Want to Help? Check Your Facts!

This week's disaster in Japan and other recent events in Haiti, Chili, and New Zealand have touched the hearts of many Americans.  These tragic situations always bring out the best and the worst in people. There will be hundreds of groups appealing for help to aid the victims, and because communication is difficult in these situations, rumors tend to fly. It becomes difficult to tell what is really happening and which agencies are doing the best job of providing assistance.  If you want to check a rumor, try the web site Snopes.com. If you are interested in donating to a charity, and want to find out how they use the money they collect, try Charity Navigator. Guidestar is another site that gives information on nonprofit organizations. They already have set up a web page called Giving to Disaster Relief and Recovery in Japan. These sites may keep you from wasting your time, energy, and money.