By: Jemma Dooreleyers
This world has experienced a rough couple of months—“rough” being a vast understatement. In the past three months alone, there have been four category 4 hurricanes, two earthquakes over a 7.1 magnitude, and the deadliest mass shooting in the modern history of the United States of America. (Editor’s Note: This was written prior to the bombings in Somalia. This strategy is certainly pertinent here; our thoughts with all of the vicitims and their families) With all of this happening great distances from us, it is very easy to feel helpless and unable to alleviate the suffering of victims. However, there are some things that can be done just as easily as posting “Sending Love and Prayers” on your Instagram. Here are 4 very important contributions you can make to the relief efforts.
1. Stay informed and Fact check
Within the first few hours and days of the catastrophic occurrence, millions of things will be circulating the internet. Before reposting and spreading the information even farther, always be sure to verify the news accounts and fact check your sources. It is important to do this because you do not want to falsely accuse a suspect or send people into a panic without meaning to.
2. Donate
Even if you don’t have money to spare, there are some other things you can donate but these things require proximity to the crisis. However, they are free—these things are blood and time. To donate blood, you can look up the closest blood donor clinic near you and sign up for free. To donate time there are a multitude of things you can do to volunteer for the relief effort. Whether it is cleaning up the rubble or putting together supply baskets for those who are displaced.
3. Take Action
This one mostly pertains to mass shootings in the United States. However, this rule of thumb can be applied when you feel any injustice is happening. There are many petitions circulating that you can sign revolving around gun control. You are also able to call your local congressperson and express your concerns that way. You do have a voice.
4. Follow up
After a week of news coverage, all of the information about the crisis will be reused and exhausted and the coverage will go to something else. However, just because the cameras are not pointed at the crisis does not mean that the people and cities involved have recovered by any means. There are people still suffering and their suffering deserves to be recognized and acknowledged. When people are given the means to share their story, it ensures that things like this don’t happen again and people can be more prepared when they do.