Don’t get conned when making tsunami donations
There are several responses that normally follow a natural disaster. There’s an outpouring of grief, and also an outpouring of support – both emotional and financial.
That’s certainly been the reaction to the tsunami which devastated 13 countries in south Asia killing over 150,000 and leaving billions of dollars in damage. Disaster relief funds have been ongoing for weeks and Americans have been quick to donate. And while there have been no news reports of bogus tsunami relief funds, you can almost surely bet there is someone out there looking to profit from someone else’s misfortune.
That’s why the Standard is encouraging local residents to make donations with at least an ounce of caution. After all, we want our money to benefit people who have lost their homes and their belongs. We don’t want it to pad the bank account of a conman.
In the wake of reports urging people to donate shoes to the tsunami victims, the newspaper would like to point out used shoes are not what tsunami victims really need. And Red Cross officials emphasize it’s not financially feasible to take individual food and clothing donations.
Those items must be shipped in such tremendous quantities, the only way they are possible is when the items are bought in bulk from major retailers.
To help purchase those necessities, Red Cross officials say monetary donations work best. And since the International Red Cross is handling the disaster, the most effective way to put your donation to work quickly is to send it straight to the source. The address for the International Red Cross is P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.
So far, the number of private U.S. donations has been overwhelming with over $200 million pledged. That’s already approaching the $350 million the federal government has promised.
There are many reasons Americans have been so generous, beginning with the horrifying images most of us have seen from video camera footage captured by vacationing tourists. These images have given us a first-hand look at the death and destruction.
There’s also the timing. The tsunami hit the day after Christmas and the holidays are always a time for generosity and giving to those who are less fortunate.
Americans could also picture themselves in just such a nightmare: lounging on a beach one minute, their spouse and children washed away by a killer rush of water the next. Disaster experts also say the simplicity of the tsunami makes it easy for people to understand, and to sympathize with.
Those are just some of the reasons Americans have opened their wallets to tsunami victims like few disasters before. That generosity is surely welcome. Just be sure your money is going to a reputable organization, not a fly-by-night conman.