President Donald Trump has praised the U.S. government’s response to the crisis
in Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, while at the same time blasting
Puerto Rico's government for what he perceives to be poor leadership.
(The president is scheduled to visit Puerto Rico
on Tuesday for the first time since the storm hit.) What Trump, Puerto
Rican officials, and those suffering after the storm can seem to agree
on, however, is that these Caribbean islands need continued relief.
Here's how you can help those struggling in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
Give money to trustworthy relief and charity organizations.
Donating
money can be one of the most effective ways to help during a crisis.
(In fact, the USAID Center for International Disaster Information says it’s the best way to help in the aftermath of a disaster.)
But before you send off your hard-earned money, you should make sure
it’s going to a reputable organization—one that passes on most (if not
all) of its donations directly to benefit the victims of the disaster
and not for its own operating costs. Charity Navigator
is a reliable resource that analyzes and scores charities to help
people make informed, responsible philanthropic decisions. Here are Charity Navigator's recommendations for Hurricane Maria relief organizations and funds:
- Matthew 25: Ministries
- All Hands Volunteers
- International Relief Teams
- Heart to Heart International
- Save the Children
- Water Mission
- World Hope International
- Project HOPE Direct Relief
- Hispanics in Philanthropy
- Catholic Relief Services
- American Kidney Fund
- Americares
- International Medical Corps
- MedShare
- MAP International
- Children's Hunger Fund
- ICNA Relief USA
- GlobalGiving
- World Vision
- And a quick note about the American Red Cross. The organization is also accepting donations for Hurricane Maria relief, but it has been accused of mishandling previous disaster relief funds in the past. Its efforts are valiant—it’s providing shelters, food, supplies, and blood—but you may want to donate with caution.
You can also search fundraising websites such as GoFundMe and Fundly
for ongoing active campaigns related to Hurricane Maria—just be sure to
investigate to make sure the money's being used responsibly.
Donate blood and other goods.
In
addition to cash donations, some organizations are accepting
much-needed blood and other goods—think: clothing, non-perishable foods,
and building materials—for the victims of the hurricane. (However, it’s
a good idea to call the organization you’d like to send donations to
before you hit the store; some organizations struggle to keep up with the deluge of donations they receive in the days after a disaster and may prefer money instead.) Here are a list of organizations you can start with:
- American Blood Centers
- American Red Cross
- United For Puerto Rico
- Tidal Rebuild Puerto Rico
- ConPRmetidos
Become a volunteer.
If
you want to go beyond your wallet, closet, or local grocery store to
give, you can lend your labor and love through various volunteer
efforts, some of which are still being organized. Here are a few groups
that would welcome your helping hands:
- Team Rubicon
- All Hands Volunteers
- Puerto Rico Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
- National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
- Habitat For Humanity
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