How you can help Nepal earthquake victims

For those who wish to assist in the relief and recovery effort after the devastation in Nepal, there are ways of giving to local efforts as well as international organizations already on the scene.

Here is a list of some of the groups that could use your donations:

• Several Chicago-area social organizations including the Chicagoland Nepali Friendship Society, Chicagoland Tharu Society and Nepali American Center are working together to collect donations to assist in the relief effort. The groups began accepting donations through PayPal Sunday night. More information can be found on the Chicagoland Nepali Friendship Society website at www.cnfsusa.org. Other organizations involved in the donation efforts are Newa American Dabu, America Nepal Society as well as other Nepali businesses, churches and organizations.

• The American Red Cross is working with the Nepal Red Cross Society to provide immediate assistance to earthquake victims. Visit redcross.org for information on how to donate. The Nepal Red Cross Society's website, nrcs.org, has been down intermittently, since the disaster.

• AmeriCares relief workers are preparing shipments of medical aid and relief supplies for survivors. The organization stocks emergency medicine and relief supplies in its warehouses in the U.S., Europe and India that can be delivered quickly in times of crisis and launches comprehensive recovery programs that restore health services for disaster survivors. Visit americares.org.

• CARE, a humanitarian organization, is appealing for funds to ramp up the emergency response and provide immediate lifesaving assistance to those affected. CARE staffers on the ground are working to coordinate with other agencies and CARE has plans in place to assist up to 75,000 people with assistance including temporary shelter, ready to eat meals and water purification and latrine construction. Visit care.org.

• Oxfam International is responding with clean water, sanitation and emergency food. Visit oxfam.org.

• Save the Children is seeking donations for its efforts to protect vulnerable children and provide desperately needed relief to families. Donations will go to the Nepal Earthquake Children's Relief Fund to support disaster response. Visit savethechildren.org.

• Catholic Relief Services, the international humanitarian agency of the U.S. Catholic community, and its partner Caritas maintain offices in Nepal and are on the ground working to provide relief. Visit crs.org.

• The U.N. children's agency, UNICEF, says nearly 1 million children in Nepal need help. UNICEF says it is preparing two cargo flights with a combined 120 tons of humanitarian supplies including medical and hospital supplies, tents and blankets, for urgent airlift to Katmandu. Visit unicef.org.