How to Help Victims of Hurricane Fiona

Millions of  people have lost their homes, their jobs, or both, and farmers have lost their crops in the Caribbean, due to Hurricane Fiona.

Choose one of these charities to support with a donation to help the victims of Fiona in Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic and Turks & Caicos with life-saving food, water, clothing and medical services, and start the rebuilding, including roads and power lines.

Each one of these charities has a four-star rating for financial performance and effectiveness from Charity Navigator, my go-to charity rating service, and each one lets you donate online in any amount you choose.

Every organization uses donations differently, so read their mission statement or visit their website to understand how your gifts to them will be used.

These charities also are assisting with relief for the victims of Hurricane Fiona and some also are assisting victims of the recent earthquake in Mexico.

World Central Kitchen already is on the ground serving 10,000 meals a day.  Celebrity chef Jose Andres founded World Central Kitchen in 2010 0 after the earthquake in Haiti, and has provided assistance around the world in response to emergencies – including currently in Ukraine.

Feeding America is a US-based nonprofit network of more than 200 food banks that feed more than 46 million people through food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other community-based agencies.

Americares Hurricane Relief Fund is accepting online donations dedicated to hurricane victims.  Americares is a non-profit disaster relief and global health organization providing immediate response to emergency medical needs and supporting long-term health care initiatives for people in the USA and around the world. Every $1 donated provides $20 in relief.

Save the Children is helping vulnerable children stay safe and providing relief to families who need it most.

Direct Relief provides life-saving emergency medical assistance.

Sierra Club is working with community-based groups to repair environmental damage, including to the 23 SuperFund sites in Puerto Rico.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization helping children, families, and their communities overcome poverty and injustice.

American Red Cross is accepting donations online and via text (text “IRMA” to 90999 to donate $10) while also looking for volunteers. Donations will be used to send supplies, open shelters and recruit volunteers.

Habitat for Humanity Hurricane Recovery Volunteer Registry is rebuilding homes that were destroyed.  Donate, or volunteer.

Project HOPE is accepting money to fund teams on the ground to provide medical assistance, and

Direct Relief currently has a fund to provide Puerto Rico with mobile health facilities, emergency medicine, backup power, and more.

The Salvation Army is accepting donations via phone (call 1-800-SAL-ARMY), text (text “STORM” to 51555) and online.

Global Giving is sending food, medicine and water to those affected by the disaster both in the Caribbean and the U.S.

Puerto Rico Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), a network of relief groups that pairs volunteers with local members. VOAD notes that while emergency situations may inspire people to want to go there and help, volunteers should not show up without prior clearance.

PayPal Giving Fund is a licensed charity and will provide the donation receipt for your gift to one of the charities on its approved list. PayPal covers all transaction costs for donations made on this site, ensuring that 100% of each gift made is available to charity. We verify that charities receiving grants from PayPal Giving Fund have tax-exempt status with the IRS and are not on recognized economic sanctions lists.

• Unfortunately, it takes PayPal up to 45 days to transfer the money, which doesn’t help anybody or group in desparate need today.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Best Friends Animal Society accept donations to care for pets abandoned or injured during the evacuation and storm.

On-site donation and volunteer suggestions from Time Magazine

Comedores Sociales has operated community kitchens in Puerto Rico since 2013 through mutual aid.

The nonprofit Techos Pa’ Mi Gente started reconstructing areas destroyed by storms after Hurricane Maria.

The Hispanic Federation is collecting for its fund to help people on the island.

Where to donate supplies

For people already in Puerto Rico who are in a position to help others, these local groups are collecting supplies and distributing them to people in need.

Fundación Mochileando 100×35, a nonprofit fighting poverty on the island, is collecting supplies such as canned foods, water, diapers, and pet food in San Juan and delivering them throughout central and southern Puerto Rico.

Brigada Solidaria del Oeste, has specifically requested water purification tablets, solar lamps, water filters, first-aid kits, non-perishable foods, and other essentials. They have set up a collection center in the San Germán neighborhood.

The women-run team at Taller Salud in Puerto Rico is soliciting physical donations of certain toiletries, shelf-stable foods, solar lanterns, and more for local distribution.

JetBlue flew cargo planes filled with emergency supplies into Puerto Rico, and evacuating residents on the return trip, after Hurricanes Maria and Irene.  Let’s hope they do it again for Floria..