Helping tornado victims: State says cash reaches victims quickly

Read the news release below from the Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management

VDEM: Cash Donations Reach Disaster Victims Quickly
Donors Should Use Recognized Organizations and Charities

RICHMOND, VA – When disaster hits local communities, many concerned citizens want to help.  Frequently, donations of food and clothing begin pouring into areas that are not ready to sort and distribute items.  A better way to assist victims of disasters is to make financial contributions to local charities or faith-based organizations that are responding to the situation.

“We know that many Virginians want to reach out to those affected by yesterday’s storms and tornadoes,” said Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. “The fastest way to help is to give money to a recognized charity or organization.” 

Cash donations help organizations avoid the labor and expense of sorting, packing, transporting and distributing donated goods.  Also, voluntary relief agencies can use cash to meet victims’ needs more quickly.

The following is a list of several relief organizations currently serving the victims of the storms in southeast Virginia and accepting donations.  Donations should be designated for April Tornado Response and Recovery and can be made through local offices and some Web sites.

American Red Cross http://www.redcross.org – Suffolk, Southeast, Petersburg and Greater Richmond Chapters

Salvation Army http://www.salvationarmy.org

Federation of Virginia Food Banks http://www.foodbankonline.org

Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia http://www.cceva.org

Lutheran Disaster Response & Lutheran Family Services of Virginia http://www.ldr.org

Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia http://www.sbev.org

Virginia Baptist Mission Board http://www.vbmb.org

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance http://www.pcusa.org

Virginia United Methodist Church Conference Disaster Response http://www.vaumc.org

Adventist Community Services http://www.communityservices.org

Virginia Beach Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals http://www.vbspca.com

The Humane Society of the United States http://www.hsus.org/disaster

United Way http://www.united.org

“Helping families and rebuilding these damaged areas will take some time, and assistance is greatly welcomed,” said Cline.  “We encourage those that contribute to do so wisely and through experienced organizations.”

Here are pointers to consider before donating goods, money or time to help with the storm recovery effort:

• Volunteer wisely to help others.  In a community struggling to recover from a disaster, an influx of unexpected or unneeded volunteers and donations can make the process even more difficult.  Before traveling to the disaster area, learn if and when your skills are needed.  Discuss with volunteer organizers how your needs for food, water and shelter will be met while you are volunteering.
• Confirm the need before collecting.  Donors should be wary of anyone who claims that “everything” is needed.  Many groups have been disappointed that their efforts and the goods they collected were not appreciated.  A community hit by disaster does not have time or resources to dispose of unneeded donations.  Get precise information before collecting any donated goods.
• Financial contributions are preferred.  Cash donations can be used to meet victims’ specific needs more quickly.  Donations of food, clothing and other items have to be stored and distributed, costing charitable organizations valuable time and money that could be used to help victims directly.
• Donate goods through an experienced organization.  Some relief agencies may have the structure in place to store and distribute donated goods.  To prevent waste, donations of goods should be made only to agencies that have requested specific items.

For more on donating to victims of disasters in Virginia, go to http://www.vaemergency.com.