State Of California Helps Guide Donations
Release Date: November 6, 2003
Release Number: 1498-11
» More Information on California Wildfires
Pasadena, CA - Officials from the State of California and the many relief agencies and organizations express their deepest gratitude for the immense outpouring of support for the victims of the California Wildfires. Offers to help continue to pour in.
"Monetary contributions to the charity of one's choice are the best method of donating," said Dallas Jones, director of the Governor's Office of Emergency Services (OES). "They allow that charity to act with speed and efficiency in providing assistance and supplies that are needed immediately. People unable to make monetary contributions can contact their local food bank or their local chapter of the American Red Cross about the need for other goods."
OES has set up a toll-free number to help support the donations for residents who have suffered damages. Although the state does not accept any funds on behalf of any charities, they do help direct people to their charity of choice.
For a list of verified local and national charities that have offered their help to the victims, please visit www.oes.ca.gov and click on "Donations." There you can find a list of more than 25 organizations assisting in the California Fire Disaster Relief effort. You can also call the toll-free OES Donation Line at 866-227-0496 from 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. PST.
Individuals interested in volunteering can still register for future emergencies with their local volunteer centers. Links to volunteer organizations are also available through the OES website and through the Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism (GO SERV) website at www.goserv.ca.gov.
All non-profit contributions are tax deductible.
For contributions to the Salvation Army, please call (800) 728-7825, and for contributions to the Red Cross, please call (800) 435-7669.
The Governor's Office of Emergency Services coordinates overall state agency response to major disasters in support of local government. The office is responsible for ensuring California's readiness to respond to and recover from natural, manmade, and war-caused emergencies, and for assisting local governments in their emergency preparedness, response, mitigation and recovery efforts.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration.
Last Modified: Friday, 07-Nov-2003 10:30:02