Early Warning: A Guide For Those Who Want To Be Helpful

A loose guide developed over the years.

1. As the Act Of God approaches, do a round of base donations to the organizations that tend to Get There First:
   
   1. Red Cross
   2. Salvation Army
   3. Second Harvest
   4. Soldier's Angels (If the event is in an area that will affect a large number of military families.)
2. Wait and follow the news reports. While waiting, start putting together basic Relief Kits to mail out. Trial size or 99-cents store:
   
   1. Toothbrush/paste
   2. Washcloth/hand towel/soap. (Bar soap is better than liquid soad. Include a smaller zip bag just for the soap so the user can store the soap in the main zip bag after use.)
   3. Undies/socks
   4. Tampons
   5. Stickers
   6. Shampoo
   7. Small  notepad/pen
   8. Wal-Mart gift card (If money allows. This is the ONLY time it's acceptable to purchase something from Wal-Mart.)
   9. Pre-paid phone card (If money allows.)
3. Once the event hits and various organizations let it be known via news reports what it is they specifically need, do what you can. Sometimes that means a second round of donations, sometimes that means mailing the relief kits to an organization, sometimes that means going on a sock raid and mailing them off to an organization.
4. If there is no money available to do anything but the first round of donations, do that and feel no guilt.