Katrina relief

[Wishfire 2]

I'm not too familiar with the various charity organizations, so I'm asking everyone for help. I don't have money to give, but I have a bunch of clothes that my son grew out of, as well as a bunch of toys for young children. They need them more than I do, and I'd like to send them to New Orleans.

 

Can anyone recomend a good organization to send these clothes and toys through?

[Kor37 9]

Give them to The Salvation Army.

[KIMIMELA 1]

Yes, go to the Red Cross. They seem to be asking for a lot of bric-a-brac, as well as canned food and medicines.

 

Red Cross

 

I hope this helps! You are kind, you know? Really. B)

[Theunicornhunter 2]

I'd call the local chapter of the Red Cross and ask them. I don't know if they are asking for items or not - usually they ask for money because it takes manpower to sort, mail items etc. and because the victims have ended up in so many cities. But the Red Cross can definitely tell you what the needs are.

 

I saw that the Red Cross also needs volunteers for anyone that can take three weeks off from work to go help out.

 

***but be careful - there are people imitating the Red Cross popping up online***

Edited September 11, 2005 by TheUnicornHunter

[Data 0]

Give them to The Salvation Army.

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Best idea. Go to your local Salvation Army. They were one of the first to help out.

[Sgt. Phaserman 0]

For clothes and toys? The Salvation Army is your best bet, but in several areas, the American Red Cross is also accepting them as well as money.

[Madame Butterfly 0]

I've been hearing that the charities are swamped with clothes, and that cash is more desperately needed, as it's more flexible, and can be used for anything.

 

I'd still donate them.

 

The yoga studio I belong to has a backpack drive going.

 

Asking the local families to donate their old backbacks and fill them with school supplies.

 

The Red Cross has already taken about 100 from us.

Edited September 11, 2005 by Madame Butterfly

[Yillara Skye 1]

I would definately say the Salvation Army, and also the Red Cross. When it comes to giving away clothes that I do not wear much anymore (or when I was a kid, grew out of)... I would give them to Goodwill, only after I checked and found the charity collection bins full to the point of overflow. Which with the bins overflowing it is usually following a disasterous situation, such as with Katrina. Since I am rather small in stature, I usually seek out the charity collection sites that collect clothes for kids, so I can donate. And a lot of times the Salvation Army is who I donate the clothes to.

 

 

Also, you could always donate them in a few locations if you have more than one bag of clothes & toys. You could donate one to Salvation Army, and one to Red Cross or another location.. being as the charities may have to separate areas they are giving the donations to. Such as two different neighborhoods of NO, that way your donation is spread out to more people.

 

 

Beyond the two places most mentioned, you could always check in your local paper for any local organizations helping with the disaster relief. I was eating lunch with my parents at our local mall, and I was checking out a clothing store there and I noticed that they had a flyer taped to their front counter... where they were going to have a collection spot for clothes, toiletries and other supplies to be donated to the victims of Katrina and that was going to be hosted by a few of the stores. Even a section of the local paper had a listing of who was doing what for the people of NO and Mississippi, and where you could drop items off(one of our HS bands had been planning to play at a Bowl game in NO, and have instead taken what they raised for the trip and donated it to relief efforts, and I believe they too had had something planned to collect clothing and supplies)

 

 

I would donate clothes, but I had gone through my closets and had given away a small bag full back a month or two ago. However, I have donated to the Red Cross (which to my happiness our Publix has the donation signs up.. though when I made my donation I was at the Walgreens here in town)... and I have noticed that signs are up at our local McD's where the collection boxes for Ronald McDonaldhouse charities are (for the month of September anyhow) being used to collect donations for the Katrina relief effort. And as far as I know a couple other chains & resteraunts have a similar thing going. Whether or not it is with a charity that is affiliated with the franchise... I do not know, but I know a bunch of places are taking donations.

Edited September 12, 2005 by Yillara_Soong

[VaBeachGuy 12]

Give them to The Salvation Army.

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That would be my suggestion.