By this point, the devastating impact of Hurricane Harvey is common knowledge. For more than a week now, we’ve all undoubtedly viewed multiple news reports of the horrific destruction caused in Houston, Texas and parts of its surrounding areas. Nevertheless, the shock is still fresh. And, needless to say, the importance of helping those who have been affected by Harvey – now considered a tropical storm – remains at an all-time high.
On behalf of the entire team, here at Allegiant Experts, we’d like to take this opportunity to express our sincere sympathies and offer our heartfelt support to everyone in Houston. We encourage all Americans to offer even the smallest donation via the American Red Cross website in an effort to help the thousands of fellow Americans who are now without homes.
On Time.com, Alicia Adamczyk explains that it should be considered safe to donate to the American Red Cross. She acknowledges that the nonprofit organization has been at the center of controversy in the past. “While the organization undoubtedly does good work, it has also been heavily criticized for repeatedly botching relief efforts in major times of crisis, and for its administrative and fundraising costs,” she writes.
Adamczyk points out the New York Times were quick to point out the missteps taken by the American Red Cross during the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts in 2005. Examples include volunteers arriving with only bleach when people had no food or water and a truck load of Danish pastries and cinnamon rolls that arrived moldy because they were shipped without refrigeration.
Adamczyk assures, however, that the American Red Cross is currently doing an excellent job helping those who have been impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The organization has made it clear what the money being donated towards the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts is being used for. So far they have delivered 80 tractor-trailer loads of cots, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, comfort kits, kitchen supplies and cleaning supplies and have deployed 200 emergency vehicles.
Red Cross has also opened 34 shelters across Texas, sent enough shelter supplies for 50,000 people, enlisted hundreds of volunteers to help people on the ground and is currently working with local authorities to deliver blood to hospitals.
The American Red Cross, Adamczyk also notes, is quite reputable when it comes to how donations are dispersed. They only spent 10.4 percent of its revenue on administrative costs and fundraising efforts in the fiscal year ending in June 2015. These statistics come courtesy of Charity Navigator. Charities are advised to spend no more than 20 percent on overhead costs.
There are, however, many Americans who still may not be comfortable donating to the American Red Cross. If that is the case for you, you may wish to consider donating to the Salvation Army by going to their website, calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or texting STORM to 51555.
“As Hurricane Harvey causes widespread damage across Texas, The Salvation Army is ready to provide physical, emotional and spiritual care to survivors and relief workers,” their site reads, “Salvation Army disaster teams from across the country are mobilizing and, even after disaster response efforts are over, The Salvation Army will remain in communities impacted by this terrible storm, supporting long-term disaster recovery efforts and providing ongoing assistance to those in need.”