Give back
Know the best ways to give back
Donate money
Donating money can be the most effective way to help because relief organizations know what is needed and can use the money to get it—and it’s tax deductible. Still, be careful when donating money.
Here are some tips to make sure your money is used as best as possible.
When giving to some organizations, such as the American Red Cross, you can choose to have your donation be used locally, or wherever it’s needed most.
- Donate Wisely
- How to Donate Successfully
Volunteer
Sometimes what the community needs is people power. If you or your
employees can volunteer time, you may be able to accelerate the
recovery process by helping clean up debris, facilitating reporting,
handing out items, or whatever the local recovery groups need help
with. Remember that the best help comes from coordinating with those
local groups.
Stay connected
Follow the Emergency Information Hub for updates from local emergency managers and volunteer coordinators.
- Emergency Information Hub updates
Your company likely has a product or service that could help the
community recover. Stay connected to your community and find ways to
provide what community members need. Here are some actual examples
of how business have helped their communities recover in the past:
- Bakery example
- Brewery example
- Auto shop example
Here are some other ideas to help you get started:
- Donating food and supplies
- Providing free or discounted services (for example, haircuts, meals, transportation)
- Raising money for relief efforts
- Help your employees
- Support other businesses
Remember: Coordinated efforts are always the most effective.