Hilary Duff pledges to contribute $250,000 to help Hurricane Katrina victims on the Gulf Coast.

A statement issued by publicist Cece Yorke says the 17-year-old singer-actress will donate $200,000 to the American Red Cross and $50,000 to USA Harvest, which is providing food to shelters.

The second donation will be equal to over 300,000 cans of food being provided to victims.

Duff has already started inspiring fans to bring canned food donations to her concerts and to donate money to charities.

She says, "It's heartbreaking to see the devastation on TV. People are missing family members, and they have absolutely nothing left, not even food and water."