November 6, 2012 – On October 29, 2012, Hurricane Sandy swept up the East Coast, leaving destruction and despair in its path. In the days since the storm, the people of the United States have come together to provide support, resources and assistance to those in the hardest-hit areas.

SNA would like to extend our thoughts and best wishes to all those affected by Hurricane Sandy, especially to those members directly impacted. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is already working to assist state agencies in meeting the nutrition assistance needs of FNS program participants in the impacted states. To learn more, click here.

If you would like to help those affected and are able to make a donation or volunteer your time, there are plenty of local and national organizations that need support. Here is a list of several organizations aiding in the relief efforts:

American Red Cross
The Red Cross has more than 5,000 disaster workers helping to provide food, water, shelter, clothes, supplies and blood, as needed, to the victims of Sandy. To donate, click here or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is focused on feeding and sheltering activities, as Sandy response continues. To donate, click here or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat, an international organization, helps those in need rebuild their homes after disaster strikes. To learn how you can volunteer in your community, click here. To make a donation, click here.

Feeding America
To date, Feeding America has provided 3.6 million meals to food banks supporting the relief efforts. To get involved with your local food bank, click here. To make a donation to Feeding America, click here.

Save the Children
Save the Children is focused on assisting the needs of children and families displaced by the hurricane. To make a donation, click here.

Community FoodBank of New Jersey
This group is currently distributing over 100,000 lbs of food daily to families displaced by Hurricane Sandy. To learn more, click here. To make a donation, click here.

New York Cares
This local NYC program is recruiting volunteers to help with Sandy relief efforts, and is also raising money. To learn more about their response efforts, click here. To make a donation, click here.

Catholic Charities USA
Relief services are provided at the local level by Catholic Charities agencies that provide critical services including emergency food, shelter, direct financial assistance, counseling and support. These services are provided regardless of religion, race, creed, or socio-economic status. To make a donation, click here.

AmeriCares
As part of the hurricane response, AmeriCares provides emergency kits and medical supplies to those in crisis. To make a donation, click here.

Humane Society of the United States
In the aftermath of the Hurricane Sandy, the Humane Society's Animal Rescue Team is assembling staff and equipment to help rescue pets. To learn how you can help, click here.

While helping with the relief efforts is important, scams often follow disasters. The Federal Trade Commission warns of scam “charity” appeals and fraudulent home repair offers. Visit the Charity Navigator website for tips for giving in a time of crisis and a list of charities. The above list is not meant to be comprehensive. If you know of additional organizations, volunteer opportunities or ways of helping, please leave a comment below.