Chinese saying: "If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody."

Biblical proportions is a term that's been tossed around when speaking of Hurricane Helene and the devastation is has produced. Please consider helping those hurricane victims during this month, they need so much.

When I think about entire towns being washed away, I think about not only people's homes being gone, but their businesses disappearing as well. How challenging these next few years will be for those business owners.

I've done a little research to present a few reputable charitable organizations below that you might consider supporting to help victims with their most basic life needs now. I'll also be looking in the future for organizations that support businesses specifically, and will highlight them as I learn more.

Before I list the charities, please be careful when giving. Scammers abound, and will be using this disaster to victimize even more people. Watch this brief video with IT expert Nate Howell with Advantec Solutions, as we discuss how to avoid being scammed when giving to charities.

Samaritan's Purse

Samaritan's Purse is a humanitarian aid organization founded by Franklin Graham, son of the famous evangelist Billy Graham. The earliest videos I've seen of hurricane help was from these folks. They provide aid to people in physical need as a key component of their missionary work.

Click here for volunteer opportunities with Samaritan's Purse.

Click here to give to Samaritan's Purse.

Habitat for Humanity of North Carolina

Habitat for Humanity is one of the best organizations I know. I've gotten to know my local Habitat for Humanity chapter quite well because their representatives network in the same rooms with me. They do much more than provide affordable housing. They build handicap ramps for home owners at no cost, they educate home owners on how to keep their homes maintained, and help in neighborhood revitalization projects.

Click here for volunteer opportunities with Habitat.

Click here to give to Habitat.

Websites to Vet Charities

https://www.fema.gov/

https://www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-milton#local-resources

https://www.nvoad.org/

https://www.charitynavigator.org/

https://www.guidestar.org/

https://www.charities.org/

https://www.ic3.gov/

Go network my friend, and remember:

Be as careful and deliberate with your giving as you are with any other purchase, so that those who need the help most, receive it.

The Networker's Tour Guide, Faithann Basore, and her husband Dave have owned Window Cleaning Plus (WCP) for 10 years. Growing WCP through networking has given Faithann the desire to guide other small business owners through the networking terrain so they can feel comfortable and build long lasting relationships in their business.

Faithann would like to thank Nate Howell for the interview. Click here to learn more about how Advantec Solutions might be a solution for your company's IT needs.

Got networking questions? Email me at [email protected].