Our 11 News Call For Action team pens a weekly column for our news partner The Gazette. Previous columns can be found here.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – I know there are many of you who want to help out with the Ukraine crisis, but we want to make sure you don’t fall for any scams. My fellow 11 Call for Action reporter Julie Martin talked with the Pikes Peak Community Foundation about ways to do your homework before you donate your hard-earned money.
“People really want to open their hearts and wallets to support those in need,” said Kevin Farley, director of marketing and communications for Pikes Peak Community Foundation. “In this case in Ukraine, we see a lot of things popping up — from crowd-funding to direct government support — by the government of Ukraine and nonprofits looking to help the people of Ukraine. There’s a lot of opportunities to give. Some of them are legitimate and some of them are not.”
Unfortunately, we know scammers are quick to follow natural disasters and tragedies.
“What we see in society is you know scammers are always looking to make a quick buck, and they’ll take advantage of any situation, no matter how heinous it is, to try and get your money,” Farley said.
He recommends donating money to government agencies or verified nonprofit organizations that work directly with Ukraine or refugees.
“Make sure that they work in the area, and they have a history in the area or they have a history in that field of work,” Farley…
