I came out pretty fortunate during the Hurricane/superstorm Sandy thing.
You know how I helped my community?
I let people stay at my house, I let my neighbors piggyback on my generator, I gave some people the room in my basement(total strangers, mind you, kinda wierd having people you don't know stinking up your bathroom
) , whos house was reduced to a foundation.
That is how I donate now, in person, with time and resources, not cash.
If you saw how much the head of the red cross makes you would be disgusted.