Charities Struggle to Finance Disaster Relief in the Midwest

July 07, 2008

Charities Struggle to Finance Disaster Relief in the Midwest

Recent tornadoes and flooding throughout Kansas and Western Missouri have stretched the limits of money designated for disaster relief at both the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army, reports The Wichita Eagle.

Andrea Anglin, a spokeswoman for the Midway-Kansas Chapter of the American Red Cross, said that while that organization has enough money for smaller disasters such as local house fires, relief money is badly needed for the tornadoes that have hit northeast Kansas and the flooding that has inundated the Midwest.

She estimates that the Red Cross will need $30-million to meet the needs of people affected by the tornadoes and flooding and added, “That doesn’t include what could happen tomorrow.”

As of the middle of last week, the Red Cross had raised $13-million in cash and pledges, Ms. Anglin said.

Comments

Is the Red Cross so out of touch with the public that they do not realize why they aren’t raising the funds that they need? It’s not because of the economy, it’s because we no longer trust them to be good stewards of our funds.

It is time for us to take a critical look at the way that disasters are addressed by the philanthropic sector.

— Midwest CFRE Jul 7, 01:45 PM #
I have not seen anything in any media from the Red Cross telling people how they can help. There were so many ways made available to help after Katrina – is it just me not paying attention?

— Chicago Jul 7, 01:52 PM #
The Red Cross needs to look at the reserves held from previous disaster and discuss releasing those funds.

— Randy Smith Jul 7, 02:31 PM #

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