Charitable Contributions in the Wake of a Storm

I wonder if other communities have moved quickly to disaster relief for the Bahamas.  It's been less than a week since the storm moved on, and South Florida is already planning a variety of efforts.  Various sites are collecting all sorts of items and figuring out ways to get them there.  There's been announcements imploring people to donate their unused hurricane supplies to the Bahamas.   I've heard of several benefit events already planned.

Are other communities doing this, or do we see more activity here because we have so many relocated Bahamians here?  Or because the Bahamas are so close?  Or because of a sort of survivor's guilt?

In these post-disaster times, many will feel the urge to help--and predators will come out of the woodwork too.  It's important to know that our charitable actions will benefit the right people.

Money is one of the easiest ways for many of us to donate, but here too, we should be cautious.  There will be fake websites set up to look like real ones.  There will be fake organizations who will take our money but not give it to any disaster victims.

Churches are not immune, of course, but I like the disaster relief from my Lutheran group, the ELCA.  ELCA groups commonly stay in an area struck by disaster long after other groups leave.

You can donate to the ELCA hurricane disaster relief here.  Lutheran World Relief also does hurricane recovery, and you can donate here.

And if you can't donate now, sadly, I'm sure that the Bahamas will be needing help for years to come.