Katrina Donations

Many want to donate food, blankets, etc. According to the Red Cross, donors should only send cash.


About Donating Goods to the Red Cross for Areas Impacted by Hurricane Katrina
Written by Leigh-Anne Dennison , Redcross.org Staff
Wednesday, August 31, 2005 — When a disaster of the magnitude of Hurricane Katrina strikes and the news broadcasts images of broken, battered and destroyed homes, it is natural for the public to be eager to help their neighbors – whether they’re across town or across the country. Often, seeing that they have lost everything, people are eager to donate food, clothing or other goods to meet the needs of storm victims and help the affected families begin to replace what they have lost.
Anheuser-Busch donated more than six million cans of water to the American Red Cross and other relief agencies to aid victims and relief workers during the 2004 Atlantic hurricanes. U.S. Navy personnel provided invaluable assistance to the Hurricane Ivan relief operation last year by loading critically needed water donated by Anheuser-Busch onto Red Cross ERVs at the Pensacola Civic Center distribution site, Fla., September 2004. (Photo Credit: Dave Murray/American Red Cross/File)
"While that generous spirit is truly appreciated, the American Red Cross cannot accept this type of donation for the victims it is serving," said Amanda Lepof, an American Red Cross In-Kind Officer.
Today, the Red Cross is operating more than 250 shelters across seven states, providing a safe haven for nearly 42,000 evacuees – many who have been left homeless by Katrina. The first priority is meeting the urgent, critical needs of those people, which include providing emergency shelter, food and water.
"In-kind donations are best when they come from companies that can provide new items in a quantity that meets the mass care needs of victims – for example, Anheuser-Busch is again donating canned water for hurricane victims and response workers," said Lepof. "Unsolicited, spontaneous donations of goods and services from individuals and community groups, although well intentioned, have hidden costs and pose a number of complications for initial relief efforts."
For these reasons, the Red Cross is unable to accept any large collections of items, such as used clothing, hygiene items, furniture, toys, blankets, and canned goods.