Read here >>>> Tsunami Aid and Relief: How You Can Help
It’s early Friday morning. You crawl out of your warm comfortable bed and turn on the news. An 8.9 earthquake has struck off the coast of Japan. Oh, no! 8.9, 8.9 is that bad? The news anchor states, “This is one of the top five earthquakes to strike since 1900.” Oh gosh! That’s horrible! Those poor people! I wish there was something I could do. You go to the bathroom, turn on the shower and continue on with your day.
Stop. What if this was you…your country? What if your brother lived there, your cousin, your aunt, your friend? What would you do then?
After a devastating natural disaster, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what you can do to led your support. But I'm here to tell you there are many MANY ways you can help from afar. Here’s a list to name just a few:
1) International Medical Corp. focuses on healthcare after a natural disaster. To donate to the Corps you may visit their website or text “med” to 80888 to give $10.
2) Children are sometimes the most overlooked after a natural disaster as they are trying to cope with all the changes. Save the Children is a nonprofit organization that focuses on getting children back into their normal routine. To donate to the Children’s Emergency Fund visit their website.
3) Action Against Hunger is an organization that works year-round to provide food to people in need. They are working in Japan to provide those affected with food while they rummage through the rubble and try to get their lives back on track. If you would like to donate please visit their website and click the “Donate Now” button.
4) Donate $10 to World Vision, an international humanitarian group, by texting “4japan” to 20222.
5) Donate $10 to Red Cross by texting “redcross” to 90999.
6) Donate $10 to Salvation Army by texting “japan” to 80888.
7) Donate to AmeriCares, by visiting their website and clicking the “Donate Now” button.
8) Are you unsure of which organization to donate to? Global Giving is a nonprofit organization that works for many causes and allows donors to select which cause they would like to donate to. They have established a Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. You can donate to it by visiting their website and they will disburse money to various on-site organizations as needed.
9) Don’t forget about the animals. The Humane Society of the United States has been working since the 1900s to set up shelters and rescue animals after natural disasters. To donate to their cause please visit their website.
10) Are you looking for a missing person? Do you know of any survivors? You can use Google’s person finder to look for someone, or you can post updates about people who have survived the quake. This helpful tool will keep people worry-free as they search for their loved ones.
Are you still a little apprehensive to give your money away to so-called “charities?” Check out Charity Navigator to find statistics and evaluations on all nonprofit organizations. I recommend finding a charity that you would like to donate to, then check out their profile on Charity Navigator. If you feel good about it then just go with it.
In the meantime, here are some tips from Charity Navigator about donating:
1) Avoid newly formed charities. Only give to charities that are well-established and are working directly with Japan.
2) Don’t send supplies, send money. Although you would rather send something that you believe will be used for a good cause, it just isn’t practical. You have to trust that the charities are using your money in an admirable way.
3) Think before you text. There will be lots of messages out there asking you to donate through simple texting, but you have to make sure the organization is legitimate first.
4) Avoid giving into telemarketers. Most nonprofits will not call you, they will ask you to call them.
5) Be careful of email solicitations. Again most nonprofits will not contact you, they ask you to contact them.
“If ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth.
Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—”
Moroni 7:46.
All pictures are from CNN's Live blog.
