How to Help Victims of Hurricane Ian

Millions of people have lost their homes, their jobs, or both, and farmers have lost their crops in devastation caused by Hurricane Ian.

how to help victims of hurricane fiona — Photo: NASA.GOV

Choose one of these charities to support with a donation to help victims in Florida and the Carolinas 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 Ian and some also are assisting victims of the recent Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

World Central Kitchen 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.

A mericares 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.

American Red Cross is accepting donations online and via text 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.

Clean the World is providing vital personal hygiene kits, including soap and sanitizer products.

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.

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.

If you want to volunteer to help, these groups are requesting volunteers.

American Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html

Team Rubicon: https://teamrubiconusa.org/volunteer/

ToolBank USA: https://toolbank.org/get-engaged/#engage

How US Companies are Helping Hurricane Ian Victims

Ford, Ford Pro, and Ford Fund are working closely with emergency response organizations, nonprofit partners, local Ford dealers and regional team members to deliver support to communities in need.

Ford and Ford Fund have already taken the following actions:

Activated emergency response plan, including contacting Ford employees, Ford dealers and those within our network, helping to transport people to Salvation Army pop-up shelters.
Ford Fund is donating $1 million to be distributed to the American Red Cross, Team Rubicon, ToolBank USA, World Central Kitchen and local food banks. Each nonprofit specializes in disaster relief efforts and is already on the ground in the area providing meals, shelter and assisting with the clearing of roads for emergency personnel.
Deploying and loaning F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid and F-150 Lightning vehicles, plus Transit and E-Transit vehicles for nonprofits to use and power their relief efforts.
Existing Ford Credit and Lincoln Automotive Financial Services customers affected by the hurricane may be able to defer up to two payments. For more information, customers can go to FordCredit.com or LincolnAFS.com, or call 800-723-4016.