The idea of sending microdonations to the Red Cross in times of disaster is a great idea. If you want to donate $5, along you have to do is send a text message to 24357 and it happens automatically. “Consumer group” Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights has a problem with it because it doesn’t solve every problem and account for every possible situation:
Group Questions Cellphone Fund-Raising – New York Times
The program, Text 2Help, was first used after Hurricane Katrina, and was promoted last month at a wireless industry trade show. It enables customers of participating wireless companies to enter the code 24357, or 2HELP, to make $5 donations to the Red Cross in natural disasters. Donations are added to monthly cellphone statements or debited from prepaid accounts.What rankles the consumer group is that each donation is capped at $5 and will incur standard text-messaging fees, which on AT&T are 15 cents. “If you want to contribute $20, you have to send four text messages and you’ll be billed for four text messages,†Mr. Court said. “These contributions are structured so that consumers who want to give more pay a higher price for doing so.â€
If you want to contribute $20, just use your phone to CALL the Red Cross. Or write a check and send it in the mail. Or go online and use their form. This is a tool for donating a small amount of money– an additional method, not a replacement for all methods.