Gulf Oil Spill – How To Join The Relief Effort

I’ve been seeing a ton of people on Facebook and Twitter show their concern for our nation’s largest disaster. I’ve searched around the web to collect a few links that should direct people who have an interest in helping with relief, possibly find an organization to join.

Nobody is totally sure how much oil has leaked into the Gulf yet, but here’s some estimates…

• NOAA | 210,000 gal/day
• USGS (Added May 27) | 504,000 to 798,000 dal/day
• Outside Estimates | 1,050,000 gal/day
• BP (Worst Case as of May 5) | 2,520,000 gal/day
• Experts’ Worst Case | 4,200,000 gal/day

Here’s some numbers and links for organizations involved in the relief effort (most local to Gulf area)..

The government has a volunteer hotline at 866-448-5816, and BP has a community support team hotline at 866-448-5816.

The Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana is organizing food distributions for those affected by the spill. You can donate money or volunteer.

The Community Center of St. Bernard provides food, hot meals and counseling to those affected by the spill. T-shirt sales go to help fishermen and their families.

Tristate Bird Rescue & Research and the National Audubon Society, are organizing volunteer efforts for wildlife rescue and beach clean-up.

Buy Dawn detergent: If you register online here and purchase a bottle of Dawn, $1 will go toward the Marine Mammal Center and the International Bird Rescue Research Center.

You can also help by donating Dawn blue dish soap to C&M Toth. The soap will be distributed to Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research and the International Bird Rescue Research Center (IBRRC).

Other organizations you can contact to help are, Volunteer Louisiana, Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service, Volunteer Florida, and 211 Connects Alabama.

The Gulf Coast Oil Spill Volunteers Facebook group coordinates people who want training to help in cleanup efforts.

Edge FM sponsor, ALt Designs is donating 2.00 from every sale to the National Wildlife Federation.

You can also visit Etsy and shop to help. 50% of proceeds go to Oxfam America, and 50% to the National Audubon Society

The National Wildlife Federation is also looking for help, and is taking donations. The site also has some helpful links.