Superstorm Sandy Relief: How You Can Help
Here is how Northern Virginia residents' donations can aid victims in most affected areas.
Northern Virginia was largely spared from catastrophic damage from Superstorm Sandy, but residents in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and other coastal areas were not so lucky.
Patch has gathered some local resources if you want to help in relief efforts.
Volunteers in New Jersey are being coordinated through an emergency response hotline, 1-800-JERSEY-7 (1-800-537-7397). Alternate numbers, for when the hotline isn’t staffed, include 609-775-5236 and 908-303-0471 or emails can be sent to Rowena.Madden@sos.state.nj.us.
The New York City agency NYC Service is coordinating volunteers for various relief projects in New York City. Go to its Facebook page or email nycservice@cityhall.nyc.gov with your name and email address.
The American Red Cross is collecting funds and coordinating blood donations. The organization sheltered more than 3,000 people across nine states during the worst of the storm. You can donate $10 by phone by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999.
Sandy has caused the cancellation of about 300 American Red Cross blood drives.
“Patients will still need blood despite the weather,” said Dr. Richard Benjamin, chief medical officer of the Red Cross, in a statement.
To schedule a blood donation at a center near you or for more information about giving blood or platelets, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) takes donations to rescue and shelter animals affected by the storm. Nearly 300 animals are staying with their owners in shelters in the New York City area, the agency said.
The ASPCA is also setting up a distribution center in Syracuse, New York with 4,000 sheltering units, which contain pet food, crates, food bowls, toys, and anything else an animal may need.
The Salvation Army: You can donate $10 to the Salvation Army by texting “STORM” to 80888. If you are already volunteer-certified, you can sign up to help out with disaster relief.
AmeriCares: You can donate to AmeriCares’ relief fund to help the organization, which is distributing supplies to 130 clinics in the 13 states affected by Sandy.
To follow news from some of the most affected areas and see how local residents are faring, here are links to Patch sites:
Greenwich Patch (CT)
Do you know of any groups in Northern Virginia organizing supplies or donations for Superstorm Sandy victims? Tell us in the comments.
Beth
8:35 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
And here's Fairfield Patch in CT: http://fairfield.patch.com/
The reporters have done a great job. We were able to get info on Patch and call my in-laws there to keep them up to date.
98% of Fairfield was without power until yesterday; 56% still is, and the coastal area was hit hard, like in other states. The electric company only had one crew working on Tuesday, three yesterday.
Mike
7:23 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
This makes me wary of the red cross, but thankfully there are other options.
http://politicker.com/2012/11/staten-island-borough-president-dont-give-money-to-the-red-cross/
Ann H Csonka
3:37 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
The Salvation Army does excellent work, too... with relatively low overhead. We only contribute to them.
Bud
9:44 am on Friday, November 2, 2012
I think we should keep in mind that much of the Red Cross is volunteer based and not to inclusively hold these problems against all of them. There are many that are anxious to get out there and help, no matter what the difficulty. As for RC's disaster and finance management, that's a different issue.
Carol Lewis
12:58 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
Mike, it also takes time to organize the RC volunteers and amass the goods they are sending. I heard on the radio that RC trucks rolled out of this area this morning. Recovery efforts are not instantaneous. It's quite alright to give them money.
Beth
3:37 pm on Friday, November 2, 2012
The majority of Red Cross staff is volunteer. I used to be on a Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT). Training is required. Many times volunteers from other states have to be brought in for large-scale disasters. As Carol posted, it takes time. The out-of-towners' dedication was amazing. I never met a volunteer who didn't take what they did seriously, whether it was for a local fire or a terrible natural disaster.
Liz Arias
12:11 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
I live in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn and today I walked out of my apartment building to the sight of a caravan of electrical workers from Fairfax, Virginia. I was overwhelmed with emotion and so proud of how everyone pulls together in times like these. I Also felt relief for all those people still without power who have been through so much. God bless everyone in that crew for sacrificing their time with their families to help us in NY.
Ann H Csonka
3:54 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
GO ALABAMA (not the football team). We went to Virginia Kitchen in Herndon, VA (Fairfax County) for breakfast last Thursday and an adjacent parking lot was nearly full of ALABAMA POWER trucks.
As we watched the convoy head out (probably toward the D.C. beltway) I actually felt a lump in my throat--because this is America and we work together and help each other in times of trouble.
We were proud of those crews . . . and also of Gov. Christie and Pres. Obama for working together as AMERICANS--to hell with political party bickering when there is work to do!
Wish we could work, too, but we’re too old and decrepit. Darn!
Heidi Johnson
1:14 pm on Sunday, November 18, 2012
And then the unions in NY/NJ yelled at them and called them scabs and told them to go home...
Barbara Glakas
2:42 pm on Sunday, November 18, 2012
I have two booklets from watch dog organizations which rate/evaluate non-profit organizations, in terms of their fundraising practices, use of funds, complaint history, etc. One is the “Wise Giving Guide” by the Better Business Bureau, and another is the “Charity Rating Guide” by the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP).
As far as the financials of the Red Cross and the Salvation Army go, the Better Business Bureau rates both organizations as having “met standards.” The AIP rated (in 2010) the Red Cross as an “A-“ and the Salvation Army as an “A.” Both organizations have “open book” polices with these rating groups. The AIP shows that the Red Cross spends 90% of their money on program services and spends 22% on raising money. The Salvation Army shows that 82% of their money I spent on program services and 12% is spent on raising money. These are considered high ratings. As far as I can tell they are both worthy organizations. If you give to the Red Cross you can specifically ask that your donation be used for “disaster relief.”