Ways to donate to Spokane fires victims and avoid scams

“A lot of times scammers are going to try to do whatever they can to take advantage of opportunities like this, which is really unfortunate when somebody is battling the loss of their homes or even worse, a life,” noted Montana Department of Justice spokesperson Chase Scheuer. 

AI images and fake fundraising links have been popping up on social media since the fires broke out in Spokane this past weekend.

It can be difficult to quickly tell the difference between a legitimate fundraising link and someone trying to take advantage of the situation. Scheuer strongly encourages people to take their time and look into what they’re donating to, ensuring it is legitimate.

“So first, first and foremost, what I would tell someone is do your research and reach out directly to a church in the area, maybe the Red Cross in the area,” he explained. “Some place that, you know, and that you can trust the information that you're getting to send that money or to send, whatever it may be, to the right people.”

There have also been reports of scam callers pretending to be charities asking for donations to help people and animals in Spokane. Be wary of people calling, especially if they are aggressively asking for money.

So how can you help? The NonStop Local Spokane station – KHQ – has a Wildfire Recovery page with a full list of legitimate organizations and direct links to support them.

People might want to donate things like bottles of water or clothing, but right now money can make the biggest impact.

“The best way to help out is through a financial donation that really helps us get the right help to the right people as quickly and efficiently as possible,” said Matt Ochsner, communications director with the Red Cross of Greater Idaho and Montana. “We appreciate people's generosity. But the Red cross, really what we're trying to do is meet their most immediate needs. And the easiest way to do that is through a monetary donation. And it takes a lot of resources to sort and distribute and clean products like clothes and furniture.”

Hundreds of Red Cross volunteers already to assisting with the Spokane Fires, including several from Montana. Organizers anticipate many more will be needed in the coming months.

Montana has seen first hand the devastation that wildfire can cause. The scars from the wildfires that destroyed homes in communities like Denton and the Bridger Hills are still being felt.

For more than a century, the Red Cross played a big role in aiding natural disaster impacted communities. Their work is only possible thanks to volunteer efforts. More information about how to volunteer can be found here. 

The families impacted by the recent fires, and the community of Spokane will continue to need help in the months and years to come. 

More information about resources assisting those impacted can be found here.