Even though I’m sitting in Alaska, far away from the devastion in Missouri, my heart breaks.
I’ve had a ton of different emails come in from readers, businesses and bloggers over the last 24-hours wondering wondering “How Can We Help?”
The answer is...in many different ways.
Volunteer
If you are in the medical field or protection services fields (police, dispatch, fireman) and want to volunteer, contact 800-427-4626 or ShowMeResponse.org.
Donations
Donate $10 instantly to the United Way by texting JOPLIN to “864833”.
Donate $10 instantly to the Red Cross by texting REDCROSS to “90999”.
Here is a more full listing of organizations taking donations.
Donations of the physical kind are also needed. Please reference the Joplin Tornado Relief Facebook page for more information on specific needs and drop off locations.
Also, many of the Kansas City Mamas Family have been leaving drop-off locations on the Kansas City Mamas Facebook Page. If you know of other drop-off locations, please feel free to add them to the page.
Donate Again
Right now, the first responders are concentrating on immediate needs – water, food, diapers, formula. And the Red Cross and state organizations have many of those resources covered.
However, in another couple of weeks, more donations in the way of canned goods, laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, baby items, tolietries are going to be needed. Start going through your stockpiles and getting items ready to donate so that families can start rebuilding their lives. Frugal Fritzie who lives in the area (and is also our Dillons contributor) is working on an on-line drive.
Pray
I’m a BIG believer in the power of prayer. Pray for all the families affected, their loved ones, the mourning and the lost.
MicheleB says
Price Chopper is also doing donations right at the register. They have a card to scan and the choice to give $1,$5 or $10!