If You're Considering Donating and Helping Please Read .. my story

 and why I do not recommend Red Cross

Marty (my husband ) and I are Sandy survivors!
We know what Texas is going through,we've been there and still are there.
I would like to tell you our story and why I am recommending UMCOR and not Red Cross.
You may not know I live in Sea Bright and as you know the town was totally devastated.
We, residents, were not able to get into our town for over a month.
When we did it was horrific.
WE had no money, FEMA actually denied us because they could not see the house because the town was closed (long story).
The only thing we had was ourselves and the neighbors. As you know Woody's and the local restaurants fed us 3 meals a day for months
By the time we were able to get into the town UMCOR had already been working and sending volunteers to our area. They have a special division dedicated to disaster relief.
To get back to my story. If it were not for the volunteers from UMCOR who came to help us with our house I don't believe we would be back in it today!
The volunteers came with cleaning materials, they helped me throw out all of our stuff while I just could not face that task ALONE. They came and demolished all our walls as they were plaster. They supplied construction materials at NO COST to the people. They labored and gave without expecting anything back from us.We had people from Ohio, Georgia and Tennessee and these people have to pay UMCOR to participate and they bring their own food.
Marty and I have no family so having these volunteers come help us, lend a shoulder to cry on was unbelievable.
After we got a little bit better Marty started volunteering locally in Highlands where they set up one of their centers. This group is part of the Methodist church and you do not have to be a Methodist to get their help.They asked for nothing and gave everything. 
ALL DONATIONS to UMCOR go directly to disaster relief 100%.
During my time I had NOT ONCE seen or heard from RED Cross and believe me I called everywhere!!!!
In ending, if you are going to give. Please give to UMCOR or to your church or to the churches in Texas. They are the ones that will be there for the long haul for at least 5 years and I am still counting.
I have included the links to UMCOR main website and the donation website as well as phone and mailing.
Thank you for reading my story.

This is the main website for UMCOR: http://www.umcor.org

Below is the link for UMCOR Harvey Response: 
http://www.umcor.org/umcor/resources/news-stories/2017/august/0825umcorrespondstoharvey

To donate by check, please make your check payable to Advance GCFA and the write in 
Disaster Response, United States (#901670) on the memo line 
and mail to:

Advance GCFA
PO Box 9068 GPO
New York, NY 10087-9068

To donate by phone please call 1-888-252-6174.
 

Sincerely,

Gloria Benaroch
Broker Associate
732.245.4031