Probably doesn't NEED to be mentioned, but I'll point it out anyway -- (as mentioned on the morning news)...

...almost any phone solicitation for donations is most likely very ineffective use of your money. The Red Cross is not doing phone solicitations (they are way too busy for that kind of solicitation) so if you are solicited by phone -- and that someone says the money will go to the Red Cross, you can be sure that it is a third-party solicitor -- and that between 25%-95% of the donation will be going to the solicitor, NOT the relief agency.