When a natural disaster hits the United States, as a country we all come together to try to help those that are in need. This exact thing is current happening in and around Houston, Texas as well as other hard-hit areas in the Southern States.
Hurricane Harvey has caused some serious damage to Houston and the surrounding areas. In response to this, there have been many calls for donations and help if it can be offered. However, even though there are many reputable places for people to donate, there is a negative side to this.
Suspicious Donation Charities
Even with all of the good that is happening to try to help the victims of the Hurricane, there are still many people out there with a different agenda.
There are some people that are even creating fake charities and trying to trick others into donating to other things that are not for Hurricane Harvey victims, even though it is presented as such. There are others that are posing as reputable companies asking for donations and who knows where that money goes once it has been scammed away from someone.
There are even others that are looking to get donations for things other than helping Hurricane Harvey victims.
For example, Linda Sarsour, a Palestinian-American activist and a Women’s March organizer, has been soliciting donations for a charity so that she can organize and advocate them instead of helping to provide relief for them in their time of need.
Helping Victims or Taking a Political Stance?
In this case, it does not actually look like any of the money that is being raised will actually go directly to the people in need. The donation page, which is called the Harvey Community Relief Fund, states, “Your donation is vital to ensuring that we have the resources we need to organize and fight for Texans devastated by Hurricane Harvey!”
The page has been organized by the Texas Organizing Project (TOP) that has openly opposed President Trump and many of his policies.
The page continues by stating, “Together we will organize and advocate for our devastated communities, shining a spotlight on inequalities that emerge in the restoration of lives, livelihoods, and homes, amplifying the needs of hard-hit communities, and providing legal assistance for residents wrongfully denied government support.”
What TOP is Stating
There has been some reassurance from the executive director of TOP, Michelle Tremillo.
“We want to be clear on a key point about the Harvey Community Relief Fund, which is being housed within the Texas Organizing Project Education Fund: We have an ironclad commitment that 100 percent of the money raised into this fund will be spent directly on ensuring low income and people of color are not forgotten in the relief, recovery and reconstruction efforts,” she said.
“Not a dime will be spent on any other purpose. We and our allies intend to make sure that our communities are at the forefront of the recovery process, and that they get the resources they need to rebuild their lives. We will make a determination about which relief efforts in particular to dedicate this funding after the floods recede. Our expenditures will be dictated by the needs of our communities, and we anticipate those needs will range from personal hygiene items to legal aid and advocacy.”
What You Can Do
Even with this information, it is difficult to be sure exactly how the money will be used. Instead of playing the guessing game, it is always better to know who you are donating to and why.
Before you make any donations, make sure that the organization is legitimate and that they will be using the money or items in a way that you intended it to be used. Some great options for donations for victims of Hurricane Harvey include the Red Cross, the Houston Food Bank, Houston SPCA, Food Bank of Corpus Christi, and the Houston Humane Society.
There are many places asking for donations right now and you want to make sure your money is used in the best way possible. That is why you want to avoid donating to any GoFundMe pages since they take a cut of the profit and there is no way of knowing where the money will go.
There has been quite a bit of damage in the area, but by making smart decisions about our donations, the money can go far.
~ Conservative Zone
