Joplin tornado

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From CNN

The Missouri State Emergency Management Agency is providing details on donating and volunteering to help Missourians recover and rebuild.

Health professionals interested in volunteering are asked to sign up on the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Show-Me Response website.

The American Red Cross has opened shelters in Missouri and Minnesota. The shelter in Joplin is located at Missouri Southern State University, and the Red Cross is working to provide transportation to the shelter for those in need. The Red Cross is also distributing food, cleanup supplies and comfort kits, and sending health workers to provide immediate care.

Text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or visit the website to donate, give blood or volunteer.

AmeriCares has sent disaster-relief personnel to Joplin, and it's working with Access Family Care Clinic to help victims. This expands AmeriCares' tornado relief operation, which has been assisting various Southern states as they recover from their own recent tornado outbreak.

Donations to AmeriCares can be made online or by phone at 1-800-486-HELP.

The disaster-response team with Convoy of Hope is heading to Joplin with a truckload of water, snacks and ready-to-eat meals. It is coordinating with local officials to determine what additional supplies should follow and at what locations they can provide essential supplies.

Those wanting to help can text the word "CONVOY" to 50555 to make a $10 donation. You can also donate online or by calling 1-417-823-8998.

Feeding America is working with Ozarks Food Harvest to provide emergency food assistance to those in need around the Joplin area. It is accepting donations online and by phone at 1-800-771-2303.

The Heart of Missouri United Way has established the Tornado Relief Fund to help victims.

Text "JOPLIN" to 864833 to make a $10 donation, or call 1-573-443-4523.

The United Way of Greater St. Louis is accepting donations and volunteers to help those impacted in the Joplin area.

Those interested in volunteering should list their availability and expertise on their Joplin Storm Recovery Volunteer Form.

For more opportunities to volunteer with United Way, call 1-800 427-4626.

Heart to Heart International has sent volunteer medical professionals and their mobile medical clinic to the devastated communities in Kansas and Missouri.

Heart to Heart also sends hygiene kits for people displaced by the storms, and their care kit assembly instructions can be found here.

You can donate or sign up to be a volunteer online or by phone at 1-913-764-5200.

The Salvation Army has mobilized four feeding kitchens in impacted areas of Joplin. It is also providing relief to other cities that were hit by the weekend tornadoes in Missouri, Minnesota, Kansas and Oklahoma.

The Salvation Army's disaster-relief efforts in Joplin can be supported by texting "JOPLIN" to 80888 to make a $10 donation. You can also donate through their website or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

Samaritan's Purse is providing assistance to survivors in Joplin. Its first volunteer team is on the ground, and it is asking for more volunteers to join their effort to remove trees and fallen debris and help make repairs on damaged homes.

Details to volunteer and donate can be found online and by calling 1-828-262-1980.

World Vision is now expanding its tornado relief to include the Joplin area. It has sent a team there to determine the most urgent needs.

Text"'TORNADO" to 20222 to give a $10 donation. You can also donate online or call 1-888-511-6443 to support World Vision's effort.

This is a link heavy article, so here's a link to the article itself, instead of copying and pasting for the next hour and a half. I don't know which of the agencies are using the most dollars donated for direct relief, but I know I'll sure be happy to see the Red Cross tent when the 9.5 hits SoCal.

If my cousin Jamie seems to think there are local agencies that can use the help more directly, I'll post that here as well.