# How do we help the tsunami victims? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 29, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-help-the-tsunami-victims/282043 "2004-12-29T02:45:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-help-the-tsunami-victims/282043/1 "2004-12-29T02:45:39Z")
I’ve been thinking about this more and more as details of the Indian Ocean tsunami accumulate. Where can I send some money where it will actually make a difference? I don’t want to help buy a United Way director a new staff car, rather I’d like to help get some food and shelter to those who’ve been unmercifully whipped by an earth-burp. This may be on the minds of some other Dopers, as well. Alternatively, if not sending money, what else might I do to help? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-help-the-tsunami-victims/282043/2 "2004-12-29T02:51:21Z")
[CNN has a list of charities](http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/12/28/tsunami.aidsites/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![ZebraShaSha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/eada6e/32.png) [@ZebraShaSha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZebraShaSha)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-help-the-tsunami-victims/282043/3 "2004-12-29T02:57:22Z")
[www.google.com](http://www.google.com) is your friend. Er, not kidding - check out the homepage. They have links to charities and what have you. (Yet another reason to like Google.) ---
**Author:** ![Middlea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@Middlea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Middlea)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-help-the-tsunami-victims/282043/4 "2004-12-29T03:01:54Z")
You also may want to review the list of charities from [InterAction.org](http://www.interaction.org). I found the list by going to the US State Department website, which was recommended by CNN. The site gives a good rundown of charities and where their money goes. I chose to donate to Americares after going thru the list of organizations. Looked like they deliver a lot for the buck. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-help-the-tsunami-victims/282043/5 "2004-12-29T03:07:39Z")
I donate 10% of my pay to charity every year, there’s a few I consistently donate to and others I change up. I think Consumer Reports offers a pretty good review of charitable organizations. I’m a Catholic so a lot of the money I donate to charity tends to go to Catholic charity organizations and then the rest will go to local charities et cetera. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-help-the-tsunami-victims/282043/6 "2004-12-29T04:16:20Z")
The front page of [www.amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com) is offering you the ability to make a one-click donation to the Red Cross. I assume they’ll be big players in the relief over there. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-we-help-the-tsunami-victims/282043/7 "2004-12-30T04:26:30Z")
Thanks for the info, folks. Ii’s a split between [AmeriCares](http://www.americares.org/) and [Doctors Without Borders](http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/), I think.