Posted by BEN BEAUMONT – You can help people affected by disasters like the current flooding in North Dakota and winter storms across the plains, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of all disasters.
How to Help:
– Visit www.redcross.org
– Call 1-800-REDCROSS
– Mail: American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013 (Checks payable to the American Red Cross, Memo Section: National Disaster Relief Fund)
Here are some good FAQs from the Red Cross:
I would like to donate clothes, cars or other items to charity. Does American Red Cross accept in-kind donations?
The American Red Cross does not accept or solicit small, individual donations of items for emergency relief purposes. Small items such as collections of food, used clothing, and shoes often must be cleaned, sorted, and repackaged which impedes the valuable resources of money, time, and personnel that are needed for other aspects of our relief operation. The Red Cross, in partnership with other agencies, suggests that the best use for those types of donations is to support needy agencies within donors’ local communities. The best way to help a disaster victim is through a financial donation to the American Red Cross. Financial contributions allow the Red Cross to purchase exactly what is needed for the disaster relief operation. Monetary donations also enable the Red Cross to purchase relief supplies close to the disaster site which avoids delays and transportation costs in getting basic necessities to disaster victims. Because the affected community has generally experienced significant economic loss, purchasing relief supplies in or close to the disaster site also helps to stimulate the weakened local economy.(Note from John: Many local chapters accept vehicle donations though a United Way partnership, so if this comes up we might be able to connect them to the right people)
I want to help raise money for a specific family who was affected by disaster. Can I make my gift through the Red cross? We applaud your desire to help a family at a difficult time, but unfortunately gifts for a specific family or person cannot be made through the The American Red Cross. We are committed to helping every family in need recover from emergencies by providing food, clothing, shelter and other essential services and supplies based on need. Special contributions for a specific families violate our principles of providing help equally to all who need it.
Why do you require a donation amount of $10?
Like any other online credit card processing system we are charged by credit card companies. We don’t want donors’ well-intended gift to be offset by processing fees.
CLICK HERE for other donation FAQs.
Thanks to Clinton School students Ashley Davis and John Memmer for gathering this info.
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