Seven Ways to Help Tornado Victims

Google supplied these before and after pictures of the storm's devastation.

The death toll from the catastrophic tornadoes in the South has climbed to more than 340, with thousands injured, homeless, without power or clean water. How can we harness the power of social media to help?

One of the best things you can do is use Twitter and Facebook to spread the word about places to donate and how to help. Here’s a list of ways to help get you started:

The Red Cross has two shelters set up in Tuscaloosa, temporary homes to 240 people so far. The relief organization provided meals for more than 600 people on Friday and is requesting more financial support. Donate to the Red Cross online RedCross.org, text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10, or call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767) to give money or schedule a blood donation.

The Salvation Army has spread out all over the South, helping with sustenance for tornado survivors in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. Donate on the Salvation Army’s website at salvationarmyusa.org. Text “GIVE” to 80888 to make a $10 donation, or you can call 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769) and designate “April 2011 Tornado Outbreak”.

Save the Children is providing food, doctors and education for kids, and the organization is accepting donations at the Save the Children website. The organization will also accept donations by phone at 800 728-3843 during business hours.

World Vision, a Christian humanitarian group, focuses on children, aiming to lessen the emotional shock from the devastating tornado outbreak. Find out more or donate at the World Vision website, or call 1-866-56-CHILD (24453).

Catholic Charities are accepting donations for tornado victims at the Catholic Charities website, or you can donate by calling 1-800-919-9338.

Governor’s Emergency Relief Fund is accepting donations on its website, requesting donations by credit card or check.

Post found items to Facebook: Patty Bouillon started a Facebook page containing found pictures and items that were blown by the tornadoes. She started that page after finding pictures and documents in her neighborhood that were blown all the way from Smithville, Mississippi, a town located 100 miles to the Southwest of her home. If you live near the disaster area and find photos, mementos or other items, scan them or take photos of them and post them to the Facebook page she created specifically for this purpose, entitled "Pictures and Documents Found after the April 27, 2011 Tornadoes". There are now more than 600 photos and items on the page, with 40 of them already identified.

Please, pick your favorite charity, let us know in the comments of other organizations that are helping the South’s tornado survivors, and post on Facebook and tweet the information of your choice far and wide. This is the second-worst storm in recorded history, and people are suffering right now. We need to help them.

Source: Mashable

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Lady Gaga Donates $1.5 Million in Total to Zynga’s Japan Earthquake Relief Campaign and The American Red Cross

Zynga Inc. today announced that Lady Gaga has donated $1.5 million total, through the sales of her Japan Prayer Bracelets, to Zynga’s fundraising initiative with Save the Children as well as to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Today's donation comes on the heels of Zynga players raising more than $2.5 million in the last two weeks for Save the Children’s Japan Earthquake Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund and other causes, bringing the grand total raised to more than $3 million.

“I’m inspired that my little monsters banded together to help those affected by the terrible tragedy”

“I’m inspired that my little monsters banded together to help those affected by the terrible tragedy,” said Lady Gaga. “What Zynga’s players have done for the cause is equally inspiring, and I’m thrilled to partner with them to raise money that will go to Save the Children and the American Red Cross.”

“I’m inspired that my little monsters banded together to help those affected by the terrible tragedy”

Through Zynga games including Café World, CityVille, FrontierVille, FarmVille, Words With Friends, Vampire Wars, YoVille and Zynga Poker, more than 250 million players had the opportunity to donate 100 percent of the purchase price of newly created virtual items to the fundraising efforts. Via Credits, Facebook donated money generated through the purchases to support the initiative.

"We've seen our players show tremendous generosity when presented with opportunities to give back," said Mark Pincus, CEO and Founder of Zynga. "We're very happy that Lady Gaga has chosen to donate to our fundraising efforts and hope our players take pride in what they've accomplished."

Lady Gaga is also announcing a contest where she will fly one lucky fan who purchased a Japan Prayer Bracelet to a show on The Monster Ball Tour to meet the superstar. Visit http://www.LadyGaga.com to learn more. Zynga.org is committed to transforming the world through the power of virtual social goods with campaigns in Zynga games. Since its inception in October 2009, hundreds of thousands of players have raised more than $10 million dollars for international nonprofits through Zynga.org. Visit the following link directly to help provide disaster relief and support children affected by the disaster in Japan: http://www.savethechildren.org/japanzynga.

Source: Business Wire

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