Tornados and Storms - how to help
The storms in the middle and southern parts of the country have left devastation and destuction on a nearly unimaginable scale. Folks there will need a lot of help. If you want to help, there are some links below that you may find useful.
In thinking about how to respond to these disasters philanthropically, as always, it is a good idea to think about both the immediate relief phase, and then the longer term recovery work. Some key nonprofits that are currently responding to these disasters, and are likely to be involved in long-term recovery include those listed below. These are organizations that also highly likely to be responding to any local US disaster, so are good charities of which to be aware.
Immediate Response
- Local Red Cross chapters.
- The Salvation Army On this page, on the upper right part of the screen, you can put in your address where it says "locations" to find your local branch.
- Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). The MDS is also often involved in long-term recovery efforts, particularly around rebuilding of houses.
- Lutheran Disaster Response.
- Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD). Like the MDS, ERD also supports longer-term recovery work through financial support of Episcopal parishes that are undertaking long-term efforts to assist vulnerable populations in areas affected by disasters.
- Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
- Catholic Charities USA.
Longer Term Recovery
- Local community foundations. Many community foundations will set up funds for local recovery efforts. To find the community foundation that covers a specific area you can go here.
- Habitat for Humanity. While much of Habitat's disaster recovery work has been international, in cases of severe US events, Habitat has a history of organizing housing rebuilding efforts. More information about Habitat's work and contact information for local chapters here.
- The HandsOn Network is a network of volunteer organizations many of which will respond to local disasters. More information here.
As always, anything you can contribute would be appreciated and well used by these groups. Please feel free to add your own suggestions of charities in the comments!
In thinking about how to respond to these disasters philanthropically, as always, it is a good idea to think about both the immediate relief phase, and then the longer term recovery work. Some key nonprofits that are currently responding to these disasters, and are likely to be involved in long-term recovery include those listed below. These are organizations that also highly likely to be responding to any local US disaster, so are good charities of which to be aware.
Immediate Response
- Local Red Cross chapters.
- The Salvation Army On this page, on the upper right part of the screen, you can put in your address where it says "locations" to find your local branch.
- Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS). The MDS is also often involved in long-term recovery efforts, particularly around rebuilding of houses.
- Lutheran Disaster Response.
- Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD). Like the MDS, ERD also supports longer-term recovery work through financial support of Episcopal parishes that are undertaking long-term efforts to assist vulnerable populations in areas affected by disasters.
- Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
- Catholic Charities USA.
Longer Term Recovery
- Local community foundations. Many community foundations will set up funds for local recovery efforts. To find the community foundation that covers a specific area you can go here.
- Habitat for Humanity. While much of Habitat's disaster recovery work has been international, in cases of severe US events, Habitat has a history of organizing housing rebuilding efforts. More information about Habitat's work and contact information for local chapters here.
- The HandsOn Network is a network of volunteer organizations many of which will respond to local disasters. More information here.
As always, anything you can contribute would be appreciated and well used by these groups. Please feel free to add your own suggestions of charities in the comments!