In the aftermaths of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and the devastating rains and floods that followed along the Virgin Islands, the Florida Keys, the Gulf Coast, and Texas, thousands of people have been displaced. Park City Community Foundation staff have been asked how Parkites can help and where to donate. A main concern for donors in the aftermath of a major disaster is, “Where will my donation do the most good?”
Hurricane Harvey
An effective option is to donate to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, which was set up by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and is hosted at the Greater Houston Community Foundation. Dedicated to expanding philanthropic impact with their donors, Greater Houston Community Foundation (GHCF) is a well-established presence in the community that will partner with local nonprofits and government to gather and distribute financial resources to agencies providing direct relief. GHCF will ensure that your donation will go to local agencies on the ground to provide help today, tomorrow, and in the months after the flood waters have receded.
Interested in helping? Check out the Greater Houston Community Foundation and consider a gift to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.
Hurricane Irma
The Miami Foundation has created a Hurricane Relief Fund and their site lists a selection of organizations they are supporting now and in the future. Miami-Dade County, the Florida Keys, and Southwest Florida will be helped through your donations.
The Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties is helping find solutions to the challenges Irma has brought for their partners, fund holders, and grantees thru their Hurricane Assistance Fund. They are working to convene funders and community partners to co-invest funds for maximum response and effectiveness. (As a part of their service to the community, this Foundation will not collect an administrative fee for the Hurricane Assistance Fund.)
Donating Goods & Service vs. Cash
NPR published a compelling article that speaks to the difficulties faced when people donate items and goods over cash.
“This is not the time to be donating products or even services,” says Bob Ottenhoff, president and CEO of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. “That’s frequently the urge, and most often that is the wrong thing to do. …With the floods blocking off streets, when warehouses are not available, there’s no place for these products — there’s no place to store anything, there’s no place to distribute anything. And that’s going to be the case for some time.”
Whenever you have giving questions, please contact us – we are always happy to provide philanthropic advisory services here in Park City and beyond.