(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — The recovery from Hurricanes Helene and Milton will be long, costly, and require the help of nonprofits and many donations. Here’s how you can make sure your dollars do the most good for storm victims.
Hurricane Helene killed hundreds and left a swath of devastation from Florida to North Carolina. Links to GoFundMe efforts to assist storm victims popped up on social media as soon as the storm dissipated.
However, some donation links can be a way to steal money from well intentioned people. Laura Andes, Chief Program and Operations Officer at CharityNavigator.org in Saddle Brook, New Jersey told the Noon Business hour that if you do give to a GoFundMe, make sure you're close to its intended recipient.
“If you're going to do that, it's really important that you donate to an online charity which is someone you know or a friend of a friend. One degree of separation to make sure that that fundraiser is legit,” Andes said.
She recommends giving to an established charity that you know is working in the region.
Andes says her website is a resource people can trust.
“They really know that it's a legitimate charity. It's doing good work in the region.”
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, WBBM Newsradio compiled a list of charities that were accepting donations.
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