Hurricane Katrina Relief Charities

Victims of Hurricane Katrina are attempting to recover from the massive storm that is still making its way across the Mid-Atlantic States. American Red Cross volunteers have been deployed to the hardest hit areas of Katrina’s destruction, supplying hundreds of thousands victims left homeless with critical necessities. By making a financial gift to Hurricane 2005 Relief, the Red Cross can provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need.

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America’s Second Harvest—The Nation’s Food Bank Network, the nation's largest charitable hunger-relief organization has activated its disaster mode in response to Hurricane ‘Katrina’. We are in need of funds to respond to disaster relief for Hurricane Katrina in states impacted by the disaster including Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

In response to the tremendous devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina, B’nai B’rith is activating its disaster relief fund. The fund will collect funds that will be used to provide assistance to victims of this vicious storm. “Hurricane Katrina has been described as being of historic proportions—and a natural disaster of this magnitude will certainly create huge need. B’nai B’rith’s disaster relief fund will help us provide assistance as we have done in the case of natural and man-made disasters for nearly 140 years,” said Joel S. Kaplan, B’nai B’rith International president. Contributions should be made payable to the B’nai B’rith Disaster Relief Fund. They should be sent to B’nai B’rith International, 2020 K Street, N.W., Seventh Floor, Washington, D.C. 20006.

As Hurricane Katrina continues to make her trek northward, Catholic Charities agencies from around the region, such as agencies in Florida and Baton Rouge, are poised to send technical assistance teams to help the local Catholic Charities in the impacted areas with their response efforts. Once the all clear is given that it is safe to return to those communities hit by the devastating hurricane, the damage and needs assessment will begin. While local agencies along the Gulf Coast anticipate that they will be provide some type of emergency assistance in their communities, Catholic Charities' niche in disaster relief is to provide long-term recovery work. In fact, Catholic Charities agencies in Florida are still providing services to help people recover from last year's devastating hurricanes. Based on past disasters, possible long-term services that Catholic Charities may provide include temporary and permanent housing, direct assistance beyond food and water to get people back into their homes, job placement counseling, and medical and prescription drug assistance.

Responding to what it anticipates may be the largest U.S. relief and recovery effort in its history, humanitarian agency Church World Service (CWS) says its Executive Director and CEO Rev. John L. McCullough will travel to Hurricane Katrina-devastated New Orleans Louisiana , arriving in Baton Rouge Wed Aug 31 - Sat. Sept 3, to personally assess emergency and long-term recovery needs and to meet with area faith leaders. Monday Aug. 29 CWS issued a national fundraising appeal for survivors of Katrina and has directed an initial shipment of emergency supplies it hopes will reach Baton Rouge Wed. August 31 for distribution. In addition to providing emergency aid following domestic disasters, CWS specializes in assisting in the development of community-based, long-term, recovery organizations that are established in impacted areas to help vulnerable populations and those with unmet needs. Individuals and groups wanting to help Katrina's survivors are urged to contribute cash rather than material goods.

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Although the population of Louisiana and Mississippi may be holed up and riding out Hurricane Katrina, Convoy of Hope trucks are moving forward with what is sure to be precious relief supplies. The three trucks loaded with supplies will meet in Natchez, La. Monday afternoon, moving into the affected area when government officials and partner organizations help determine the best point of distribution based on need, and practicality.

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Episcopalians are working tirelessly to assess and respond to the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina, a category four hurricane that ripped through the Gulf Coast August 29, leaving at least 120 people dead and countless more displaced and homeless. Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) responded immediately by sending emergency funds to the Dioceses of Central Gulf Coast, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Western Louisiana to support immediate needs such as food, shelter and medical supplies.

Feed The Children is a Christian, international, nonprofit relief organization with headquarters in Oklahoma City, Okla., that delivers food, medicine, clothing and other necessities to individuals, children and families who lack these essentials due to famine, war, poverty or natural disaster. The heart of Feed The Children's U.S. program is distributing food to needy families. To do this, we work closely with caring corporate partners that donate surplus food and other supplies, as well as with individual donors who help defray the cost of transporting the product donations.

Following Hurricane Katrina’s catastrophic strike on the Gulf Coast, Habitat for Humanity International is announcing an emergency appeal for funds to help Habitat families and other low-income families in the affected areas recover and rebuild. In addition to the emergency appeal, Habitat’s Disaster and Emergency Services unit, when conditions allow, will dispatch teams to check on Habitat families who lived in the storm’s destructive path and others. Team members will move quickly to provide whatever immediate assistance they can, then begin to plan for short- and long-term assistance for Habitat partner families, volunteers and Habitat affiliates in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida impacted by the storm.

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The United Way Hurricane Katrina Response Fund has been activated to help affected communities begin rebuilding their lives. Since there is no force more powerful than the human spirit, please make a gift today and help United Way multiply your personal impact. All funds will be allocated for both front-line disaster relief and long-term recovery needs as determined by local United Ways in affected areas in coordination with a vast network of human services agencies and volunteer centers

Hurricane Katrina has completely devastated the gulf shore area, destroying lives and property over two hundred miles inland. Early estimates indicate this storm may surpass in financial damage over 25 billion dollars which is more damage than was caused by all four hurricanes last year. Hearts With Hands, Inc. will be staging its operation in an area centrally located to assist victims with the devastation. Due to the logistics and costs of transportation, the public is encouraged to send financial donations to assist with shipping and travel costs. Although material donations are accepted, the public is encouraged to send financial donations to assist with shipping and travel costs.

Some people were forced to leave their pets behind. Others were never able to evacuate at all. Now, in Katrina’s aftermath, The HSUS's Disaster Animal Response Teams are primed to help the pets and other animals left behind in the region’s most devastated areas. In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, The HSUS has launched a massive relief effort to rescue animals and assist their caregivers in the disaster areas. Our highly trained Disaster Animal Response Teams are now in Mississippi and Texas coordinating a multi-state animal rescue and recovery effort. Our Disaster Response Unit, and other rescue vehicles affiliated with our teams, are in Mississippi. Our entire relief effort is funded by donations from people like you, and we desperately need your support.

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As flood waters continue to inundate much of the U.S. Gulf Coast, Mercy Corps is partnering with Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) to meet the immediate and longer-term needs of people displaced from their homes in coastal Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. We are seeking donations to fund a rapid humanitarian response. Your contribution will go directly to fast, efficient relief and recovery programs. Survivors and families displaced by Hurricane Katrina need your help. Experts are saying that it could be weeks before they're able to return to their homes, where they almost certainly face the uncertainty of rebuilding. Dozens of people have perished and damage estimates are running into the tens of billions of dollars as Hurricane Katrina's aftermath continues to unfold.

Provides links to many organizations currently accepting donations

NVOAD coordinates planning efforts by many voluntary organizations responding to disaster. Member organizations provide more effective and less duplication in service by getting together before disasters strike. Once disasters occur, NVOAD or an affiliated state VOAD encourages members and other voluntary agencies to convene on site. This cooperative effort has proven to be the most effective way for a wide variety of volunteers and organizations to work together in a crisis.

Hurricane Katrina has forced many people to take cover at public evacuation centers. Unfortunately, most public evacuation centers do not allow individuals to take their pets. Many animal shelters have opened their doors to provide temporary shelter for pets that are not permitted with their families in the evacuation facilities. Previous to this hurricane, most animal shelters in this area were already at full capacity, and they need urgent help. The North Shore Animal League America ERT (Emergency Response Team) knew immediately our help would be needed. Our goal will be to help alleviate the shelter overcrowding by transporting homeless animals to the League. The magnitude of this hurricane is devastating, and we need to act quickly with your help. Last year, North Shore Animal League America made multiple, successful, rescue missions to the southern states after hurricanes devastated this area of the country in August and September. We know it is possible to make this rescue mission successful; however, we cannot do this without your help.

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We need your help to bring desperately-needed relief to Hurricane Katrina victims. Operation Blessings tractor trailer trucks are delivering food, water and emergency supplies every day to relief partners like the Salvation Army. OBI staff members are coordinating with FEMA, other nonprofits and local churches to ensure relief is delivered immediately and effectively. Together, OBI and its partners will be providing up to 310,000 meals a day in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

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In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, PETsMART Charities is coordinating its efforts with local humane societies and has initiated a nationwide disaster relief effort. To help with relief efforts for this and other disasters, you can make a tax-deductible donation in three ways. Your donations will be used for supplies needed at the disaster site such as food, crates, litter, beds and more ... medical supplies used for first aid to injured pets ... vaccinations to displaced pets to prevent disease outbreak ... repairs to shelters damaged by flooding, high winds, and fires.

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The Salvation Army is currently providing services to storm victims and first responders in the Gulf Coast states. A $100 donation to The Salvation Army will feed a family of four for two days, provide two cases of drinking water and one household clean-up kit, containing brooms, mops, buckets, and cleaning supplies.

Samaritan's Purse Disaster Relief teams have begun operations in the vicinity of Mobile, Alabama, an area battered by high winds, torrential rains, and an estimated 12-foot storm surge that shoved the Mobile River over its banks. Our teams will work westward into devastated areas of Mississippi and Louisiana as conditions permit. Samaritan's Purse is mobilizing hundreds of volunteers to help the neediest victims, particularly the poor and elderly. Two tractor-trailers loaded with emergency supplies and equipment provide crews with chainsaws and other tools to remove fallen trees and debris. Other crews repair damaged roofs and cover them with weatherproof plastic. Flooded houses are pumped dry and cleaned of mud and ruined materials. Generators can provide emergency electricity. Our Disaster Relief teams work in partnership with local churches to ensure that spiritual needs are met, too. Teams share the love of Jesus Christ, pray with residents, and present them with a Bible when the work is completed.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul National Council is the umbrella organization for more than 120,000 active and associate members in the United States. It enables the Society's local and regional units to better devote resources to serving their communities and seeks to develop and promote innovative strategies that address human needs and social justice. The National Council facilitates communication and assistance between units in the US and Internationally organizes the Society's response to global need, including disaster assistance. In the unlikely event that Katrina funds exceed demand, such funds will be designated for general national disaster relief.

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UMCOR Disaster Response is a three phase process. The emergency stage is the present stage and is anticipated to last for up to 10 days. During this time rescue efforts and infrastructure repair are carried out by official agencies. In the second phase, the relief phase, assistance is provided to home owners who need to "muck out," assess damage, receive emotional and spiritual care, and begin their long road to recovery. During this time the local churches are very active, acting as shelters and support areas for the community. The third phase, long-term recovery, involves a holistic approach to people who have suffered losses, covering everything from seeking them out in their neighborhood to providing information and advocacy about their federal and state assistance rights. In coordination with other religious bodies and community service agencies, UMCOR will participate in repairing and rebuilding of homes, and assistance with living expenses.

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Water Missions International is responding in faith. We are sending 5 advanced Living Water™ Treatment Systems that are coupled with Reverse Osmosis units to provide 60,000 gallons a day of safe drinking water. In addition, we are working with State and Federal authorities, as well as other relief agencies, to provide additional units. The relief landscape is changing every hour and we are poised to respond.