Charities rely on your donations all year round, but in times of need opening your heart and your wallet means just a little bit more. Many of us, our family, friends, and/or neighbors were impacted when the remnants from Hurricane Ida swept through South Jersey a couple of weeks ago.
The impact was devastating for some, but what’s heartwarming was the community dedication to helping neighbors. From showing up to lend a hand, to dropping off food and supplies to giving money, South Jersey turned out to help those affected.
You can still make a difference and it won’t cost you anything extra when you use the Xspero app to make purchases at local businesses and restaurants. When you select a South Jersey charity that is helping those in need like the United Way of Gloucester County, you give 20 percent of your Xspero purchase directly to those who need it. It’s easy, doesn’t cost you anything extra, and only takes about 30 seconds.
The United Way of Gloucester County is one of our Xspero Partner Charites that responds in crisis. They’ve created the Gloucester County Disaster Relief Fund and you can give directly through their website.
Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org), a website that lets you know how charities and nonprofits use funds raised, offers the following tips on giving in a crisis:
Be careful with your donations: The gift you make, especially after a disaster, is powerful, so choose your recipient carefully. Before making a contribution, confirm that you’re supporting a reputable organization that will do its best to respond to the disaster.
Your social media feed will often display pleas for donations tied to crowdfunding campaigns. You are more likely to know where the funds are going if you are close with the person creating the crowdfunding campaign or online fundraiser, or if the creator is a friend-of-a-friend.
Do the most good: When a disaster strikes, it’s easy to see pictures and footage from the affected areas and feel compelled to give clothing and blankets to keep people warm and clean. But the most valuable gift is money. Donating money will allow the charities working on the ground to quickly purchase the supplies they need for dealing with the evolving needs of those impacted.
Consider the long-term: Recovery efforts can take months, if not years. Consider checking in with recovery charities to see how their needs have changed and how you can continue to support them.
Giving feels good and you can keep the goodness going when you use the Xspero app to give to local charities without costing you more. If you don’t have the Xspero app, download it from your Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
