News

How You Can Help Katrina Victims

Monday, September 19, 2005

DONATE:

You can donate money to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW or visiting the Red Cross Web site at www.redcross.org.

VOLUNTEER:

Our local area Red Cross is a national call center for victims of the hurricane and is receiving hundreds of calls each day. The callers are devastated and asking for our help to guide them to shelters and other critical services.

The call center needs experienced operators and data processors to staff the call center from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM seven days a week. The call center is at 23rd and Chestnut Streets. The Red Cross will provide parking, food and training. You can obtain a volunteer form at the Red Cross Southeastern PA website, by clicking www.redcross-philly.org. Or call, 215-299-4000 and ask for information about volunteering. Callers may expect delays due to heavy volume.

In addition to the Red Cross, the South Mississippi Sun-Herald has published a list of charities active in responding to the crisis that can also use your donations. Most charities are requesting financial donations rather than goods or clothing. This enables them to use the funds within the communities that are most affected. Katrina Donation Links

www.redcross.org/donate/donatechange.html

www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=147085,00.html

www.myfcm.sarep.com/index.cfm?type=R&source=research_hdr.cfm

Hurricane Information:

National Hurricane Center National Weather Service

Hydrologic Information Center (river flooding)

Federal Emergency Management Agency

Louisiana Homeland Security

City of New Orleans

Louisiana Governor's Office

For information about family members in Louisiana and Mississippi: 1-866-GET INFO

Relief Organizations:

American Red Cross
1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English,
1-800-257-7575 Spanish People can mail monetary donations to the American Red Cross: American Red Cross PO Box 37243 Washington, DC 20013 www.redcross.org

Operation Connect Katrina
Helps displaced family members find each other:

215.932.3266

212.380.1766

Operation Blessing
1-800-436-6348

American Friends Service Committee 1-888-588-2372
www.afsc.org

America's Second Harvest
1-800-344-8070

Donate Cash to and Volunteer with:

Adventist Community Services
1-800-381-7171

Catholic Charities, USA
703 549-1390

Christian Disaster Response
941-956-5183 or 941-551-9554

Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
1-800-848-5818

Church World Service
1-800-297-1516