Hurricane Harvey relief: Do your part to help those in need

This is Windows Central, and as a Windows blog, we focus on Microsoft, Windows, Xbox and other related subjects for obvious reasons. But all of our writers and editors are people, too, some of us Americans, and as such, it's been hard the last week to watch Hurricane Harvey tear up Houston, Texas, and the surrounding areas. We have at least one writer who currently lives in Texas, though thankfully, he's not located in the area that was hit the hardest.

This latest massive storm also happened to come exactly 12 years after one of the worst Hurricanes to ever hit the U.S. — Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall on August 29, 2005. The city of New Orleans is in some ways still recovering from that storm, and the Texas Gulf Coast will be dealing with the aftermath of Harvey for a long time to come. That's why the people there, and the relief organizations on the scene, need you.

Every little bit helps. And Microsoft is admirably doing its part.

Whatever you can afford, be it $1.00 or $1,000.00, is money well spent. And we encourage you to do your part. However, when tragedies like Harvey hit, the scammers come out in droves, so you want to be careful about the charities you pick to contribute to. Both the American Red Cross and the Salvation Army are legit, trusted organizations, and you can feel safe in donating to either or both.

If you can, we ask you to please contribute to the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Every cent you share can make a real difference.

• Donate to the American Red Cross
• Donate to the Salvation Army