Japan has suffered in the past week, from an earthquake and a tsunami, to nuclear reactors melting down causing radiation poisoning. Relief efforts have been shipped out to help in this crisis, but you can help Japan and the people responding to the disaster by donating money.
The simplest, yet helpful thing you can do at home is to send money. There are many organizations that are taking donations from people to send to Japan.
The American Red Cross – www.american.redcross.org.
You can log onto the American Red Cross website and give as much money from your credit card as you choose, with a minimum donation of 10 dollars, or you can text RED CROSS to 90999 and donate $10.00 USD from your phone to Red Cross. You will get a text message back asking to reply “yes” to confirm your donation. There is no extra fee or tax, but your carrier’s standard text messaging rates may apply. 91 cents of every dollar is given to the victim, making Red Cross one of the best ways to donate to victims.
World Vision – www.worldvision.org
According to their website, “World Vision is often one of the first organizations to begin relief work by distributing pre-positioned emergency supplies and sending highly-trained staff to assess and respond to the most urgent needs”. 85% of their donations last year went to programs for relief efforts and other help, 10% went for fundraising to earn extra money, and 5% was spent on administration needs. You can donate through their website, however they have a minimum of a $50 dollar donation.
Unicef -- www.unicefusa.org
Unicef is taking an assessment of the worst hit areas in Japan, and this will help them know where funds are most needed. Right now, they are taking funds to help the children that have been affected. You can donate from their website, or you can text JAPAN to 864233 to donate $10.00 USD to help the children in Japan. You can also call 1-800-FOR-KIDS, or mail your donation to:
125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038.
Most organizations that ask for money are legitimate, giving the majority of donations to the programs they offer. However, during the time of disaster and when funds are needed most, scams pop up to try and take a good Samaritan’s money.
Give to well-established charities
The charities mentioned above, and others such as The Samaritan’s Purse, Salvation Army, and Mercy Corp are all established charities that you can trust. Most of them will tell you the percentage of funds used for their programs, and will provide secure ways for you to donate money. Be aware of charities that haven’t been around long and appear to only respond to one disaster.
Research the charity
Find out if the charity is tax-exempt. You can find this information out by asking the charity directly, via a website or phone number, or you can log onto www.charitiesnys.org for financial reports.
Avoid spam emails
Most reputable charities won’t email you directly asking for money, unless you have given your e-mail to them already. Generally these emails will have an emotional appeal, and won’t give you important information about their charity. These are unsolicited e-mails, and should not be opened.
The safest way to pay is by check
Never give cash to a charity, and most established charities prefer checks, made payable specifically to their charity. Avoid giving credit card information to anyone, whether it is over the phone or through text messages.
The most important thing to remember when donating to a charity is to know where your money is going. If you don’t know, ask.
Emily Sutherlin - Emily has been writing on a variety of topics since 2007. She uses only the most credible sources to bring information to her readers.
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