Busy Mom points out that you can donate spare change to the American Red Cross at the Coinstar machines in the grocery store.
Approximately 130 million Americans live within 2 miles of a Coinstar machine. If even half of those American donated just $1 in spare change to the Red Cross, it would raise more than $65 million to support American Red Cross lifesaving services in communities nationwide!
There is a caveat:
note that some Coinstar machines are not yet equipped with the donation option. To confirm that your grocery store can accept donations to the American Red Cross, please call 1-800-928-CASH.
Find the Coinstar machine nearest you.
Ugh, I’m plagiarizing the ARC page but the information is just too good.
How Can $1 Make a Difference?
66 pennies: Allows us to give a child any one of 11 "after the disaster" coloring books and a box of crayons.
$1: Buys one family expert safety information.
$3: Buys a comfort kit with toiletries for one disaster victim.
$6: Buys one blanket for a disaster shelter.
Quarters: Add up to dollars and $ 30 buys a pair of shoes for a disaster victim.
Dimes: Add up to dollars $ 65 buys a winter coat for a disaster victim.
$10: Buys one day of groceries for a family affected by a disaster.
$20: Buys a home clean-up kit for a family affected by a disaster.