By: Sean White
Hurricane Sandy impacted the lives’ of a little more than a million Americans just a few weeks ago. Since then, many organizations have been working diligently to raise money and provide relief to the victims all across the east coast. The victims of the storm need food, clothes and shelter. According to weather.com, “It will cost approximately 50 billion dollars to rebuild the areas destroyed by the hurricane.” To raise funds for victims and the restoration of the east coast technology has began to play a major role.
Budge and Raise5 are two apps that are making it possible for donors to give by simply using their cell phones. Not only do these apps make is easy to make a contribution to storm relief, but to hundreds of other charitable organizations. Budge mentioned that they are aiming to make donating to charity social.
In class, Professor Sistrunk, taught about short codes being used by businesses to reach their customers. Non-profit organizations have adopted this new and fast growing technology to bring in donations. All the donors have to do is send the keyword to the short code and the desired donation will be added to the donor’s phone bill.
This Tuesday, my Uncle Kevin received a heart transplant. In order for him to be placed on the list to receive a heart, he had to raise $5000, for the post-surgery treatment and medication. My family used the website, fundrazr.com. This website provides people in need with the necessary resource to raise money online. Your fundrazr.com account can be linked to social network sites including Facebook and Twitter, etc.
If you are looking for a way to help those who have been impacted by Hurricane Sandy or if you want to donate to other causes, click the links below and give what you can. Remember, NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL. It’s the thought that counts.
Sean, this is a great cause. Many times we take the small things for granted and Sandy reminds us how much we shouldn't. It was a natural cause that took away a lot of material things, in which don't mean much. Having your life, food, and a place to sleep s what matter at the end of the day. I will give back what I can afford considering these people have lost a lot.
ReplyDeleteI think people severely underestimate the power of technology when it comes to some more humane forms of interaction between one another. Even the reconnaissance efforts made by FEMA and other emergency organizations are tremendously assisted by the ability of people to communicate via different channels when there is a disaster. In situations where cell phone service is unavailable because of jammed networks - iMessage or other messaging applications which use WiFi facilitate communications.
ReplyDelete