Katrina: How you can help

Saturday, the Daily News published a guide on ways to help in the wake of Katrina. I got permission to repost it (thank you Will Bunch), in full, here:

THERE ARE SEVERAL WAYS TO GIVE

THE HOMELESS men of St. John's Hospice don't have much. But they are gathering their pennies - literally - to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"They've already filled up two jars with coins, dollar bills, whatever they have," said Matthew Gambino, a spokesman for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Catholic Social Services runs the Race Street shelter, which houses about 40 men and feeds hundreds more each day.

The shelter's food service manager, Anthony Willoughby, helped come up with the idea, Gambino said, after the men said they desperately wanted to help in any way they could.

"They know what it's like, going without," said Donna Farrell, director of the archdiocese's Office for Communications.

Across the Philadelphia area, there are a lot of people who want to help right now. From the homeless to the Mayor himself, there is a desire to give, to help, to comfort the countless hurricane victims. In response, here are some of the ways that local people can provide everything from money to blood.

We realize there are many more efforts getting under way. Tell us what we've left out by e-mailing feedback@phillynews.com; we may publish the information in future editions of the Daily News.

HOW TO GIVE BLOOD

WHAT THEY NEED: The American Red Cross says there hasn’t been a specific plea for blood donations so far, but they think that such a plea may come as more victims are rescued — and they always encourage donations.
HOW TO GIVE IT: For an appointment call 1-800-GIVELIFE or visit www.pleasegiveblood. org.

HOW TO GIVE STUFF

WHAT THEY NEED: Specific donations, depending on charity.
HOW TO GIVE IT:

• Don’t send it to the Red Cross. They aren’t accepting individual contributions or collections of food, clothing or other goods. In a relief crisis, the time spent sorting, cleaning and distributing the goods drains resources from other critical tasks. In addition, shipping to disaster areas is often unreliable, and relief authorities don’t want shipping lines clogged with non-priority items. The Red Cross does accept some in-kind donations in quantities big enough to meet the mass care needs of victims.
• Give water to the New Jersey National Guard. The Guard announced it will accept mass donations of bottled water from 8 a.m through 4 p.m. through Labor Day at 11 armories across the state. The water must be packed in cases that can be easily loaded onto pallets. Armories are loca ted in Teaneck, West Orange, Dover, Somerset, Port Murray, Lawrenceville, Sea Girt, Woodbury, Vineland, Atlantic City and Cape May.
• Donate your frequent flyer miles. If you have miles to spare, call your airline and see how you might donate them to hurricane victims and their families. America West, for example, has made it easy for frequent- flyer members to donate their miles to the Red Cross (go to www.america west.com/awa).

HOW TO GIVE MONEY

WHAT THEY NEED: Millions of dollars, in immediate aid for food and shelter — and in long-term donations for rebuilding. Most of the money is going to the Red Cross, though other agencies also are issuing appeals.
HOW TO GIVE IT:
Give directly to the American Red Cross. Call 1-800-HELP-NOW, visit www.redcross.org, or mail contributions to P.O. Box 37243, Washington D.C., 20013. OR:

• Give at Monday’s Labor Day parade starting at 10 a.m. at Sheet Metal Hall, at Columbus Boule vard and Washington Ave. The Philadelphia council of the AFLCIO, with the Red Cross, will collect there (and plans to keep collecting through the month).
• Give at the ball game. The Phillies will be collecting for the Red Cross throughout the next two weeks of home games — in particular, on Wednesday, when the Phillies and other teams will pass the hat in honor of Roberto Clemente Day. Clemente died on a mercy mission to help earthquake victims in Nicaragua in 1972. In addition, Phillies Charities Inc., will conduct a fund-raising silent auction of autographed baseball memor abilia on Monday night from 5:35 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the First Base Gate Plaza. (For more information, visit www.phillies.com.)
• Break open your piggy bank. Commerce Banks are accepting contributions in cash — and even coins — at 350 locations on behalf of the Red Cross.
• Give at work. Many local employers are matching employees’ or retirees’ contributions up to certain amounts. Employers include Peco Energy Co. parent Exelon, Wachovia, GlaxoSmithKline, Campbell Soup Co., Independence Blue Cross, Citizens Bank, Rohm & Haas, Wawa, Commerce Bank, Aqua America and Amerisource Bergen. Knight Ridder, parent company of the Daily News and Inquirer, is collecting money — and matching donations — for the many affected employees of its sister paper, the Biloxi Sun-Herald.
• Give at school. From Sept. 6 to Oct. 7, Philadelphia School District employees, students and parents are asked to donate funds through the main office at their local school. Checks should be payable to the American Red Cross with the designation of Katrina Relief Fund (no clothes or food will be accepted).
• Give to a specific cause. Here’s a good one: United Cerebral Palsy said the hurricane “devastatedâ€? its Greater New Orleans chapter, “essentially ceasing services to hundreds of people with disabilities, including dozens with severe disabilities who need 24-hour assistance.â€? To donate, visit www.ucp.org.
  Here’s another: Habitat for Humanity needs donations to repair homes and lives damaged by the the hurricane. People can also sign up to volunteer to help rebuild. Visit www.habitat.org.
• Give through a religious organization. Philly-area congregations are passing the plate big-time. Here are a few:
• Special collections in all 274 parishes of the Philadelphia Archdioc ese this Sunday and following will support rebuilding efforts. Also, Catholic Charities is taking contributions to provide emergency relief and long-term recovery. Send donations to Catholic Charities USA, 2005
• Hurricane Relief Fund, P.O. Box 25168, Alexandria, VA 22313; call 800-919-9338 or visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.
• An area Jewish organization has also set up a humanitarian relief and rebuilding fund: Give to the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Hurricane Relief Fund, P.O. Box 57200, Philadelphia, PA 19111 or go on the Web at www.jewishphilly.org/katrina.
• The American Friends Service Committee is accepting donations at 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102 or online at www.afsc.org. These and other organizations ask donors to note on their checks that the money is to go to hurricane relief.
• Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, a financial service firm for Lutherans and others, will match members’ donations, adding $1 to every $2 a member puts into its hurricane relief fund up to $300 per member. Thrivent members can sign up to donate at www.thrivent.com. Finally, don’t let your generosity overwhelm your good sense. Check out other charity appeals before you give. The Better Busines s Bureau has an excellent set of tips — and reports on most major charities — at www.give.org/news/disaster_tips.asp

HOW TO GIVE YOUR TIME

WHAT THEY NEED: Volunteer s to provide medical care, mental health services and other services in the affected area.
HOW TO GIVE IT: The American Red Cross is sending volunteers, but you must be willing to make a three-week commitment. Some training is required, and you may have to get on a waiting list: officials already have a list of others ready to go. But there is a particular need for licensed medical or mental health professionals; they’re more likely to be trained and sent soon. Call 215-299- 4054, for more information.

WHAT THEY NEED: People on the phones.
HOW TO GIVE IT: The local Red Cross call center is answering national calls about hurricane relief and they need experienced operators and data processors to staff the call center from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. The Red Cross will provide parking, food and some training. Call 215-299-049 5 to volunteer.

WHAT THEY NEED: People to rebuild houses.
HOW TO GIVE IT: Some faith-based groups will send teams south to help in the rebuilding effort. If you have skills in carpentry, plumbing or electrical work — or are simply willing to lend a hand — a Philly-area United Methodist housing rehab team could use your help. Contact team leader Benjamin Botti, an engineer from Sellersville, Bucks County, at bbotti@entermail.net (which Botti prefers), or call him at 215-723-836 7. The team is just forming; a departure date is not set.

WHAT THEY NEED: Staff for mobile canteens with food and water.
HOW TO GIVE IT: The Salvation Army, already heavily involved in hurricane relief at the national level, is beginning to reach out for local volunteers. A small group from the Salvation Army at Philadelphia is heading south today to operate mobile feeding units that provide food and water. Volunteer s can fill out a registration form on the Salvation Army Web site at www.salvationarmy-usaeast.org; departure dates are unclear.

WHAT THEY NEED: Union volunteers.
HOW TO GIVE IT: AFL-CIO-affiliated unions are recruiting 1,000 volunteers from across the country to provide assistance to working families. Sign up at www.aflcio.org/hurricane.