Things Tornado Victims Need; Ways to Donate

There are many ways to help the victims of the recent tornado, including volunteering with The Red Cross or your local faith-based organization or donating funds to The Salvation Army (which has several locations downtown and in southwest Atlanta).

Another creative way to help is to search Twitter hashtags with labels such as #tornadorelief, #Alabama, #ALNeeds and #RedCross to determine the most pressing needs of the victims and ways you can help.

According to The Salvation Army, the best way to help tornado survivors and rescue workers is to make a financial contribution.

"Monetary donations allow disaster responders to immediately meet the specific needs of disaster survivors," according to a statement on the organization's webiste about the April 2011 tornado disaster across the Southeast.

The Salvation Army asks those who want to help to visit www.salvationarmyusa.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) and designate their gift "April 2011 Tornado Outbreak." Contributors also may send checks made out to
"The Salvation Army Disaster Relief" to: P.O. Box 100339, Atlanta, GA 30384-0339.

The Salvation Army stresses that, at this point, in-kind donations are not being accepted outside the disaster area because used clothing and used furniture are seldom required during an incident.

 However, these gifts are vitally important in supporting the day-to-day work of the Salvation Army. Please consider giving these items to your local Salvation Army Thrift Store or dial 1-800-SA-TRUCK.