Austinist Altruist: The Oil Spill - How You Can Help

With increasingly devastating reports about the vastness of the destruction caused by the oil spill in the gulf, it's hard not to feel helpless. We seem to know what to do in the event of natural disasters - there are handful of reliable charities we can count on to do good work with our donations. But in the case of the gulf coast oil spill, it's not that simple. It's easy to blame BP and ignore the complexity of the issue (and the fact that our own reliance on fossil fuels is, in no small part, also accountable for the situation). There are ways to help - many organizations along the coast are mobilizing volunteers, rescuing oil covered wildlife, and addressing the basic needs of people affected by the disaster. Is it frustrating to throw time and money at a problem that BP should have fixed by now? Sure, but it's becoming increasingly unbearable to sit back and watch as animals die, people go without paychecks, and injustice prevails. Here's a list of some of the organizations that are collecting money, donations, and volunteers to help with the gulf coast recovery.

National Wildlife Federation
The NWF has set up a Text Message donation line to help with their on the ground volunteer and restoration efforts. Text "WILDLIFE" to 20222 to donate $10 dollars or donate online. The NWF is also establishing Volunteer Wildlife Surveillance Teams to tour coastal sites, identify injured animals, and report the spread of oil. They are specifically looking for volunteers with a knowledge wildlife species.

Second Harvest Food Bank of New Orleans
Second Harvest is working to provide emergency food boxes to fisherman and families affected by the oil spill. Nearly 50,000 households along the Louisiana coast rely on income from commercial fishing, tourism, and related services. With help from community sponsors and partner organizations, Second Harvest can provide a meal to a family of four for just one dollar! Monetary donations can be made online and Second Harvest also has set up a Virtual Food Drive storefront where donors are able to raise money for specific items that the food bank needs most.

The Audubon Society
The Audubon Society has set up a Volunteer Response Center in Mississippi. The facility will coordinate more than 13,000 volunteers who will work with coastal bird surveys, transporting wildlife, creating rescue materials, and cataloging public wildlife sighting information. Prospective volunteers can register online. Audubon is also collecting donations to help support volunteer efforts and aid with long-term habitat restoration efforts.

Greater New Orleans Foundation
Serving as a conduit between donors and nonprofit partners, the Greater New Orleans Foundation is providing emergency grants to organizations who are helping the victims the spill. GNOF is currently focusing on assisting the local fisherman of Plaquemines, Jefferson, Terrebonne, Lafourche, and St. Bernard Parishes as well as those who depend on the tourism industry. Longer-term support will go towards addressing long-range effects of the spill and strengthening coastal communities against future environmental catastrophes. Donations can be made online.

Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research
Working closely with the International Bird Rescue and Research Center and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Tri-State has been working on-site since late April to assist with rescuing birds affected by the spill. They have set up an Adopt-A-Pelican program and are looking for monetary donations so that they can respond immediately to the spill.

Continue reading this post after the jump for more organizations that are responding to the oil spill crisis.