Harvey calls Tulane community into action

Many Tulane students, parents, alumni, faculty and staff have asked how they can help the relief effort for Houston.

According to Katie Houck, associate director at the Tulane University Center for Public Service, CPS is currently gathering information about community needs and relief efforts to support student-led relief efforts by organizations like Community Action Council for Tulane University Students, Tulane Alternative Breaks and the Undergraduate Student Government. Interested students can see CPS Hurricane Harvey Relief page here, sign up to help here, and find updates, announcements and volunteer opportunities on CPS’ Facebook page.

In the meantime, ABC 13 Eyewitness News in Texas offers the following options to help our neighbors in the Lone Star State:

Send a text to help right now

The Red Cross said they depend on financial donations to help provide immediate relief. They have already set up a way to donate to victims with a simple text. Text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. You can also visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

The United Way has also announced a way to text a donation: Text UWFLOOD to 41444 to donate to the United Way Flood Relief Fund.

Donations to support The Salvation Army's Hurricane Harvey relief efforts can be made at helpsalvationarmy.org or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

Most charities prefer monetary donations. These are more flexible and cause less of a strain on the charity, allowing them to help more.

FEMA Administrator Brock Long also encouraged Americans who want to help storm victims to connect with the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) online, which is coordinating donations and volunteers.

Before you quickly text a cash donation to an unknown hurricane fund because you saw a link on Twitter, make sure your contribution actually benefits Harvey relief.

Charity Navigator, a nonprofit organization that offers independent evaluations of charities on its website to help people “make informed giving / social investment decisions,” offers tips on giving to disaster funds.

Tulane Athletics is also providing support. Read more about the ways they are helping here.

Keep reading: Managing the emotional toll of disasters