The Official Website of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS)

Public Safety

Operation Helping Hand

A list of charities and agencies accepting financial donations can be found on the FEMA website  www.fema.gov. The Governor has requested volunteers be able to donate 5 days of consecutive time and has also asked for volunteers to make their own living arrangements.  You can register with Operation Helping Hand by emailing your name, phone number and a short description of your volunteer skills to katrinavolunteer@state.ma.us .

For Massachusetts companies that would like to make a corporate donation, please call 1-508-820-2000.

MEMA is asking that all material donations be made to the Salvation Army.  The material donations currently in greatest need are new clothing.  Donations can be dropped off at any Salvation Army Thrift Store, Adult Rehabilitation Center or office. 

IMPORTANT DONATION CONTACTS

Unsolicited Help Can Hurt! How to do Good the Right Way!

Consider the following before you donate goods, money or time:

  • Financial Contributions Are Preferred.
    Cash donations help to avoid the labor and expense of sorting, packing, transporting and distributing donated goods.  Voluntary relief agencies use cash to meet victims’ specific needs more quickly.  Many voluntary disaster relief organizations have pre-existing relationships with major providers of disaster materials and supplies, and can leverage extremely good discounts, so donated dollars actually go further than if individuals purchase them. Unsolicited donations can create logistical nightmares for those already warehousing supplies that are needed and a needless expenditure to transport.
  • Donate Through Experienced Organizations.
    Be familiar with the organization that you are assisting. Work with voluntary disaster organizations with a known track record. Although relief agencies prefer the versatility of cash donations, some do have the infrastructure in place to store and distribute donated goods.  To prevent waste, donated goods should be made only to agencies that have requested specific items.
  • Confirm The Need Before Collecting.
    Donors should be wary of anyone who claims that “everything” is needed.  Many groups have been disappointed that their efforts and the goods they collected were not appreciated.  A community hit by disaster, however, does not have the time, manpower, or money to dispose of unneeded donations.  Get precise information before collecting donated goods.
  • Volunteer Wisely To Help Others.
    In a community struggling to respond to and recover from a disaster, an influx of unexpected or unneeded volunteers and donations can make the process more difficult.  Before traveling to the disaster area to help, learn where and when your skills will be needed.