As wildfires continue to impact communities in the Spokane area, many people across Central Washington are asking what they can do to help.
The simplest answer may also be the most effective: send money through a trusted relief organization.
After a disaster, it is natural to want to collect clothing, bottled water, food and household supplies. Those donations can be valuable when a specific organization has requested them, but unsolicited goods can also create additional work. They must be transported, stored, sorted and distributed—and relief organizations may receive large quantities of items that are not currently needed.
Financial donations give organizations working directly with displaced families the flexibility to respond to changing needs. Money can be used for shelter, meals, medications, transportation, replacement clothing and other immediate expenses. It also allows relief agencies to purchase supplies locally and in bulk rather than spending time and resources moving donated goods into the area.
FEMA and other disaster-response organizations consistently recommend financial contributions as one of the most effective ways to help following a disaster. Cash donations allow established organizations to put assistance where it is needed most and adjust as conditions change.
Where to Start
We are directing listeners and readers to KREM 2 News in Spokane. KREM has gathered current donation opportunities and information for people who want to support those affected by the Spokane-area fires.
There is a personal reason we chose KREM as our starting point. Our beloved office manager, Claudia Self, worked at KREM back in the day, and Morning Rodeo host Henry J. grew up watching KREM 2 News religiously with his dad. It was the station people trusted – and still do in the Spokane area – and it seemed like the right place to direct people now.
Please donate only through organizations and links you can verify. Needs may change quickly, so check the KREM page for the latest information before collecting or delivering physical items.
As former President George W. Bush once put it during another major disaster-relief effort: “Just send your cash.”