Make Sure Your Donations Really Get to Hurricane Irene Victims

With a death toll that keeps rising and millions still without power, reaching out to help the victims of Hurricane Irene is a natural inclination for many.

But, how can donors make sure their money is really going to go where it’s meant to?

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office say it’s not at all uncommon for scammers to come out in force after natural disasters like Irene.

“Nonprofits” that are less than legitimate are likely to start popping up with the sole intent of parting donors and their money, officials said.

To safeguard against fraud, Debbie Carter of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office suggests area residents deal only with organizations they know, such as the Red Cross or Salvation Army, and steer clear of those they don’t.

If someone does want to donate to a new charity or one he's never heard of before, Carter said it’s worth taking the time to “look into it.” Still, it’s “always a safe bet to go with the ones you’re familiar with,” she added.

Carter said donors can check into nonprofits by running an Internet search on them, contacting the Better Business Bureau and generally just checking into their missions and track records.

Pasco County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Kevin Doll echoed Carter’s advice, but also warned residents to beware of e-mail scams related to Hurricane Irene recovery efforts. Phishers, he said, may start sending out e-mails with direct links to "donate." When people make a donation using the link, however, the money will go to a bad guy and not the desired agency.

“Don’t click on an e-mail if it says it’s from the Red Cross — it might not be,” Doll said. Instead, residents who want to make donations to Red Cross hurricane relief efforts or another nonprofit should contact the agency directly.

Doll’s best advice?

“Deal with the tried-and-true nonprofits,” he said.

Here’s how to contact the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army:

To Donate to the Red Cross

The Red Cross offers a number of different ways people can make financial donations. They include:
Online – Just visit redcross.org
By phone – Call 1-800-733-2767
By text – Text Redcross to 90999 to donate $10, which will be charged to your cell phone account
By mail – Send checks made out to the American Red Cross to P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.

Volunteers are also needed, said Janet McGuire, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross Tampa Bay Chapter. Information is available on the agency’s website.

To Donate to the Salvation Army

The Salvation Army also provides donors a number of ways to help:
Online – salvationarmyusa.org
By phone – 1-800-725-2769
By text – Text the word Storm to 80888 to make a donation
By mail – Send checks made out to The Salvation Army Disaster Relief, PO BOX 1959 Atlanta, GA 30301. Designate “2011 Hurricane Season” on all checks.