How to help people affected by Sandy

Almost two weeks after Superstorm Sandy pounded the East Coast, many people still need help recuperating. The storm knocked out power in many areas across the Northeast and has flooded or otherwise severely damaged thousands of homes. In addition to cleaning up, recovering their belongings, and filing insurance claims, people in the impacted areas now have to dig out from under heavy snow fall after a powerful nor’easter hit their towns earlier this week. 

Relief groups are still working to make sure everyone affected by the storm is cared for, and they need your support. Here are some of the ways you can help even if you can’t be there:

• Donate Blood -- Red Cross had to cancel about 300 blood drives because of the storm and now supplies are running low. Visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS to schedule a donation appointment in your area.
• Give food and shelter – Red Cross and Salvation Army are providing emergency shelter and meals for evacuees. 
• Help kids in need – Save the Children and World Vision are paying special attention to the needs of children affected by the storm.
• The New York Blood Center is also collecting blood donations in the New York/New Jersey Area.
• Care for the animals – The Humane Society of the United States and the American Humane Association have teams working to save the lives of animals caught in the storm.
• Provide emergency supplies – AmeriCares, Direct Relief International and Feeding America are providing food, important medical supplies and emergency kits for people in need.
• Join in the cleanup – Team Rubicon has dispatched veteran field teams to start working right away and Samaritan’s Purse is looking for volunteers to help to rebuild after the storm passes.
• Help Haiti and Cuba – Hurricane Sandy took a deadly toll on the Caribbean before it hit the United States. Operation USA and the International Medical Corps are helping people affected by Sandy outside the U.S.
• Say informed - For more ways to help, visit Impact Your World. If you are in the Northeast and know of a need where you live, tweet @CNNImpact.

If you do choose to donate to a charity or organization claiming to help storm victims, make sure it is legitimate.  Unfortunately, scammers often try to take advantage of disasters like this.  Charity evaluators like Guidestar and Charity Navigator are good resources to make sure your donation is going where you intended.