Donations are needed immediately to ease the suffering of those affected by Hurricane Katrina. Many charitable organizations are currently doing as much as they can, but need as much support as possible.
However, Oakland County Sheriff Lt. Dale LaBair has a few words of warning to people before they open their wallets.
‘Do not respond to e-mail, phone solicitation or anything you can’t see printed. There are numbers available in the papers; contact those people and get the numbers,? said LaBair.
‘Watch out for scams. Be leery of those who contact you. It’s easy enough to find the charities. If you want to donate through the Internet look them up.?
In order to ensure that every dollar pledged effectively helps victims in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast, below are some groups who need support.
The American Red Cross
Phone: 1-800-HELP-NOW (435-7669)
Web: www.redcross.org
Mail: American Red Cross P.O. Box 37243 Washington, D.C. 20013 Make checks payable to the American Red Cross. Please write Hurricane 2005 Relief in the memo line

American Red Cross: Southeastern Michigan Chapter
Phone: 1-313-833-2664
Web: www.semredcross.org
Mail: Send checks to American Red Cross Southeastern Michigan Chapter, P.O. Box 441280, Detroit, MI, 48244 Please include NDRF on the memo line.
United Way of America
Phone: 1-800-272-4630
Web: www.unitedway.org Click on United Way Hurricane Katrina Response Fund.
Mail: Check or money order made out to United Way of America sent to: United Way of America, P.O. Box 630568, Baltimore, MD, 21263-0568.