Make sure your donations really go to quake victims

You can count on it, when people are concerned about their fellow man, it's only a matter of time when some unscrupulous person will find a way to take advantage of that kindness.

In the case of Saturday's earthquake, which killed more than 4,000 and counting in Nepal, India and Tibet, it didn't take long. The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce reported that residents were receiving calls purporting to be from the chamber, collecting money to aid earthquake victims.

The chamber certainly supports charitable contributions to the cause, but the callers have no association with the chamber.

Instead, residents are urged to make donations through regular channels.

The Quartz news site assembled a list of charities accepting donations for earthquake victims. You can check them out here: http://bit.ly/1QAkABt

Many of them are familiar to us, even here in Southwest Nebraska.

Like the Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and Samaritan's Purse, the folks behind the Operation Christmas Child holiday shoebox drive, Catholic Relief Services, Oxfam, UNICEF, Save the Children, World Vision and many others.

Speaking of the Red Cross, a community blood drive is set for 12:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at the Community Building on the Red Willow County Fairgrounds.

We're coming into the busy summer season, when not only do donations drop off, but the demand can increase.

If you have never given blood, or it's been a while since the last time, this week would be a good time to turn out for the blood drive.