All over the Midwest and the South, flooding has created a disaster situation. Nearly half of the state of Arkansas has been declared federal disaster areas You can help these communities get back on their feet and recover! Here's how:

Spread the word

Lots of people don't know the extent of the flooding. Send a email to friends and family to get support for the areas that are affected. Include a link to the Red Cross for facts, news articles and a link for images. The more people know, the more they'll be willing to lend a hand.

Shout it out

Set up a club at your school to raise awareness about victims of disasters. Get approval from administration to show a slide show of images and post facts. MSNBC has great slide show of compelling images of the floods in the Midwest. Then see if you can get some students together to have a fundraising event like a Donation Car Wash or Bake Sale to help charities working to aid the disaster victims.

Flood Bucket

Put together a “Flood Bucket” with supplies to help victims of flooding begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood or hurricane. You can even have a bake sale with the charge being an item to contribute to a bucket. The items include sponges, gloves and other cleaning items. Recruit your family, friends, or even a club at school or church. You can find a full list, assembly instructions, and where to send the buckets at the UMCOR Relief Website.

Hold a food drive

Hundreds of people are being forced out of their homes. As a result, many don't have food or water. You can help by holding a canned food drive at your school, church or community center. Visit the Arkansas Food Bank to find out where to ship goods and the most needed items!

Volunteer!

Have some spare time? If there is a disaster or flood near you, you can register as an on call volunteer for your area. Visit the "Help in Disaster" site for instructions.