The death toll from Hurricane Sandy reached 38 today in New York, and its estimated that approximately 650,000 residents still remain without power, according to The New York Daily News. The massive hurricane has been debilitating for the city and its five boroughs, in some of which the debris has not yet been combed through. In support of relief efforts, organizations, foundations and individuals have been pouring out donations since the storm made landfall on Monday.

The American Red Cross announced that it received more than $11 million in donations to help those affected by the hurricane, as reported by The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

"The Red Cross is doing everything possible to get help quickly to those affected," Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of Disaster Services for the Red Cross, told the source. "We are providing aid and comfort to people right now, and our focus today is on ramping up a massive feeding operation to get hot meals to people in places such as Long Island, Manhattan, Staten Island and New Jersey."

In addition to the Red Cross' work, Save the Children has raised $1 million and The United Methodist Committee on Relief has raised $24,000 through online gifts and donations sent via text message, according to The Chronicle of Philanthropy.

As organizations plan to contribute to relief efforts in the wake of major  natural disasters, they can consider using digital channels such as online fundraising programs that allow them to receive and disperse much-needed funds sooner.