A guide to helping in the wake of
Hurricane Katrina

Many individuals and companies are offering their assistance to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Every call is accepted with heartfelt gratitude for the love and concern it shows.

In addition to contributing funds to relief efforts, there are some things that individuals can do immediately to lend their support now. There are many ways you can help:

To Volunteer

• Call the American Red Cross (800) HELP NOW
• Explore www.NVOAD.org – the homepage for National Organizations Active in Disasters. Many of the members are “on the ground” in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
• Individuals seeking volunteer opportunities should contact to (800) 440-6728 or www.swern.gov.
• The Department of Health and Human Services has established a website (https://volunteer.hhs.gov) and toll-free number (866/KATMEDI) to help identify health care professionals and relief personnel to assist in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Multidisciplinary healthcare professionals and relief personnel with expertise in various areas are encouraged to visit https://volunteer.hhs.gov and register to volunteer for appointment by HHS. Please be advised that individuals must be healthy enough to function under field conditions, including 12-hour shifts, austere conditions (possibly no showers, housing in tents), no air conditioning, long periods of standing, Sleep accommodations on bed roll, military ready to eat meals, and portable toilets.

To Take Action

• New Jersey Food Bank (31 Evans Terminal Road, Hillside) is collecting food items as part of a nationwide effort to help the hundreds of thousands of victims of Hurricane Katrina. The food bank seeks donations of: Canned beef stew, Canned chili, Canned pasta (ravioli, Spaghettio's, etc.), Peanut butter in plastic containers, and Disposable diapers. Also, on Sept. 17, there will be pickups in different locales (the sites to be announced). Call 908/355.3663 or visit www.njfoodbank.org updates, directions, and drop-off times.
• The Salvation Army (65 Pennington St., Newark) is accepting clothing to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. For more information, contact the Salvation Army at 973/589.9194.
• The Union for Reform Judaism Jacob's Ladder project is collecting, organizing, and distributing goods and supplies flowing from Reform Jewish congregations nationwide to the victims of Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast. The local MetroWest community collection site is at Temple Shalom, 215 South Hillside Ave., Succasunna. Temple Shalom will be accepting these specific donations through Sunday, Sept. 18.
  * NEW LINENS, including sheets, towels, pillows, and blankets
  * NON-PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS that are easy to store, distribute and eat such as granola bars, peanut butter; crackers, jars of peanut butter and jelly; Ready made meals; Dry soup (Raman noodle soup or cup-of-soup); Cereal: instant oatmeal packets, large boxes of dry cereal; Pasta; Baby food (non-glass containers); and Canned food
  * FULL SIZE PERSONAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS, including Wet Wipes, diapers, adult diapers (Depends), feminine hygiene products, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap (liquid and bars), shampoo, shaving supplies (disposable razors, shaving cream), hair brushes, deodorant, tissues, and toilet paper.
  

For Housing Two-Way connections

• Go to www.hurricanehousing.org
• Go to www.jewishhurricanerelief.com – Chabad will match people anywhere with concern for special Jewish issues

For People Location

• CNN has set up a website where survivors can indicate that they are safe and give their current whereabouts. The information is available at www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2005/hurricanes/list/index.html.

To make Gifts-In-Kind

• In general, goods and gifts-in-kind are discouraged by many VOADS unless it is for large quantities of specific goods and services.
• The American Red Cross has reported that if communities or organizations have resources or services to offer, they should register at www.nerr.gov.  Offers of personal housing should NOT be registered on this site.
• Individuals or companies seeking to donate large amounts of goods and/or services should contact to www.swern.gov.
• The Union for Reform Judaism has initiated “Jacobs’ Ladder: A Relief Project of the Union for Reform Judaism” to collect food and supplies to send to the Union’s Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Utica, Ms. Working with the town of Utica, the Union and Jacobs Camp are operating a staging and distribution center for relief supplies from a warehouse provided by the city.  The center is collecting supplies (preferably shrink wrapped and palletized) and distributing them through a number of local and regional ministries and relief centers that serve the greater Jackson, Ms., community, the population of which has doubled with displaced families since the storm. For information, please visit http://urj.org/relief/jacobsladder/index.cfm?
• To donate food items, contact America’s Second Harvest at 800/771-2303 or www.secondharvest.org. A list of food banks in the affected region is available here.

The above will be updated as additional information is available. For specific information regarding ways you can help, continue to visit www.ujcnj.org or contact the UJC Community Relations Committee at 973/929.3064 or .