As news about the heartbreaking devastation caused by the tornado in Oklahoma continues to pour in, today we’d like to take a moment to step away from our usual flower-themed posts and show our love and support for those in need. For our readers who want to know how to help the Oklahoma tornado victims, we’ve put together a list of reputable organizations you can partner with to join in relief efforts. Here are the links to each organization’s website, as well as a short description of how your donations will help the disaster victims:
- American Red Cross: Provides hot food, water and other personal necessities
- The Salvation Army: Provides meals, water and emotional support
- AmeriCares: Provides medicine and other medical supplies
- Samaritan’s Purse: Provides emergency supplies and equipment, such as generators, chainsaws, heavy-duty plastic and more
- Feed the Children: Provides food, water, blankets and other necessities to affected families with children
- Feeding America: Provides food and hydration to hungry families
- Save the Children: Provides food and medical care to affected families with children
- Operation USA: Provides emergency, shelter and cleaning supplies
- DonorsChoose.org: Provides child care items to teachers for their students
- World Vision: Provides emergency supplies such as tarps, blankets, food kits, cleaning supplies and personal care items
- Operation Blessing: Provides tools, supplies and construction help
- Convoy of Hope: Provides food to affected families with children
- Direct Relief: Provides personal hygiene supplies, infection control products, gloves, soap, baby care items and more
- Oklahoma Tornado Relief 2013: Provides funds to various causes
- The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma: Provides food, clothing and other supplies
- OK Strong Disaster Relief Fund: Provides medical, emotional and educational support
- Central Oklahoma Humane Society: Provides care and shelter to affected animals
- Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief: Provides laundry services, removal services and meals
- United Methodist Committee on Relief: Provides cleanup and rebuilding assistance, pastoral counseling, and support for traumatized children
- LifeChurch.tv: Provides personal care and storage supplies
- Jewish Federations of North America: Provides food and other personal care items
To help ensure that your contributions are going directly to Oklahoma tornado relief efforts, here are a few important tips to consider before donating to any organizations not listed above:
- Donate only to charities you trust and are familiar with.
- Do not give your personal information, such as your credit card or bank account number, to any charity that is not reputable.
- Always check the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Watch, GuideStar or Charity Navigator website to make sure the charity to which you’re donating is legitimate.
- Never send cash envelopes. They might get lost in the mail, and you won’t have any records of the donation to keep for personal or tax purposes.
On Tuesday, May 7, 2013, Jim McCann, founder and CEO of 1-800-Flowers.com, had the honor of ringing the Opening Bell at the NASDAQ MarketSite in Times Square to kick off Mother’s Day! The 1-800-Flowers team and their friends—including Brian Brewer, Director of Marketing and Communications at the 
