Haiyan

According to the United Nations (as of November 14, 2103), 11.8 million people have been affected and more than 921,200 people have been displaced as a result of Typhoon Haiyan

Relief needs and what activities can be done locally at Kean University are still being assessed.

Two organizations that have launched relief efforts in the Philippines are the United Nation's World Food Programme

To donate $5 to the United Nations World Food Programme"WFP""REDCROSS"

The donation will show up on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your balance if you have a prepaid phone. You need to be 18 or older, or have parental permission, to donate. Standard messaging rates apply. To cancel your donation, you may text the word "STOP" to number.

To donate to the American Red Cross online, or learn more about the Red Cross's relief efforts, please visit www.redcross.org.

What Can You Do To Help Following A Natural Disaster?

Volunteer

Affiliate with existing non-profit organizations before coming to the disaster area. Immediately following a disaster, a community can become easily overwhelmed by the amount of generous people who want to help. Contacting and affiliating with an established organization will help to ensure that you are appropriately trained to respond in the most effective way.

Be safe: Do not self-deploy until a need has been identified and the local community impacted has requested support. Wait until it is safe to travel to volunteer sites and opportunities have been identified. Once assigned a position, make sure you have been given an assignment and are wearing proper safety gear for the task.

Be patient: Recovery lasts a lot longer than the media attention. There will be volunteer needs for many months, often years, after the disaster - especially when the community enters the long-term recovery period.

Give Blood

The need for blood rises during disasters of this scale, and this problem is exacerbated in affected areas where blood drives may have been cancelled

Cash Contributions

Cash donations are very useful in situations where supplies must be acquired quickly. The Red Cross is providing shelter, clothes, supplies, food and blood, as needed, for the victims. In terms of items, you'll be doing more for those in need by donating money instead of physical goods. To donate, please visit www.redcross.org.

*Information adapted from un.org, redcross.org and serve.gov.