It was as if the houses were cardboard boxes that needed to be flattened and put outside so that the trash trucks would collect them. Roofs were peeled off and homes were flattened by the ferocious winds. Cars of all makes and models floated down residential and commercial streets as though boat-cars instead of electric cars were the new in-demand vehicles. Ian didn’t care who you were, where you resided; its 90-150-mile winds ravaged Puerto Rico and Florida like a crazed Hulk monster bent on destroying anything in its path.
Families have lost loved ones. They lost their communities, homes, memorabilia that cannot be replaced. Too many will not have the resources to build again. Many have no definitive next steps for their lives or the lives of their children or extended family. The children, the elderly, and the poor are most vulnerable.
Many of us want to help and perhaps the best place to start is to make donations to organizations of good repute who are present as first-responders to help people eat, drink, have shelter. Below is information on how to make donations that will give hope to survivors of the storm. Cash donations allow relief organizations to make immediate purchases that are needed by disaster survivors. Your donations to these below are tax deductible.
The Salvation Army:
100% of your donation is used to support disaster relief. May also support long-term recovery programs.
Donate by mail:
The Salvation Army-Disaster, P.O. Box 1959, Atlanta, GA 30301
By phone:
1.800.Sal.Army (1.800.725.2769)
You will receive a receipt through the email you share.
The Red Cross:
Donate by Mail: American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37839. Boone, IA 50037-0839
By phone: 1.800.HELP NOW (1.800.435.7669)
Espanol: 1.800.220.4093; TDD operator:1.800.220.4093
(Please check with the Red Cross (Philanthropy) office at 23rd and Chestnut Sts., 19103, 215.299.4000. We understand that already scammers are emailing for donations under the name of the Red Cross).
FEMA
https://www.fema.gov/disaster/hurricane-ian
May God bless you for assisting those in need during this Ian storm disaster.
Dorothy Watson Tatem, D. Min., ACC
Senior Associate
Next Step Associates, LLC
Cassandra W. Jones, Ed.D.
CEO & President
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