More than 700 homes have been destroyed in a series of fires in Spokane, Wash.
A newscaster just said another fire has started there.
People displaced by the fires need all kinds of help.
On Tuesday, Spokane County Emergency Management, or SCEM, said that the people shouldn’t donate items directly to fire districts, incident command teams, and evacuation centers. It’s too difficult for staff to manage these donations as fires are being fought, SCEM said in a statement.
The city of Spokane is accepting donations to support community members affected by the recent wildfires through its H.O.M.E. Starts Here Fund.
The fund, which usually helps the homeless, is being temporarily used for wildfire survivors who need help right away and for recovery.
Be sure to take precautions when you pick out a charity to help Spokane fire victims.
“It’s important to give safely to ensure your hard-earned money is helping those in need,” Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown said in a statement.
Brown’s office offers these tips for how to make sure your donation is benefiting those you want to help:
- Research before you give. Charities are required register with the Secretary of State’s office. A charity’s registration isn’t an endorsement by the agency, but the registration can be used to find basic information, including the organization’s location and what percentage it spends on its charitable purpose.
- Consider high-pressure tactics are red flags. Treat high-pressure asks for immediate donations or ones that request sensitive personal information with caution. They may be a scam.
- Watch out for imposters. Fraudulent organizations may use names that closely resemble those of well-established charitable organizations to mislead donors. Look out for fraudulent websites that have a slightly different web address than that of a legitimate charitable organization.
- Use caution with QR codes. QR codes are a quick way to visit a website or app, but scammers can use them to send you to fake fundraisers or malicious websites. Only scan QR codes from trusted sources or known senders. Always verify the URL displayed on your screen before clicking on it and make sure it starts with “https.”
Brown’s office is also aware of crowdfunding fundraisers related to the wildfires. Here are tips related to these appeals:
- When giving through crowdfunding websites, remember that donations go to the fundraiser’s organizer first. The organizer controls the funds and determines when and who will receive them.
- Donations to individuals aren’t regulated like charities. The organizers usually don’t register with the Secretary of State or report the amount they raised or how they spent it. In addition, donations to individuals aren’t tax deductible.
- If you choose to give through crowdfunding sites:
- Do research about the fundraiser’s organizer before you donate. Even a simple web search can provide important information.
- Consider giving directly to a charity if the fundraiser is for a named charity, so you can be sure your gift gets where you intended.
- Use your own evaluation to determine whether the fundraiser’s pitch makes sense.
People should report suspicious solicitations or fundraisers to the Attorney General’s Office in their state.
