Hurricanes Harvey and Irma impacted different areas of the United States, but the needs of the people who live in these areas are similar. They have lost their homes, vehicles, clothes, and food. Some people are starting over with nothing but the clothes that they had on when they had to evacuate their homes. Fortunately, there are ways that you can help the victims of these hurricanes so that it’s easier for them to pick up the pieces and start the rebuilding process.
One of the best and easiest ways that you can help the victims of the hurricanes is to send money. You can send donations to the American Red Cross or other organizations that are collecting funds. When you search for organizations, make sure that they are accredited and that they offer a receipt of some kind so that you have a document of how much money you give and what the money will be used for by the organization.
A way to help that many people don’t think about after a disaster is to give blood. Hospitals are often stretched to their limits after a disaster because there are people with injuries who might need blood. The hospital might not be able to get blood supplies delivered to the building because of road conditions. However, if you donate blood through the American Red Cross, the organization has ways of making sure the supplies get to where they need to go in a timely manner.
Donate clothing, food or other items to groups that will send the supplies to the people who have been affected. Many churches and schools begin to collect supplies soon after storms pass through. There are usually a few collection times when you can donate if you aren’t able to get anything together right away. Volunteer your time to organize the donations that are received. You could also volunteer to watch children of the families who have been affected so that they can begin the cleanup process.
If your home is large enough, then consider letting someone stay in an extra room. If this isn’t an option, then prepare food to give to those who are in need. Another way that you can help from your home is to wash the clothes that people have left over from the storm. You could also wash the clothes of the people who are working, such as linemen, as they often don’t get a break from trying to get the power back on or from cutting trees.