Update: Thank you so much to everyone who participated. The donation has been made in honor of all 104 comments left.
Like many of us, I have been seeing the photos and hearing the stories coming out of the Northeast related to Hurricane Sandy, and I want to do more than just say “Oh that’s horrible, I wish I could help”. The reality is that most of us can help. Whether it is by donating time, money, items, or miles/points, the majority of us can do something.
I live on the Gulf Coast, and hurricanes are unfortunately a part of life here every now and again, but that does not make it any easier when your turn is up. To make things even worse, the population in the Northeast is much more heavily concentrated than in my neck of the woods, so when something goes wrong it effects an even greater number of people at the same time. That means that there are a bunch of people who really need help.
While I have posted already about how to earn miles and points by donating money to the hurricane relief efforts, I want to include an updated list since more hotels and airlines have come out with promotions to encourage donations. Additionally, several BoardingArea bloggers are making it even easier to help by donating $1 toward the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts for each comment on our Hurricane Sandy posts (like this one), up to a combined $1,800 total between the participating blogs.
Thanks to Wandering Aramean (who lives in Lower Manhattan, and was without power for several days) for compiling much of the list below:
- JetBlue is matching customer donations up to the first $50,000 donated to the American Red Cross and also offering 6 points per dollar to their TrueBlue members. JetBlue is also making their presence felt on the ground in New York City, paying for meals from the Wafels & Dinges food trucks to be distributed to residents.
- Delta is donating $100,000 to the American Red Cross relief efforts. Additionally, SkyMiles members can also donate miles or money to the Red Cross; there does not appear to be any miles promo associated with it at this time.
- United Airlines is matching up to $100,000 in donations to three charities: the American Red Cross, Feeding America and AmeriCares. As of this morning their member have already donated more than $300,000 to the charities so the match is maxed out. Additionally, members who give a minimum of $50 will receive 250 bonus miles. Donations of $100 or more will receive 500 miles. The company will issue up to 5 million miles as part of the effort.
- American Airlines is offering 250 AAdvantage miles to members who donate $50 and 500 miles to members who donate $100 or more.
- Hilton is offering 10 HHonors points for every $1 donated (through their GlobalGiving site) through the end of the year.
- Starwood Preferred Guest will match points donations made to the American Red Cross through November 30th. Donations start at 2,000 SPG points.
- Salvation Army accepts donations of United and Delta miles with a minimum of 1,000 miles.
Additionally, when you make charity donations using your US Bank FlexPerks card, you earn 3x for your donation. Whether you donate points, time, dollars, or just take a few seconds to comment on this post, I encourage you to do something. Many of us in the miles and points community are fortunate enough to have the time and resources to travel, so let’s help those who are still struggling to get life back to some semblance of normal.
Leave a comment on this post stating how you like to help others in need, and it will raise $1 toward the hurricane relief efforts (please one comment per person, per blog). Then head to the similar posts at:
The deadline to get your comment counted is 11:59PM Eastern on Thursday November 8th (so we can get the donations out by the end of the week). Thanks so much for taking the time to participate!
From a Hoboken NJ resident who thankfully sustained just a little damage and just got power back Saturday, thanks for what you’re doing to support my neighbors and everyone else affected by the storm.
Thanks for what you are doing!
How generous of you!
I like to help others in need by volunteering. Since I’m a college student, I don’t have much money so every dollar is important which is why I volunteer instead.
Thanks Mom for your efforts. I just donated all my Delta miles to the Salvation Army drive. Here hoping all your readers will comment and chip in
Rick
I like to donate online. And get others to contribute to charity too!
Thanks MommyPoints – Very generous of you and all the bloggers on the Boarding Area
Long time reader, first time posting a comment. As a NYer and in one of the neighborhoods hit the hardest, means a lot to see blog posts and efforts from everyone.
donated via UA’s campaign
-David
A friend of mine in NJ is affected. I’ll donate through AA and send her a care package.
A great idea and generous initiative. Well done.
Great cause. Thank you for organizing. I’m from Miami, so I know what those people up there are going through. Best wishes.
We gave to the Sri Lankan and Japanese Tsunami’s over the last few years. We realized that we needed to give to this effort riright here in our own country.
We gave to the American Red Cross last week.
I just try to help where I can, when I can. Thanks for doing this!
Thanks for participating in this! Every little bit helps.
Also I donated some Ultimate Rewards points – 100 points equals $1 to the Red Cross.
Thanks so much. I am from NY and am heartbroken about the damage throughout the northeast.
It is very nice of the boarding area bloggers to come together in this time of need.
I give to the Red Cross.
great idea for the charity. Keep it up
Volunteering for grassroots organizations.
Very happy to support this effort
I’ve got some Delta miles I have no plans to use. Thanks for letting me know how I can pass them along to help out.
NOW our comments really count for something important besides ourselves!! Good on ya mate!
Thanks for doing this. I have family in NY and NJ. They need gas and power.
Thanks for the heads up.
I live on the East Coast in Delaware and thankfully, my state received very little damage. It’s heartbreaking to see states so close to us such as Jersey and New York who were not as lucky. Hopefully we can all work together to help each other. Thank you Mommy Points!
Thanks Mommy Points. I’m donating my Delta miles.
Glad to see boardingarea is involved in this!
I live in NJ and we were hit pretty bad, thankfully we got power back Sunday but many neighbors still have no power or heat. Thanks for this, it means a lot!
Thank you for spreading the word about opportunities to donate and for donating your own money to the recovery efforts. Having grown up at the Jersey Shore, it is devastating to see the pictures of the damage.
I donated to the Red Cross. Kudos to you and the other bloggers!
Great idea!
I like to donate via my workplace, but this is a great idea!
Helping to raise another dollar!
Luckily I just missed the storm but my prayers go out the families..Thanks for your donations MP!
Thank you for doing this, MP!
Donating with the rest of you. Great idea combining with other bloggers!
One more dollar raised. Thanks!
One more $1!
good work
+1 from me
Great way to support them.
Gonna donate through the HHonors promo!
I’ve already donated through the AA promo. Thank you for doing this!
Hope my donation helps even a little!
Nice idea.
I donated blood to the red cross – they are in desperate need!
Donated through the Red Cross and the HHonors program.
Thanks for doing your part!
I donate to the Red Cross.
You guys are great!
Thanks for paying it forward!
I donated to the Red Cross. Great thing you bloggers are doing here!
Ooh. A dollar from me too
Thanks for doing this. And don’t forget Haiti. they got Sandied, too. I am donating to CARE.
Yes, great cause!
Thanks for doing this!
As NYC residents, the Routehappy team couldn’t be happier to see your name on this cause. Thanks for doing this!
I donate to the red cross.
Great thing for the Boarding Area bloggers to do!
American Red Cross
Indeed – thank you!
Anywhere it’s needed most!
Thank you for what you are doing
I donate to the Red Cross.
Great job, all!
Thanks for helping out!
I donate to a homeless women’s shelter.
Oh yes, very well done.
This is so great!
Right on! Great idea!
keep up the good work
I donated to the Salvation Army, but am quite glad to post a comment here as well. Thanks!
Thanks for your generosity
I donate to the Red Cross
Cute idea. Thanks for donating!
thanks for donating!
Great cause
Thank you for supporting!!
I like to give to the Red Cross. Nice of you all to donate!
I have a great aunt in NJ that is still without electricity…thanks for your donations!
I like to donate money especially to local charities. I also like to participate when hotels or airlines offer bonus points for donations that I make. This might give me incentive to maximize a donation I was already planning on making. Thanks for your efforts in helping the northeast. Many in my state including family and friends in NYC & on LI have been affected. Thank you!
Time to help others!
Here’s mine!
Very good of you to do this! I just donated all my Delta miles and I just donated $$ through the Hilton portal thus extending the expiry date of my points. I think that this makes a win, win, win all around!
Great idea!
I donated to the Red Cross.
I donated to GlobalGiving
Great idea by all of you, keep up the good work!
Thank you for caring!
Proud of my daughter-in law and all of you for doing this.
Thanks for your efforts!
This is a great idea! I’ve donated money and wish I could do more to help.
Thanks for doing this. I donate monthly to the American Red Cross, was told monthly donations help them budget.
Thanks for helping!
This is a great idea
Like to donate online.
cool idea!
As a former Jersey girl, I am donating money through American Airlines.
I give to the Red Cross…trust them to do the right thing
Never knew a simple comment could help out like this
I like to help others in need by giving my time and money where it seems helpful, and generally devoting my life to the service of others
Every little bit helps
Good luck with the fundraising efforts!
Just received this interesting email from Angela at Global Giving:
Thank you for your generous donation towards the relief effort! From now through December 2012, Hilton HHonors is giving away 10 bonus points for every $1 donated in response to Hurricane Sandy. If you are an existing HHonors member, please email your full name & HHonors account # to hhonorsgivesback@hilton.com in order to receive your bonus points. If you are not an existing HHonors member but would like to take advantage of this offer, you may enroll in HHonors by visiting http://hhonors3.hilton.com/en/index.html and then email your full name & new HHonors account # to hhonorsgivesback@hilton.com.
Warm regards,
Angela and the GlobalGiving Team