Hurricane Harvey aftermath: Tips on how to contribute to hurricane relief

It has been more than three weeks since Hurricane Harvey made landfall. The water has subsided, but the physical, emotional and financial repercussions have not gone away.

Star Tribune reported that more than 50,000 went to government-paid hotels, some far away from homes and schools. Some refugees have returned to public housing complexes inundated with sewage and mud. Others moved in with family and friends.

During the weeks that follow Hurricane Harvey, and for some time to come, the people of Houston and surrounding areas will need relief. For those who want to help, it can be hard to figure out how their time, money and efforts would be best spent.

There are several different ways to contribute to the Hurricane Harvey relief effort such as donating time, blood, necessities or money and opening your doors to others.

For Maddie Collins, communication major, and her family, donating consisted a combination of the four.

“We hosted my neighbors at our house for over a week due to flood damage,” Collins said. “My family also came together and gathered food from stores such as H-E-B and Costco, and we cooked over 100 meals for the people in my neighborhood,”

Some of their other efforts included donating $500 in supplies. They reached out to extended family in northern Texas and asked them to gather donations and send them here.

Tara Webster, communication major, did not have extra money to donate so she found an alternative way to help.

“My friend and I walked from my neighborhood all the way to Wedgewood Elementary School where they had a shelter in place so we could volunteer,” Webster said. “We did not have anything to give but we had two hands and time, so we gave that”

When choosing an organization to donate to, wading through the trenches of information can be tedious. The Signal has compiled a list of donation locations in the Houston area.

When it comes to choosing an organization to donate money to, there are some things to keep in mind.

• Consider a long-standing organization: To make sure your dollars go to the causes you support, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says that you may want donate to charities that you trust and have a proven track record.
• Avoid being scammed: Be weary of charities that seem to have popped up overnight. If you suspect fraud or have been a victim of it, report it to the National Center for Disaster Fraud.
• Do your research: There are charity watchdogs that can help with this process. Some of these include BBB Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator and Charity Watch.

These charity watchdogs provide lists of legitimate organizations. Charity Navigator, for example, lists highest rated organizations, tips for donors and methodology. To view the list of organizations with a perfect score visit the Charity Navigator website.

“Volunteers help rebuild the community through our Texas spirit and strength,” Collins said. “We work together as a team to help those in need whether it be collecting clothes and toiletries or stepping in to rebuild homes and businesses.”