Living in New Orleans no one understands more about what it is like after a hurricane
Loss of power for days or weeks
Stores closed and the streets are quiet at night
I still remember the smell after Hurricane Katrina
The mold and trash piled up for weeks in the street as most homeowners were pulling up carpet and sending their duct taped refrigerator to the curb
When a hurricane hits another community like Hurricane Laura did to Lake Charles my heart sinks
The damage looks horrible and some residents are going home to nothing
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
I ask myself this every time after a disaster
I’m like most I want to help but I don’t want the money wasted
I don’t want 1% of my contribution going to the people in need and the other 99% to pay the charities operating costs
You can research a charity using Charity Navigator or Guidestar
and if you detect fraud you can report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud
I was doing some research over the weekend…checking social media posts and reading up on websites
HERE ARE THREE THAT MIGHT BE THE PLACE TO SEND YOUR DONATION
There are many to choose from and in no way are these the only three
Like me we can give to all of them but pick one and send what you can is my thinking
SBP
SBP is an organization that provides the assistance to disaster-impacted families in need and was founded after Hurricane Katrina in March 2006
Read more in the about us section
Where does your money go?
Your donation provides
$100 – provides protective gear to 10 volunteers
$250 – funds 3 kits to muck/gut flooded homes
$500 – helps SBP reach 1,000 homeowners with disaster preparedness education
$1,000 – deploys a team of AmeriCorps members to support disaster recovery
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA
In direct response to Hurricane Laura this is an organization that will distribute funds to non profits that have proven to help when disaster strikes
Where does the money go?
Disaster grants pay for food, shelter, medicine and all other necessities that help stabilize those in most immediate need
http://www.foundationswla.org/hurricane-relief
SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK
This is a local favorite that helps provide food for the hungry.
They provide 34 million meals annually to people in need
They have boots on the ground in the Lake Charles area
Every $1 donated provides 4 meals to someone in need
Donate now to Second Harvest Food Bank
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
If you prefer to contribute to national charities