now through the recovery phase. There are going to be plenty of tasks-from
serving food, cleaning up, to moving people into new homes.
• Offer your home as a place for those that have been
displaced.
• Check the “needs” list regularly for communities that
you are interested in helping and volunteer as requested when you can.
• Become a Red Cross volunteer. Maybe not a direct
benefit to Sandy, but you can help in subsequent disasters.
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