Texas elementary school shooting: Here’s how to help

In the town of Uvalde, home to about 16,000 people, victims’ families and the community are struggling to find answers. Nonprofits, hospitals and other organizations have set up ways for people to contribute to the community.

Here is how you can help:

Nationwide:

The popular crowdfunding platform GoFundMe has set up a donation hub that lists verified fundraisers for people affected by the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

VictimsFirst, a network of survivors and relatives of mass shootings, has set up a fundraiser on GoFundMe to provide the victims’ families with direct cash payments “with no strings attached.”

Teachers:

For teachers who are struggling with the news, The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Learning for Justice program created a love letter to teachers in 2018 to help grieving educators, according to the Washington Post.

Parents:

Girls Inc. has tips for parents and guardians to help young people cope following a tragedy.

>>Read: How to talk to your child about a traumatic event like a school shooting

Texas residents:

The South Texas Blood and Tissue in San Antonio is supporting the shooting victims by holding an emergency blood drive on Wednesday at Herby Ham Activity Center in Uvalde from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT.

University Health in San Antonio is asking the community to donate blood.

According to the New York Times, San Antonio Legal Services Association is seeking attorneys who are licensed in the state of Texas to provide legal assistance to the victims and their families.

The First State Bank of Uvalde has created a Robb School Memorial Fund for the families affected in the community.

Funeral services:

In Uvalde, the Hillcrest Memorial Funeral Home and the Rushing-Estes-Knowles Mortuary said they would assist families of the shooting victims with no cost for funerals.

>>Read: Texas school shooting: Matthew McConaughey, Selena Gomez, politicians react to latest mass shooting

Raising awareness:

Yankees, Rays use social media to spread gun violence facts

The New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays used their social media accounts on May 26 at a game between the teams to spread information about how gun violence affects American life.

Both accounts then posted a link to the source of their information.

Miami Heat calls for change

The NBA’s Miami Heat took a different approach to raising awareness and calling for change following the Uvalde shootings. Before Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Boston Celtics on May 25, the Heat held a moment of silence in memory of those who were killed -- followed by a statement urging fans to call lawmakers and demand change.

Remember to research fundraisers

As with any online donation effort, people should check to be sure the organization is legitimate. Scams invariably pop up in times of tragedy, so it is a good idea to do some research.

Nonprofit watchdog groups such as Charity Navigator, Guidestar and Charity Watch rate nonprofit organizations on their financial transparency, what is spent on fundraisers and how much goes toward helping the people the charity is supposed to benefit.