Cash Donations Helpful for Florida’s Tropical Storm Debby Survivors

TROPICAL STORM DEBBY UPDATE: Thursday, July 5, 2012, 9:30 a.m.
CONTACT: Public Information (ESF 14), (850) 921-0217, www.FloridaDisaster.org

Tallahassee  As emergency managers continue to survey areas impacted by Tropical Storm Debby, cash donations to established relief organizations remain critical to helping survivors.

“Survivors have so many unanticipated costs in a disaster like this. People have immediate needs for food and essential goods that they’ve lost, and also need supplies like tarps or equipment to preserve what hasn’t been destroyed,” said Gail Campbell, Chair of the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth.  “Immediate cash assistance is very real in times of a crisis – cash to relief organizations meets these very basic and human needs.”

As the lead agency for volunteer and donations management for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, Volunteer Florida offers the following tips on how to help survivors wisely:

CASH – Financial gifts are the best way to immediately help survivors. Donate to an established relief organization. For a complete list of established relief organizations, visit:www.volunteerfloridadisaster.org/donate.html

CONFIRM – A community hit by disaster does not have the time, staffing or money to dispose of unneeded donations. Volunteers should confirm their need before traveling to impacted areas.

CONNECT – with a local relief agency or local volunteer center for volunteer opportunities.

The Governor’s Commission on Community Service, Volunteer Florida, was established in 1994 by the Florida Legislature to administer grants under the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. The Commission administers Florida AmeriCorps and National Service programs; coordinates volunteers and donations in a disaster; and inspires Floridians to serve their communities. For more information, visit: www.volunteerflorida.org.

Call the Florida Volunteer and Donation Hotline for additional information: 1-800-FL-HELP-1 (1-800-354-3571). The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from June 1 – November 30. To GET A PLAN! visit www.FloridaDisaster.org. For the latest information on the 2012 Hurricane Season, follow us on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/flsert and on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/FloridaSERT.

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The Governor’s Commission on Community Service, Volunteer Florida, was established in 1994 by the Florida Legislature to administer grants under the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. The Commission grants funds to Florida AmeriCorps and National Service programs; coordinates volunteers in a disaster; and inspires everyone from youths to seniors to people with disabilities to serve their communities. For more information, visit:www.volunteerflorida.org.

AmeriCorps is a national service program administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than 5 million Americans in service each year and administers President Obama’s national service initiative United We Serve.  Interested individuals can learn about available opportunities and apply online by visiting AmeriCorps.gov.