HOW TO VOLUNTEER:
People can volunteer time and donate money through the American Red Cross, said spokesman Skip Tate.
Tate also said there will be two “fast-track” courses this Thursday in Troy to give people training to be shelter workers or work in bulk supplies distribution.
“Once they get trained, they can actually go to Texas and help firsthand,” Tate said.
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HOW TO DONATE:
The Dayton Area Chapter of the Red Cross makes donating money easy, and that is the quickest way to provide help according to Tate.
“People have a wide range of needs at the moment, and financial donations are the fastest and best way to meet those needs,” Tate said. “Clothes and other goods have to be washed, processed and shipped, which takes time and may not meet the needs. Plus, letting people buy their own products gives them a sense of control, which helps with the recovery process.”
Churches of Christ Disaster Response Team will be taking loads of donated items down to Texas. Here are the items needed most:
- Gift cards (Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot)
- Mosquito repellant
- Plastic totes with lids
- New underwear and socks, all sizes
- Heavy duty rubber boots
- Heavy duty rubber gloves
Items can be dropped off at the staging location at 9285 South S.R. 202 in Tipp City and at a large box truck that will be parked outside Bill’s Donuts in Centerville.
Dayton Foodbank and Sinclair Community College are teaming up to collect donations of cases of bottled water for Harvey victims in Texas.
As soon as 22 skids are collected, enough to fill a semi, a truck will be on the road to the Houston area. Collections are scheduled through 2 p.m. Friday.
SICSA Pet Adoption Center is helping with displaced animals affected by Hurricane Harvey.
The orgnization has said the Houston SPCA and the SPCA of Texas have asked for monetary donations and requested people hold off on sending tangible pet supplies at this time.
These SPCA organizations have said they have neither the storage for the items nor the volunteers to sort them.
Fill The Truck For Texans will have a semitrailer parked on the corner of 4th and Main streets in Tipp City at 9:30 am Wednesday.
Fill The Truck For Texans will be taking donations of items needed for Hurricane Harvey victims. Volunteers are needed to help receive donated items and help with loading the truck from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday .
BEWARE OF CHARITY SCAMS:
Not all “charities” are the real deal, according to the BBB, and you have to beware of scams, especially during natural disasters.
Scam artists may try to reach your via the phone, a post card or a “fake victim” social media account. Scams may be outright, or just a misrepresentation of how much of your donation actually goes to a charity’s clients.
Only registered charities are tax deductible; crowdfunding sites are not.
The BBB and consumer warrior Clark Howard suggest several sites to check out charities: give.org, charitywatch.org and charitynavigator.org.
Call 937-331-1414 for more details about the training, or donate to the American Red Cross by clicking here. A gift may be sent to the chapter at: American Red Cross, Dayton Area Chapter, 370 W. First St., Dayton, OH 45402. Or, text HARVEY to 90999 to donate $10 to the relief effort.