Hurricane Irma Relief Funds - some ideas
For those interested in helping with the hurricane relief, there are a number of efforts in place and the best way to support them is with money. The Center for
International Disaster information encourages people not to send food, clothing and household items. They say
that it causes problems with transportation and logistics that actually interfere with more urgent needs. I know we spent hundreds of man hours sorting clothes in Slave Lake after the 2011 wildfire with very little benefit. In the end, we had truck loads of clothing left over that could not be disposed of in the community. Much was sent to landfill.
To donate money, the Hurricane Irma Relief Fund has been endorsed by the New York Times and Newsweek magazine with a 4/4 star rating from Charity Navigator. Donations first go to the survivor's needs for food, fuel, clean water, hygiene products and shelter. Once those needs have been met, funds will be used toward long-term support for survivors. I would assume this would be to help the rebuilding of infrastructure and homes. Best of all, these long-term efforts will be run by local, vetted organizations. Local equipment owners and operators can often respond more effectively to an emergency situation than a central organization deciding what will be best for them.
The Centre for International Disaster Information greatly discourages volunteering in areas affected by disaster. However, such is not the case with Cuba. According to Canadian Global Response, volunteers are needed there. If you've developed a special connection with Cuba and want to help, you can phone 1-403-512-5261 for volunteer opportunities or donate towards Hurricane Irma relief.
Care Canada also provides emergency assistance to Cuba for water, sanitation, hygiene and household supplies. They also have a number of ongoing projects as outlined on their webpage such as promoting sustainable livelihoods, disaster risk and emergency response, (ideas that could be borrowed by the U.S. whose response in the past has been much worse than Cuba's), and learning partnerships.
If you have any other ideas of how to help the victims of Hurricane Irma, please add in the comments. Thanks.
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| Sorting clothing - Slave Lake |
To donate money, the Hurricane Irma Relief Fund has been endorsed by the New York Times and Newsweek magazine with a 4/4 star rating from Charity Navigator. Donations first go to the survivor's needs for food, fuel, clean water, hygiene products and shelter. Once those needs have been met, funds will be used toward long-term support for survivors. I would assume this would be to help the rebuilding of infrastructure and homes. Best of all, these long-term efforts will be run by local, vetted organizations. Local equipment owners and operators can often respond more effectively to an emergency situation than a central organization deciding what will be best for them.
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| Volunteers needed Cuba |
Care Canada also provides emergency assistance to Cuba for water, sanitation, hygiene and household supplies. They also have a number of ongoing projects as outlined on their webpage such as promoting sustainable livelihoods, disaster risk and emergency response, (ideas that could be borrowed by the U.S. whose response in the past has been much worse than Cuba's), and learning partnerships.
If you have any other ideas of how to help the victims of Hurricane Irma, please add in the comments. Thanks.
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| Havana before Irma |
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| Havana - After |
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