Family Matters: 12 Ways to Help Hurricane Sandy Victims

Friday, November 09, 2012

Anisa Raoof, GoLocalWorcester Family Expert

The American Red Cross needs financial donations, as well as medically credentialed volunteers to support its shelters. Photo: Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross

We feel fortunate that we survived Hurricane Sandy unscathed. Many of our friends in Rhode Island and beyond were not so fortunate and are still in need of help. This is an opportunity to teach our

children that as a family we can be part of the solution - every little bit helps. We have gathered a list of ways to help those in need after this devastating storm. Here's a list of charities we know are doing good work in the midst of Hurricane Sandy that could still use all kinds of support—whether it's money, foods, supplies, or even your volunteer time if you live nearby.

Red Cross Hurricane Sandy disaster relief
Financial donations help the Red Cross provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to those affected by disasters like Hurricane Sandy, as well as countless crises at home and around the world. You can also give blood, which is always useful. The Red Cross is also looking for medically credentialed volunteers to support the shelters, should you be able to volunteer your time and expertise. Note: Currently they are not requesting donations to them of food, clothing, or cleaning supplies—slows down their efforts.

Tunnel to Towers
This charity started post-9/11 lets you specify where you'd like your funds to go, whether it's Staten Island, New Jersey, or New York City.

City Meals
We can only imagine the number of requests this outstanding organization is receiving right now. They deliver meals to homebound elderly in New York City who can no longer cook or shop for themselves, and that number has increased greatly.

NYC Service
If you're in the area and can lend your time, energy, and skills as a volunteer, this site has an extensive list of opportunities and can connect you with the organization that needs your skills the most. Like cleaning up a public park through the City of NY Parks + Recreation department, or going door-to-door in Coney Island with the United Way.

Food Bank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties
For those wishing to help New Jersey families, this is a highly reputable organization. Make sure to designate your donation "Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief."

Baby Buggy
If you specifically want to help mothers and children, this organization is swamped with requests for diapers and other essential supplies. They are in need of warm coats for children (sizes 0-5 preferred, but they'll take up to size 14). Make a cash donation or donate goods if you're local or you can ship them to Baby Buggy, 306 W 37th St 8 fl NY, NY 10018. Include your return address and they'll send you a receipt.

Rock Center
Families with children have asked for gift cards to Babies R Us and Target, which can be sent to Rock Center with Brian Williams, 30 Rockefeller Plaza #412E, New York, NY 10112.

Team Rubicon
This small charity helps both those affected by the storm as well as young war veterans, and they could certainly use your donation. They've already deployed several groups of vets as part of "Operation Greased Lightning" to help clean up and rebuild in storm ravaged New Jersey.

Save the Children
This well known international aid organization has a page devoted to Sandy relief efforts. Their aim is to make sure the shelters are providing child-friendly environments. Their own Connecticut office was hit hard, and their staff and volunteers have their own challenges working out of cars, coffee shops...wherever they can to keep the help coming.

New York Cares
This is a wonderful organization that mobilizes New Yorkers into service when it's needed. You can make a one-time or recurring donation for the victims of Sandy, and as they put it, every dollar donated equals $6 in services because of the power of their volunteer network.

Best Friends
There are many animals that have been displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Best Friends provides support to local animal rescues.

Occupy Sandy
The Occupy Wall Street folks have turned themselves into an increasingly helpful, mobilized, citizen effort to help wherever it's needed. There's great information on their website with lots of links of places that can use donations or manpower.