Numerous organizations are mobilizing to lend a hand in the devastating aftermath of BP's Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
For simple, safe ways to donate or
volunteer to help affected areas contact one of the following
well-established charities and beware of online scammers.
• Greater New Orleans Foundation:
In response to the recent disaster, the foundation is opening the Gulf
Coast Oil Spill Fund to make emergency grants to nonprofit
organizations helping the victims of the oil spill and help address the
long-term economic,
environmental, cultural effects of the disaster, and strengthen coastal
communities against future environmental catastrophes by investing in
solutions.
• Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
is joining with partners at the local, state and federal level to begin
registering volunteers to assist with spill recovery efforts and
collect donations toward those efforts.
• National Park Foundation’s Disaster Recovery Fund:
Give to the “National Parks Disaster Recovery Fund” online or by
texting “PARKS” to 90999 on your mobile phone by July 1st. Your money
will go directly to the parks impacted by the Gulf oil spill.
• Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
is a group of organizations with a history of on-the-ground work in
Louisiana, and combining efforts and experience to implement an
effective volunteer response and make a real difference in the BP Oil
Spill recovery efforts.
• The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans is working with Matter of Trust to collect donations of nylons, hair and fur, which can be used in making booms for containing oil.
• Catholic Charities
is providing food, rent and utilities aid and is currently in need of
volunteers to help outreach to families who work in fishing-related industries affected by the oil spill.
• Second Harvest Food Bank:
is working in concert with Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New
Orleans, the Louisiana Department of Social Services and others to
ensure that men, women, children and seniors are afforded the meals
they need during these trying times.
• The BP Volunteer Hotline has set up
numbers if you need to report injured wildlife or damage related to the
spill. You can also request volunteer information at 866-448-5816.
• Oxfam America
is working to help affected communities with financial assistance, as
well as protect local wetlands and marshes. Oxfam also has an online form to "Ask your Senator to make BP clean up their mess"
• Louisiana Serve Commission is helping mobilize and train volunteers in response to the Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
• Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service:
All oil and oil-contaminated materials will only be handled by trained,
paid workers and not by volunteers. To apply for these jobs, go to the MS Department of Employment Security website and click on Oil Spill Jobs. Registered volunteers will also be contacted as needed.
• Volunteer Florida
encourages everyone to get connected with a local organization.
Volunteers can support these organizations throughout the oil spill and
beyond through appropriate activities such as Coast Watch, pre-oil
landfall beach cleanups, fundraising, and meeting other needs of responding organizations.
• Alabama Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives provides information on volunteer and donation opportunities.