Hurricane Ian: 5 Ways to Help

By
Barbara Scofidio
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Hurricane Ian
The recent World Central Kitchen relief effort in Puerto Rico (Photo credit: World Central Kitchen/WCK.org)

After this week’s disaster along Florida’s West Coast, the hard work of cleanup and rebuilding begins. Many families are without shelter, some just need the basics—but everyone who was in Hurricane Ian’s path needs some form of help.

How can you help families affected by Hurricane Ian? Here are a few trustworthy charities, vetted by Prevue’s editors.

Florida Disaster Fund

Th Florida Disaster Fund is the state’s official private fund for disaster and emergency response. Donations are made to the Volunteer Florida Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Learn more here.

American Red Cross

As always, the Red Cross is on the ground in Florida, with workers across the state setting up shelters, and providing food and water for those in immediate need. They have created a special donation page for victims of Hurricane Ian. Learn more here.

Salvation Army Florida

The Salvation Army is always among the first to arrive after a disaster to provide food, shelter, emergency services and support. Learn more here.

Disaster Relief At Work

Disaster Relief at Work, or DRAW, is a 10-year-old nonprofit based in Michigan whose members provide relief services in areas hit by floods, hurricanes and tornadoes. The organization is already on the ground in Florida and seeking donations. Learn more here.

World Central Kitchen

World Central Kitchen is a powerhouse global relief organization created by Chef José Andres to serve freshly made meals to people around the world affected by disasters. WCK already has teams set up across Florida. Learn more here.

Avoid Scams

Beware of scammers who create fake charities during natural disasters. You can verify a charity’s legitimacy through its official website, or check the following web sites: Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch or GuideStar. 

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Barbara Scofidio
Barbara Scofidio is Editor of Prevue and heads up the Visionary Summits, our exclusive conference series targeting senior-level meeting and incentive planners. In her 30 years in the industry, she has become known for her passion around greening meetings, growing awareness of human trafficking and promoting CSR activities as part of business events. She is currently a member of SITE's Women IN Leadership committee and the media liaison for FICP's Education Committee. She was the first member of the media ever to be invited to sit on a committee by GBTA, where she spent three years on the Groups and Meetings Committee. She has also been an active member of SITE for 30 years, chairing its Crystal Awards committee and acting as a judge. Before joining Prevue in 2014, she served as Editor of Corporate Meetings & Incentives (MeetingsNet) for more than 20 years. She has a BA in Literature/Rhetoric from Binghamton University. Barbara is based outside Boston, in Groton, Mass.