So, how do we donate items to the people who were in the

[texpatriot2004]

Superdome and who are now headed to the Astrodome? Does anyone know what the process is? The RedCross link on the home page wasn't working very well for me earlier. I was thinking of donating clothes, toiletries, etc. Has anyone here donated before?

[RobertSeattle]

1. In these kinds of crisis's, cash is always best

I would trust Red Cross to do the right thing with it.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Are you sure?

The Red Cross is accepting all kinds of new volunteers. They can't scrutinize all of them.

[texpatriot2004]

4. Actually, I read they needed clothes, toys and games, toiletries,

things like that and other items too.

[Misskittycat]

8. Although cash may be best for immediate Red Cross-type efforts,

hundreds of thousands of people will have to start over and build households again. They will need clothing, dishes, blankets, -- everything in a household. I don't think this country has the inventory of new items in these categories to supply such a great need - even if we can ante up the cash to pay for all of it. So I would guess a lot of used items will need to be donated.

A lot of people -- not only kids -- could use a teddy bear to hold onto right now.

[I concur]

6. yes red cross....here's the URL

https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation-form.asp

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. I haven't been able to get through to the redcross through the internet

Does someone have a phone number?

[Sapphire Blue]

12. 1-800-HELP NOW (435-7669) English, 1-800-257-7575 Spanish

[Horse with no Name]

5. See my post in the Texas forum

But they are also taking refugees to Longview.
They are requesting clothes, food, etc.
I've been washing clothes all afternoon--I plan on making trip Friday.

[texpatriot2004]

10. Thanks, but I am in Houston. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Cash is your best bet

though personally I don't do Red Cross no more, at least not ARC.. if the ICRC sets a fund, I will go through them

[texpatriot2004]

9. I don't have cash. Haven't been able to find a job...booming

economy and all.

Why not the ARC?

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. After 9.11 they had this drive, and they got all the money

that was earmared for 9.11 to the general fund.. that and other presonal experience with them, I don't trust them. For the 9.11 fund, they were forced to put it back

[crispini]

13. Call your local Red Cross.

They will tell you where to take it.

[meganmonkey]

14. Keep in mind that when it comes to food, clothes and hosuehold goods

Nonprofits such as Red Cross and Second Harvest have much more buying power than the average consumer, so it is somewhat more effective to send money.

I don't mean to discourage folks from donating items/food to orgs that take them. There is a much more personal, tangible quality in that and it helps people feel like they are doing something specific. It is also good for people with kids because the kids can see how they are helping and they can understand it better.

At my food bank, for example, we get really good deals on large quantities of food from a few distributors, so money is more valuable than food in a certain way - it goes farther. But we will always encourage people to hold food drives and stuff too.

Just something to keep in mind.