One more point. Unless you have specific information from a bona fide chairty requesting something very specific, and you are able to deliver to where it is needed, only donate money. I have seen a lot of silliness and waste in the name of relief efforts. A local school in my old town did a canned food drive, and ended up spending 1500 to get a truck to take it to LA. That's wasteful and inefficient. Or the piles of winter coats (?) that people sent to Tsunami victims. Don't tie up logistical infrastructure and personnel with trying to receive, store, sort and distribute a heterogeneous mound of donated goods. Err on the side of sending money.

This is a little long, but you should have more information. AHA is the original organization, HSUS broke off from them..... American Humane (AH) is an organization founded in 1877, committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and well-being of animals. American Humane's leadership programs are first to serve in promoting and nurturing the bonds between animals and humans.[3] It was previously called the International Humane Association, before changing its name in 1878. In 1940, it became the sole monitoring body for the humane treatment of animals on the sets of Hollywood films and other broadcast productions. American Humane is best known for its trademarked certification "No Animals Were Harmed", which appears at the end of film or television credits. It has also run the Red Star Animal Emergency Services since 1916. In 2000, American Humane formed the Farm Animal Services program, an animal welfare label system for food products. Edit American Humane began on October 9, 1877, as "The International Humane Association," The International Humane Association changed its name to the "American Humane Association" in November 1878.[8] In 1916, American Humane founded Red Star Rescue Relief after the U.S. Secretary of War asked American Humane to rescue injured horses on the battlefields of World War 1.[10] In 1954, tensions within the ranks of American Humane members came to a head at the organization's meeting's in the aftermath, there were firings and resignations. A core group went on to found a new organization, the National Humane Society, later known as The Humane Society of the United States, as an alternative to American Humane.[11]

A while ago I found a blog by a vet who said WW was a sham. Typical of many of these heartstring-tuggers, The organization was doing very well for itself -- with a token payment going for services. We've seen this over and over with "Save the (Whatever)". I thought that any organization that could afford those long TV ads had to be suspicious. So sad to see obits where the deceased asked for contributions to WW program. (The vet did hold the Red Cross in high regard; saw them in the field.)

In the past 2 years or so I started getting the occasional text or phone call to my cell meant for someone ( with an unusual name) who apparently used to have this number, and who donated to a particular political organization. I ignored them at first, but finally texted back that I wasn't that person and to stop - which they said they would do (and seemed to). But this past election season, I was inundated with texts from all sorts of (liberal leaning) political action committees and activist volunteers, many who mentioned that previous person by name. So the number is obviously on a list being disseminated amongst like minded organizations. They finally stopped after the election, but started up again last week with the newest cause du jour. I have to text "STOP" to each and every one, but the number still gets passed around.