Valley sends help to victims of Hurricane Harvey’s destruction
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey wreaking havoc on the Gulf coast of Texas and Louisiana, residents 1,500 miles away in the San Joaquin Valley are pitching in to help the emergency relief efforts with manpower, cash and blood.
Two Mariposa-area volunteers from the American Red Cross of Central California flew to Houston last week before Hurricane Harvey made landfall, said Jessica Piffero, a spokeswoman for the Red Cross in Fresno. One is serving as a shelter manager, while the other is working on damage assessment and mapping. For now, though, Red Cross chapters in the state are holding some of their manpower in reserve because of a large wildfire in Oregon that could require assistance if it creeps across the state line into California.
I’m sure we will be deploying more people in the next few weeks to relieve the folks who are on the ground now.
Jessica Piffero
American Red Cross of Central California spokeswoman“The hurricane will be a long-term recovery because of all the flooding in the coming days,” Piffero said. “I’m sure we will be deploying more people in the next few weeks to relieve the folks who are on the ground now.”
The American Red Cross is also a focal point for financial contributions for residents who want to donate to relief efforts, Piffero said. Donations can be made by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (733-2767) or through the agency’s website at www.redcross.org. Donations can also be made by sending the text message “Harvey” to 90999 to add a $10 donation to the phone bill, Piffero said.
Among Valley businesses that have announced donation drives to assist the Red Cross is Save Mart Supermarkets, which on Monday began collecting contributions at checkout counters at its 83 stores. The amount of the donation is printed on the cash register receipt so customers have a record of the tax-deductible contribution. The grocery chain will be accepting donations through Sept. 4.
At the Central California Blood Center, officials are trying to ramp up blood donations to not only fill shelves for local needs during what they expect to be a busy Labor Day weekend, but also in anticipation of making some blood supplies available to hurricane-stricken areas in Texas.
“Most blood drives and blood donor centers in the Gulf Coast area have temporarily ceased operations due to the dangerous conditions there” from continuing rains and flooding, said Leslie Botos, community relations director for the Fresno blood bank. “The Central California Blood Center will help to the extent possible.”
One of the more crucial needs in Texas is for blood platelets used for cancer treatment. Platelets, which have a shelf life of only five days, are collected with equipment that requires electricity to operate, but power outages are covering much of the area affected by the storm. “The needs of Texas will be long-term and it is anticipated that ‘mutual aid’ or ‘resource sharing’ between blood centers will be needed for several weeks,” Botos said.
The blood bank is accepting donations at its donor centers in Fresno and Visalia. Details about how to donate blood are available by calling the blood center at 550-389-5442 or visiting the Central California Blood Center website at www.donateblood.org.
Tim Sheehan: 559-441-6319, @TimSheehanNews
Avoiding scams in crisis relief
The Federal Trade Commission issued warnings to people to be wary of possible charity scams. Here is what to look out for:
1. Goes by a name almost identical to a well-known charity. Same-sounding names are intentional because scammers want to be confused with a better-known, more reputable organization.
2. Pressures you for an immediate donation. You need time to properly research a new charity before making a donation. Scammers, of course, don’t want you to do that. Find out if the charity or fundraiser must be registered in your state by contacting the National Association of State Charity Officials. And check if the charity’s trustworthy by contacting the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator or GuideStar. A simple online search also may turn up past complaints or scam reports.
3. Refuses to provide detailed information. Ask for specifics on the charity’s mission, costs and how the donation will be used. If you’re dealing with a paid fundraiser, ask for the name of the charity they represent, the percentage of your donation that will go to that charity, how much will go to the actual cause to which you’re donating and how much will go to the fundraiser. Any refusal to provide this kind of basic information should set off alarm bells.
4. Refuses to provide a phone number. Before you donate, call the organization first on your own to find out if it’s aware of the solicitation and has authorized the use of its name. It’s a perfectly normal step for any potential donor, so if the person resists providing you with a contact number, you should be concerned.
5. Asks you to wire money or send cash. Never do either. Also, don’t provide your credit or check card number, bank account number or other personal information to any charity until you’ve thoroughly checked things out. And don’t agree to give your donation to a courier or overnight delivery service.
6. Asks you to click on a link or open an attachment in an email. Don’t do it unless you know who sent it. You could unknowingly install a virus or other malware on your computer.
7. Seeks contributions through messages on social media. Never assume that such posts are legitimate; there’s plenty of scams and spam out there.
From The Sacramento Bee
This story was originally published August 28, 2017 at 3:04 PM with the headline "Valley sends help to victims of Hurricane Harvey’s destruction."