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The Best Ways to Help Harvey Hurricane Victims from a Distance as a Civic Duty

The Hurricane Harvey has become worse for the residents of Houston and Southeast Texas. It has created a devastating situation for the families and businesses situated on the Texas coast. A lot of properties have been damaged, many people have been injured and many businesses have suffered a lot. Well, more people are still in danger because of flooding as they have lost their homes and properties. But many individuals, as well as organizations, can help them out. Depending on the rules and regulations, there are some exclusive points to consider when donating  to help Harvey Hurricane victims as a civic duty. Consider all points before giving money:

• Giving donations – Many people want to help the victims and rush to the spot. Many trained volunteers and professionals are already on the scene and because of the possibility of more flooding, the rescue officials have asked that people stay off the roads where probable. If you want to send food and other items you can send cash to the victims or just give donations to the charity organizations that are raising funds for the victims.

• Showing smartness – If any organization is asking money from you in the name of helping the victims, don’t just give them money in a hurry. At first, verify the details and contact info of that organization. If you are not willing to donate by text or online, many companies have substitutes, such as donation forms which can be mailed together with a check. Do not send cash via mail. Always try to keep some good records of your donations as the IRS (Internal Revenue Service) needs that you do so for tax reasons, having the info available is handy if you are willing to follow up with other donations.

• Doing research – Always check out a potential donation or charitable organization’s credentials before you give donations. Every charitable concern has their lists of existing charities, fundraising efficiency, corporate pay, revenues, and the names of individual charity as well. Ultimately, you also can confirm the charitable status via IRS website. Keep in mind that some companies are not listed, so never be afraid of asking the organizations the information which you don’t find online.

• Being alert while donating to individuals – You can simply deduct contributions to the certified tax-exempt charitable concerns for tax purposes. Donations to the individuals will not be deductible for the tax purposes even if they actually deserve it. Always remember that once you donate the cash, you won’t have any control over its usage.

• Considering the rules – There are some rules that you must consider while giving donations to the charitable concerns. These rules can be tweaked often for enabling more flexibility. You should stay updated with that info for documenting the gifts and receiving the receipts. Do not hesitate to ask a tax professional or the charitable concern if you have any query.

So, these can be considered as a few best ways to help Harvey Hurricane victims from a distance as a civic duty before making donations. Don’t forget you can volunteer your time in your local city because victims may have taken shelter in your area as well.