http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/28/occupy-wall-street-donations_n_1064165.htmOccupy Sandy Relief Hub http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/Twenty states were hit by Sandy.
I did fine, though I am right on Boston harbor.
On the hand, relatives near the Jersey shore and in Connecticut were without power for days and sustained considerable damage to property and lost whatever food they had in freezers and fridges.
One relative's household is still without power.
(Three days worth of food and water, as is recommended, doesn't stretch for weeks without power. And their generator, bought just for this occasion blew out.)
Now, my relatives are fine, but many, many are not.
So, if you are not tapped out from donating to politicians, a donation to Occupy Sandy would be a mitzvah. Not for my family. They are doing okay. But, for those who are not doing okay.
Donating to Occupy vs. Donating to the Red Cross
American Red Cross
Local officials and residents have criticized the American Red Cross for not responding fast enough in the immediate aftermath of Sandy. The Red Cross pulled supplies out of New York City before the storm hit, to avoid damage to the supplies. The organization then had trouble getting back into the hard-hit areas because of traffic and fuel shortages.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2012/1105/How-can-you-donate-to-Sandy-relief-Here-are-9-organizations. Besides, as with the 911 Fund back in the day, the Red Cross is free to use donations for any purpose it wishes. In theory, you can restrict your donation, but who is going to check? (After 911, there was a huge kerfuffle about the Red Cross using the funds for general administrative purposes and it vowed to cease. But, that which had already been spent--the huge number of donations that went in immediately--was gone by then. Not to say that supported the Red Cross's administrative expenses is not also a good cause, as long as you are aware that your donation to the Red Cross may not help Sandy victims directly.)
Again, the place to check out if you want to donate or just stay informed is the
Occupy Sandy Relief Hub http://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/Occupy your fellow American's well-being.