Hurricane Katrina: Picking Up The Pieces  Tags: political_science_public_admin history law_government_documents  

Unfortunately in the wake of disaster, there are frauds and scams that may appear to be bonifide charities. For example, the Red Cross, United Way and the Salvation Army DO NOT solicit funds by going door to door, by phone or via email or spam. Individuals should be wary of these sorts of solicitations. The agency contact information below is intended as a starting point for charitable giving. The web sites will also allow users to locate local agency offices. Individuals may also want to work with their churches, local community organizations and familiar charities at this time.

Possible Fraud Schemes: Solicitations of Donations for Victims of Hurricane Katrina
http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/SpecialReport-HurricaneKatrina.htm

A special report from the Fraud Section, Criminal Division, U.S. Department of Justice. Information for the public on how to protect oneself from fraud and how to report suspected fraudulent charities. Includes links to resources to assist consumers on how to identify bonifide charities and how to spot fraudulent emails and websites.

MSU Support for Katrina Victims:
http://www.msstate.edu/web/media/detail.php?id=3020

Summary of vigils and fund-raising efforts on MSU campus.

LII Volunteer Opportunities
http://lii.org/search?query=hurricanekatrina+volunteer*

An annotated list of organizations seeking volunteers and of websites posting volunteer opportunities.

USA Freedom Corps Connect and Volunteer
http://www.usafreedomcorps.gov/

Resources for finding volunteer opportunities in states affected by Hurricane Katrina and opportunities for volunteering in local communities providing hurricane relief.

Embrace Mississippi's Children: Hurricane Relief:
http://www.educ.msstate.edu/cni/eci/relief/embrace.htm

Embrace Mississippi's Children is collecting materials and monetary gifts for shelters and to help early care and education programs in Mississippi rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

LII Hurricane Katrina Aid and Charities:
http://lii.org/search?query=hurricanekatrina+charitablegiving

List of links to charitable organizations assisting Hurricane Katrina victims.

The Red Cross:
http://www.redcross.org/donate/donate.html

The Red Cross web site offers a number of ways in which individuals and businesses can make donations to their disaster relief fund.

The Salvation Army:
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

Features information on how to make financial donations and how to locate your local Salvation Army office for further information on how to assist disaster victims in your area.

The United Way:
http://national.unitedway.org/

Features information about the Hurricane Katrina Response Fund and how to locate the agency office in your local area for volunteer opportunities.

United Negro College Fund Hurricane Relief Fund:
http://www.uncf.org/

Information about the UNCF Hurricane Relief Fund and news updates on the effects of Hurricane Katrina on historically black colleges and universities.

Library Disaster Relief:
http://www.txla.org/temp/DisasterRelief.html

The Texas Library Association's Disaster Relief Fund has been expanded to collect donations for libraries in the Gulf Coast area as well as for libraries providing support for the evacuees. One hundred percent of your donated money will be sent to the state library agency or library association in the state of your choice. Donations can be made online via credit card or by mail.

Rochelle Hartmans Page For Libraries Affected by Hurricane Katrina:
http://rochellejustrochelle.typepad.com/copilot/2005/09/library_communi.html

A list of sites that address library community recovery from Hurricane Katrina: helping library workers and their families; fundraising; lists of affected libraries; recovery and preservation efforts.

Hurricane Help For Schools:
http://www.ed.gov/news/hurricane/index.html

From the U.S. Department of Education, users can post information on what their school or organization needs or what they can donate.

ALA Adopt-A-Library Program:
http://www.ala.org/template.cfm?section=cro&template=/cfapps/katrina/request.cfm

To help the libraries in the Gulf region that were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Katrina, the American Library Association has set up an Adopt a Library Program. The program provides an opportunity for libraries of all types in the US to provide assistance to the libraries in need. Support may come in many ways (books, computers, fundraising, volunteers, etc.). If your library is interested in adopting a library in the Gulf region please fill out the online form. ALA will be collecting information from those libraries that need help and are willing to have libraries adopt them, and then helping to connect them to you.