Hurricane Katrina and Reputable Charities
Hurricane Katrina donations - who will you donate your money to? The Red Cross? Nazarene Disaster Response? The Salvation Army? Some other organization/charity you know that is working in the effected areas? Be sure to pick your organization wisely, and don't just drop your money at the first website you see that has a "donate to the disaster relief fund" link on their page.The fact is, just as there are looters roaming the streets taking advantage of others' pain and tragedy, there are also 'cyber' looters, who are roaming the internet trying to take advantage of your generosity and your sympathy. Do you have any way of knowing, when you click that donation link that promises it'll go to the "disaster relief" that it really will go to help ease the suffering of those affected by Hurricane Katrina?
In most cases you don't.
And another thing...if you receive an email from The Red Cross, or another charitable organization working to provide relief and support, be suspicious. It's sad to say, but the odds are pretty good that the email is not from a legitimate charity organization, even though it appears to be.
It's much more likely that it's from a scam artist who is trying to lure you into giving him your hard earned money. The email may have a link to a website, and the website might look like the organization's website, but just because something looks real doesn't mean it is real.So, if you get an email asking you to donate to a Hurricane Relief Fund, just delete the email. Then go look up the website of your favorite charity and donate there.
The recipients of your generosity will be grateful that you took the time to do it right!
Incidentally, for anyone who wants to donate something besides money, WMSJ is collecting water and non-perishable food items to ship to the Gulfcoast. The material goods will be distributed through Nazarene Disaster Response (a USA/Canada division of NCM - Nazarene Compassionate Ministries).
Participation can be as simple as collecting what you can and delivering it to any Maine Bank & Trust, or the radio station.
Posted On Sep 3, 2005 at 4:06 AM
On Sep 3, 2005 BackStage wrote: Doug,
Thanks for the note. Donors should always check out the organization they are donating to and through!
As you said, Positive 89.3 is collecting water and non-perishable food, and truck drivers are standing by to donate their time, trucks, and gasoline. As soon as the first truck is full, it will be on its way.
You can read more about Operation Reach Out at www.positive.fm/community/index.shtml
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