Many of us have been touched by the stories and video footage coming out of the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan to the point where some of us want to help in any way we can.
The Better Business Bureau of Western Ontario says acting on your sense of generosity is a good thing but they caution you to be careful before you give.
Bureau President Jan Delaney tells Bayshore Broadcasting News it’s important to research the major charities and their role — if any — in Japan.
She says it’s important to choose a charity that actually has a presence in the stricken area.
Delaney believes it’s fine for a charity to accept money for Japanese relief but the organization can’t actually get into the country then you’re better advised to wait before giving.
Delaney advises to check if a charity is raising funds on behalf of other groups.
In a case where a charity is not providing direct aid to Japan you won’t get a receipt for your donation and there’s no way of knowing if your donation is going directly where you intend it to go.
A charity that claims 100 per-cent of what it raises goes toward earthquake and tsunami relief should automatically raise a red flag in your mind.
Delaney cautions that every charitable group has expenses like administrative costs and that it’s wise to find out exactly how much of what they collect actually goes for disaster relief.
The Better Business Bureau says cash donations are better than food or clothing because money can do the most effective job of relief in the shortest time.
