The devastating tornadoes that hit Mississippi and other parts of the South over the weekend left a path of destruction and an estimated 26 deaths. Recovery efforts are now underway. Mississippians are always near the top in helping and giving to others in need. To help those seeking to make donations for tornado relief efforts, BBB Wise Giving Alliance offers the following tips.
1. Is the disaster relief appeal clear? Seek out appeals that are upfront and clear about what disaster relief services you are supporting.
2. Is the charity experienced in disaster relief? Support experienced organizations that stand ready to provide quick and effective assistance. Be cautious of organizations that form overnight in the wake of a disaster.
3. Should you donate goods? Donating money is the quickest way to help and provides charities the flexibility to channel resources to impacted areas. Instead of donating food, consider supporting food banks near one of the areas in Mississippi hit by the tornado. Visit Feeding America (a BBB Accredited Charity) which works with food banks across the country.
4. Have you verified the charity’s trustworthiness? Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity. We recommend giving to charities that meet all 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability, found at BBB’s Give.org.
5. What about crowdfunding requests? If engaging in crowdfunding, it is safest to give to someone you personally know and trust. Also review the platform’s policies and procedures, keeping in mind that while some crowdfunding sites take measures to vet posts, others don’t.
The following organizations are BBB Accredited Charities (i.e., meet the 20 BBB Standards for Charity Accountability) and currently have a website page that announces they are collecting funds to assist tornado relief efforts. This list will be updated as additional efforts come to our attention.