How You Can Help

With the seemingly endless natural disasters and tragedies happening lately, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed about how you can help. If you want to do something but you’re not sure where to start, we’ve compiled a list of resources you can use to help the victims of these tragedies from wherever you are in the world. It’s important to remember that while immediate relief efforts during these tragedies are imperative, long term relief efforts are often less publicized but just as necessary. Help us to make our world a better place by making a difference and proving that good will always win.

Donate to California Wildfire Victims

• Here are the verified GoFundMe pages raising money for the victims.
• The Sonoma Humane Society is taking donations and providing updates, pet support, and ways to help in the wake of the fires.
• The Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund is providing a North Bay Wildfire Emergency Fund complete with a FAQ page of what efforts the funding will go to.
• ICNA Relief has a list of services they will be providing victims.

Donate to Las Vegas Victims

• According to the United Blood Services Las Vegas website, donors are needed in the weeks ahead. Blood has a shelf life, and the initial surplus of donations has declined in the last several weeks. They will need continuous donations in the coming weeks to continue to support the hundreds of injured survivors.
• If you are not in the Vegas area, you can still donate blood to the cause by finding a blood donation center near you. And, of course, the aftermath of a senseless tragedy is not the only time you can make a difference. Blood donations are always a necessity and no matter when you donate, you could save a life.
• Steve Sisolak, Clark County Commission Chair from Las Vegas, started a GoFundMe to assist the victims of the shooting. Funds will be used to provide relief and financial support to the victims and families.

Donate to Mexico Earthquake and Hurricane Victims

• Direct Relief, a humanitarian aid organization, has staff members in Mexico City and has pledged that 100 percent of its donations will go directly to relief efforts, which it says will include facilitating the delivery of medical supplies to affected areas.
• GlobalGiving has a fundraiser that has a goal of $5,000,000 and will provide relief to survivors in the form of emergency supplies like food, water, and medicine in addition to longer-term recovery assistance to help residents recover and rebuild.
• Fondo Unido México has a disaster relief and reconstruction fund to donate to so they can work in favor of the communities that have been affected by the recent natural disasters in Mexico.
• A list of highly rated nonprofits directly helping earthquake victims. It was put together by Charity Navigator, a nonprofit that vets charities based on their tax filings.

Donate to Hurricane Maria Victims

• ConPRmetidos is a non-profit that created Puerto Rico Real-Time Recovery Fund: a fundraising page with a goal of $10,000,000.
• GlobalGiving has a fundraiser that has a goal of $10,000,000 and will provide relief to survivors in the form of emergency supplies like food, water, and medicine in addition to longer-term recovery assistance to help residents recover and rebuild.
• The Food Bank of Puerto Rico (Banco de Alimentos) assists the 78 municipalities of Puerto Rico, obtaining and distributing more than 4 million pounds of food and food products per year.
• A list of verified GoFundMe pages to support those affected by Hurricane Maria.

Donate to Hurricane Harvey Victims

• According to the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, the most urgent need is for platelet donations. They encourage all donors to consider making an appointment at any of their donor rooms or mobile platelet drives through October.
• A list of highly rated nonprofits directly helping Harvey victims. It was put together by Charity Navigator, a nonprofit that vets charities based on their tax filings.
• The Houston Food Bank has options to donate food and supplies, volunteer, and give money. They will provide food and supplies in the short term and for many months to come as southeast Texans rebuild their lives.
• The Houston Humane Society has a donation page to help local animals affected by the hurricane.

Donate to Hurricane Irma

• GlobalGiving has a fundraiser that has a goal of $3,000,000 and will provide relief to survivors in the form of emergency supplies like food, water, and medicine in addition to longer-term recovery assistance to help residents recover and rebuild.
• Here’s another list of highly rated nonprofits directly helping Irma victims. It was put together by Charity Navigator, a nonprofit that vets charities based on their tax filings.
• OneBlood in Florida, is urging people living outside of Hurricane Irma’s path to visit their local blood center and donate blood as soon as possible. All blood types are needed, however, there is an urgent need for platelet donations as well as O negative blood.
• If you can get there, Miami-Dade has an application to be a disaster recovery volunteer.

It’s important to note that even if you are not personally affected when tragedy strikes, it is possible for people to experience emotional trauma in the wake of such events. Here is a PBS article for parents and teachers with tips from psychologists on how to talk to a child when tragedy strikes, and how to notice if they are showing signs of high stress or anxiety.

There are so many ways to help the world right now, and we hope this offers some options for you to take action. Remember, no matter what or how much you can contribute, you are making a difference.