Know who you’re giving to before you give to relief efforts

Know who you’re giving to before you give to relief efforts

From State Representative Milton Nicks This weekend, an additional 1,500 Arkansas National Guardsmen will be heading to Texas to assist with recovery and relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

The Governor announced this latest deployment on Friday morning. Their mission could last up to 30 days.

Arkansans have been on the ground helping since Tuesday. Several guardsmen of the 77th Aviation Brigade have been conducting search and rescue operations with Black Hawk helicopters.

And 15 members of the 61st Civil Support Team have been testing soil, water, and air samples in the impacted areas to determine levels of contamination. Arkansas Game and Fish Officers have also been assisting with rescue efforts by boat.

All of this is in addition to the efforts by individuals, churches and non-profits from our state setting up their own donation sites and relief efforts.

When natural disasters have hit our state, we have consistently seen ordinary people doing extraordinary things. That continues now as we help our neighbors. The Arkansas Attorney General’s office is providing the following advice to Arkansans wishing to donate to hurricane relief funds.

• Do your research. Get the organization’s name, address, website and phone number, or give directly to a known nonprofit of your choice. Make sure the nonprofit organization is registered with the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office.

• Use www.GuideStar.org to compare nonprofit organizations and to get more information.

• Ask the organization how it will spend your donation.

• Watch out for similar but different organization names as some con artists will use names like those of existing, reputable nonprofits in order to trick consumers.

• Do not give out financial or personal information over the phone or through email to an unknown entity. This information could fall into the wrong hands, or the scammers could use it to steal your money or identity.

• Never send cash. Make check or credit card payments for increased security and tax purposes.

• If you wish to donate through a text message, verify the organization’s number before doing so.

The work of recovery and rebuilding will be long term. Your help will be needed today and for several months to come.