How You Can Help Joplin Tornado Victims

Note: This column originally appeared on Lemont Patch. Editor Amanda Luevano was kind enough to share.

Being a news lady and all, I've been glued to the television the past couple of days, watching the aftermath of Sunday's devastating tornado in Joplin, Mo. As of Tuesday, the human death toll rose to 122, with 750 injured—making the storm the deadliest single tornado in 60 years.

So, where do cleanup efforts begin? How does a town recover from total destruction?

While rescue workers and families dig through the nearly six miles of debris in Joplin, there are several ways we can show our support.

According to the Huffington Post, Missouri's State Emergency Management Agency is encouraging all those who cannot physically volunteer to donate funds to support disaster relief efforts.

The Salvation Army has already begun relief work in the town through mobile feeding kitchens and recovery missions. The organization has set up special numbers to donate funds.

Cell phone users may text "JOPLIN" to 80888 to make a $10 donation. Credit card donations can be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY or by going to www.salvationarmyusa.org. Checks may be mailed to The Salvation Army, 3637 Broadway, Kansas City, MO 64111. Be sure to note "Joplin Tornado" on the check.

The Heart of Missouri United Way has also launched a Joplin Relief Fund, where 100 percent of all donations will go to disaster relief in Joplin, according to the Huffington Post. To make a $10 donation, text "JOPLIN" to 864833.

The American Red Cross is also collecting donations for Joplin. Since Sunday night, more than 100 people have stayed at the Red Cross shelter, and hundreds of supplies have been sent to help those in need.

The organization estimates that it will spend as much as $41 million responding to disasters that have affected the United States since March 31, and only $33.6 million has been collected to date.

To make a donation to the Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS. You may also text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or send checks to the American Red Cross at P.O. Box 37243, Washington D.C., 20013.

Relief efforts can also be tracked through a Facebook page titled ""Joplin, MO Tornado Recovery."