# Suggest A Charity For Gulf Coast **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 31, 2005, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-charity-for-gulf-coast/319511 "2005-08-31T23:36:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-charity-for-gulf-coast/319511/1 "2005-08-31T23:36:55Z")
Not that I don’t think the Red Cross is a good organization - they are. I just prefer to donate to smaller, local charities. Does anyone personally know of any that are providing assistance directly to those most in need in the Gulf Coast area? - Small community church? - Local hospice? - Shelters? If you, or someone you know, has any direct connections, I would appreciate your pointing me in the right direction. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![pinkfreud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pinkfreud/32/17603_2.png) [@pinkfreud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pinkfreud)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-charity-for-gulf-coast/319511/2 "2005-08-31T23:44:25Z")
[Mennonite Disaster Service](http://www.mds.mennonite.net/) is a wonderful organization. I have several friends who are volunteers with MDS. I do not doubt that every dollar donated to this group is well spent. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-charity-for-gulf-coast/319511/3 "2005-09-01T00:09:22Z")
> [@pinkfreud](#): > > [Mennonite Disaster Service](http://www.mds.mennonite.net/) is a wonderful organization. I have several friends who are volunteers with MDS. I do not doubt that every dollar donated to this group is well spent. Thanks, **pinkfreud**. Great link. Went in, took just a few minutes. Done. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-charity-for-gulf-coast/319511/4 "2005-09-01T03:53:10Z")
This sounds good as well. I’ll probably make more donations, but this organization will probably do good work with my money. ---
**Author:** ![PeacePlease](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@PeacePlease](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeacePlease)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-charity-for-gulf-coast/319511/5 "2005-09-01T04:46:49Z")
Does anyone have any secular recommendations? No offense intended. I, too, am reluctant to use the Red Cross and the only other charities I’ve seen linked to are religion-based. Thanks. I’m just overwhelmed at the thought of this catastrophe. I must do something even if it is just giving money. ---
**Author:** ![Alpine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpine/32/17813_2.png) [@Alpine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpine)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-charity-for-gulf-coast/319511/6 "2005-09-01T13:49:56Z")
I am also looking for a secular organization to donate to. Since Search & Rescue teams are being deployed from all over the country, I thought it might be useful to help with those costs. Anyone know how to find out how? I’ve been surfing a bit, but it’s hard to get specifics. ---
**Author:** ![contradancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@contradancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/contradancer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2005, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-charity-for-gulf-coast/319511/7 "2005-09-01T14:43:11Z")
As far as lost, injured and stranded animals, here’s a site that looks okay. [http://www.uan.org/](http://www.uan.org/) This group isn’t “local” per se, but they are deploying volunteers from across the country to help. Their website details what they are doing about helping in the affected areas. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-charity-for-gulf-coast/319511/8 "2005-09-02T01:14:39Z")
I’ve just donated to [Noah’s Wish](http://www.noahswish.org/) I’ve read their web site and don’t see that they are religion based. They help save animals during these type of disasters. ---
**Author:** ![OliverTwistofLime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b487fb/32.png) [@OliverTwistofLime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OliverTwistofLime)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-charity-for-gulf-coast/319511/9 "2005-09-02T03:09:39Z")
Salvation Army is honest and dependable. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-charity-for-gulf-coast/319511/10 "2005-09-13T22:44:59Z")
Because the need’s still out there, here’s a link of [recommended charities](http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/content.view/catid/68/cpid/310.htm). ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2005, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-a-charity-for-gulf-coast/319511/11 "2005-09-13T23:02:09Z")
And now, the Station Casinos chain of locals’ casinos in Las Vegas is matching donations. Go to any change cage and make a donation and they will match it (up to $250,000 total donations).