Oklahoma's Monster Tornado: Help the Victims

Images and video from Monday's tornado in the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore have stunned the nation. The death toll now is at 24 people, including several  children.

The reports leave many people in Safety Harbor and across the nation wondering how they may help.

Patch has done some of the work for you. Here is a list of well-established charity groups helping out in the recovery efforts:

1.) The Sun Coast Community Foundation of Florida recommends that people give through its sister organization, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation.

• Contributions to the Oklahoma City Tornado Recovery Fund can be made online at https://www.occf.org/onlinegiving.html. 

• You can mail checks, made out to the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, P.O. Box 1146, Oklahoma City, OK. Note that money should go to the Oklahoma City Tornado Recovery Fund.

2.) The foundation also encourages contributions to the American Red Cross, which helps survivors meet basic needs after natural disasters. The organization makes donating easy, according to Janet McGuire, spokeswoman for the American Red Cross:

• To donate online, go to www.redcross.org.
• Or simpley text "REDCROSS" to 90999. A donation will be charged to your phone bill.

3.) Here is the Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief's website to target your donations directly where they are needed.

4.) United Way of Central Oklahoma’s Disaster Relief Fund is open and accepting donations. Go online to www.unitedwayokc.org, or send checks by mail to United Way of Central Oklahoma, P.O. Box 837, Oklahoma City, OK  73101. Note that your donation is for "May Tornado Relief."

5.) Click here for a list of other organizations offering assistance.

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