Kitchen Table Kibitzing: Disaster Aid Links

Attribution: belinda ridgewood

Oct 29, 2019 1:00am PDT by belinda ridgewood, Community

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Update, 1/7/2020: Sadly expanding this diary, to list also Australian fire relief AND to add to the Puerto Rico links in response to the earthquakes there which are striking still-hurricane-damaged infrastructure.

This is not really meant as a standalone diary. When I write for KTK, it’s been my habit to include boxes of links at the end, where those interested can donate (or sometimes, volunteer) to help various disaster victims.I started this with Hurricane Maria hitting Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. That’s a lengthy box, and since it’s been, at this writing, 767 days since Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, and recovery efforts are still struggling as they are choked by the policies of this “administration”, the box isn’t going to outlive its usefulness very soon.Lately, I’ve been carrying a similar box of links for Dorian victims in the Bahamas, and coming up now will be a similar big box for those affected by the ongoing fires in California. And we know that’s not going to be the end either, particularly with the malign incompetence of federal agencies at present.It was getting so that, at some point, I wouldn’t need to write diaries any more because the boxes of links would already be longer than anyone’s willing to scroll past. My solution is to publish the collections of links in this central diary, and then end my regular community diaries with a link to this one.I welcome suggestions of reputable efforts I should be including. If it’s too late to comment here, drop me a kosmail or reply to a comment of mine somewhere else. Thanks for your interest! (This is posting at 4 am my time, since I’m not seeking direct readership, so I may not be here when you’re reading, but I will check in eventually!)

Here is a link to Charity Navigator, should you want to check the background of any organization. Keep in mind that some perfectly reputable organizations are too new to have a rating yet. Here is CN’s guide to evaluating a charity they have not rated.

🥘 World Central Kitchen 🥘

Yes, we have come to the point where Chef José Andrés’ worldwide relief organization is so ubiquitous that I’m just giving it its own box up here. At news of any fresh disaster, it’s almost a given that their plan to respond will be among the first things we hear. They’re already on the job at the Australian fires, and of course were already present in Puerto Rico and are responding to needs arising from the earthquakes.

You can always donate or volunteer at their website, but it may not be up on the very latest news. For that, check Twitter for Chef Andrés and for World Central Kitchen.

⛈️ 🌊 HURRICANE MARIA 🌊 ⛈️

💥 AND 2020 Earthquakes 💥

Number of days since Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico
on September 20, 2017.

Puerto Rico and USVI are still struggling to recover.

And now,a swarm of earthquakes is adding to their misery.

PLEASE FOLLOW Denise Oliver Velez and the SOS Puerto Rico group for the latest news about developments in Puerto Rico and the USVI. Denise continues to collect resonant tweets on the subject, and post them in comments daily in the Abbreviated Pundit Roundup (APR) and twice weekly in the Black Kos diaries, to make them easy to retweet. If you tweet or FB, please share something about Puerto Rico and USVI regularly.

PUERTO RICO and USVI DISASTER RELIEF DONATION LINKS

🌅 Unidos Fund of the 🌅 Hispanic Federation: After Hurricane Maria, the Hispanic federation launched the Unidos program for disaster relief, reaching 78 municipalities in PR by transporting first responders and providing food and water. The group is one of the biggest contributors to the ongoing relief efforts in Puerto Rico, and has a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

🌅 World Central Kitchen, duh.

🌅 Americares: Currently assessing the situation on the ground in Puerto Rico. The group’s earthquake response team supports recovery efforts by building temporary structures to support healthcare response teams and supporting emergency medical personnel.

🌅 All Hands and Hearts: This organization helps in cleanup and rebuilding, with more resilient structures where possible. They’ve been in Puerto Rico since Maria, and are still working. Donate or volunteer at their site.

🌅 Heart to Heart International: Though named similarly to the people above, this organization provides emergency medical care and health-related aid.

🌅 American Red Cross: Currently assessing needs to help people affected by the earthquake. The group collects donations for disaster relief that goes into a central pool for all disasters. Besides blood, the group was active in PR recovery efforts after Maria by installing solar networks for power, access to clean water, and supporting local community health organizations.

Habitat for Humanity’s special long-term fund for Puerto Rico.

100 Roofs Project: Mainland roofers rebuild, plus train Puerto Rican apprentices.

Heart 9/11: NYC first responders and building tradespeople repair roofs and train locals for this work. Now assessing earthquake damage.

Operation Agua: AFT program: water filters for Puerto Rican households.

PRxPR: Mainland Puerto Rican business leaders run no-overhead fund to help with food, clean water, and renewable energy.

Casa Pueblo: NGO working for social/climate justice, now supporting solar microgrid installation for individual homes and communities — link is to site google-translated to English. See short subtitled video here.

Mujeres Ayudando Madres (Women Helping Mothers): Also a local organization — in this case, midwives work to support safe and healthy pregnancy and birth throughout Puerto Rico. Spanish-language website Google-translates well; donations via Paypal only.

Tim Duncan Foundation (helps with rebuilding in USVI)

USVI Hurricane Recovery

Hurricane Maria Community Recovery Fund

Together Puerto Rico aggregates links to numerous non-profits working in Puerto Rico.

As those on the island rise up to oppose their corrupt government, SUPPORT INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM IN PUERTO RICO.

Shirts, etc. with proceeds to benefit Maria relief:

Puerto Rico Se Levanta sponsored by Enrique Hernandez and other athletes
TeeRico Puerto Rico Relief Collection sponsored by Lin-Manuel Miranda

(🌅 = most recently recommended by Denise)

🐨 🔥 Australian FIres 2019-20 🔥 🐨

Recovery funds:

🦘 State of Victoria Bushfire Appeal: Managed by Bendigo Bank. 100% of funds go directly to communities.

🦘 South Australia State Emergency Relief Fund: Also a government-run fund.

🦘 City of Perth Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund in Western Australia.

🦘 Australian Red Cross.

🦘 St. Vincent de Paul Society Vinnies Bushfire Appeal.

🦘 Foodbank, the largest hunger-relief charity in Australia.

🦘 A GoFundMe run by, and meant to assist, affected First Nations people living on indigenous lands.

Donate to Firefighters:

🦘 New South Wales Rural Fire Service. Also, specific funds for the families of firefighters killed fighting the fires.

🦘 Rural Fire Brigades Association of Queensland.

🦘 South Australia Country Fire Service Foundation supports firefighters and their families who have suffered losses in the line of duty.

Help for Animals:

🦘 New South Wales WIRES (Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service Inc.).

🦘 World Wildlife Fund Australia’s Bushfire Emergency Fund.

🦘 New South Wales RSPCA Bushfire Appeal.

🦘 Wildlife Victoria Bushfire Appeal.

🦘 SAVEM (South Australia Veterinary Emergency Management) donations.

🦘 I just can’t not include this, but I must note that this particular effort is well past its goal, which is really not surprising because who doesn’t love koalas? GoFundMe for Port Macquarie Koala Hospital. 🐨

🚒 🔥 CALIFORNIA FIRES 2019 🔥 🚒

Sonoma County:

🧯World Central Kitchen: No surprise they’re on the ground here. Donate, or volunteer for a shift.

🧯Redwood Empire Food Bank: A banner across the linked page brings you to the latest info on how to donate food or money, or to volunteer.

🧯Community Action of Napa Valley runs a food bank; donate at the link.

🧯Sonoma Family Meal: “Chef Made Meals for Fire Survivor Families”. They have a donation page, and they also have a GoFundMe specific, I guess, to the Kincade fire. And there’s a page for volunteering.

🧯Volunteer Center of Sonoma: See the link for current information about volunteering with Disaster Services in Napa, Sonoma, and Marin Counties. You can sign up to be a Registered Disaster Volunteer, especially if you have skills such as CERT training (Community Emergency Response Team), certification in first aid, Ham radio, or food handling, or other languages including ASL. They also accept monetary donations.

🧯Community Foundation of Sonoma County: Resilience Fund

🧯Undocufund provides fire relief for undocumented families in Sonoma County. Some 38,500 undocumented people are estimated to live there, but they are not eligible for most federal relief, including FEMA, and are fearful of seeking anything they might be eligible for because duh.

🧯Unity and Community Fund of Corazón Healdsburg: This organization serves marginalized communities, and the fund is said to provide gift cards for food and necessities, plus support services to those impacted by the fire.

🧯Kincade Fire Emergency Relief & Recovery Fund: A project of United Way of Wine Country.

🧯Northern California Grantmakers: Kincade Fire: How to Help

Los Angeles County:

🧯California Community Foundation: Wildfire Relief Fund

🧯United Way of Greater Los Angeles: Disaster Relief Fund

🧯Entertainment Industry Foundation's Fire Relief Fund supports firefighters with needed supplies, as well as victims.

⛈️ 🌊 HURRICANE DORIAN 🌊 ⛈️

Denise Oliver Velez posts what news there is on the Bahamas in the APR thread. This Black Kos thread has coverage of the scale of the damage. For those who feel moved to help:

⛈️ Operation Helping Hands: 100% of funds raised through this United Way effort will help people affected by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas and other affected areas. Donate online here, or send a check payable to Operation Helping Hands, c/o United Way of Miami-Dade, P.O. Box #459007, Miami, Florida 33245-9007.

⛈️ World Central Kitchen: Chef José Andrés is already on the job cooking hot meals in Freeport and Abaco. Donate here to World Central Kitchen, or text FOOD to 80100 to donate $10. Follow Chef on Twitter for further info.

⛈️ All Hands and Hearts: Donations allow them to send volunteers to help with the work of removing debris and building temporary shelters. (They are also recruiting volunteers.)

⛈️ Good360: This organization determines specific supplies that are needed, solicits donation of these, and transports them. You can donate cash, but see their Dorian page if you want to donate goods.

⛈️ International Medical Corps: They deliver both medical care and related supplies; donate here.

⛈️ Heart to Heart International: Another organization delivering medical care and supplies. Donate here, and scroll down to see more on what they’ve been doing.

⛈️ Portlight Strategies: This organization provides pre- and post-disaster support for people with disabilities, who are often not considered in more general plans. They’re preparing to go to the Bahamas, and are also helping people in US states who need help to evacuate or shelter. Donate here. Learn more here; they also seek donations of “health and disability items”.

⛈️ ShelterBox: Donate here to help them as they prepare to respond.

⛈️ The Smile Trust: This Florida organization’s mission to help homeless people prepares them to help in the Bahamas. Donate here.

⛈️ Archdiocese of Miami: Dorian Relief Fund through Catholic Charities.

⛈️ Greater Miami Jewish Federation: Dorian Relief Fund.

⛈️ Additionally, the Bahamas website is maintaining a resource-center page listing “trusted partners” that are accepting donations of both money and goods; also included is info on how to volunteer as an EMT or volunteer your plane to make relief flights.

⛈️ Here is Charity Navigator’s page rating organizations providing Dorian aid. The Better Business Bureau’s give.org also rates charities. The BBB suggests caution in giving to newly-created groups that lack experience/clarity of purpose.

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