Update: I am continuing to make updates to this post as I am made aware of additional ways to make a difference in Haiti. If you know of a way – please share it in comments and I will add it to the post.
I sit on my couch, physically untouched by the disaster in Haiti.
But mentally, I’ve been grabbed, I’ve been shaken. The images are carved into portions of my brain.
I catch myself open-mouthed, tears streaming down my cheeks as I watch the video, as I read the horrendous details. The flattened schools, the bodies in the streets, the children clinging to each other and what is left of their families. There are thousands of lives lost (estimated as of today to be between 45-50,000). There are hundreds of thousands with no place to go, no food or water…many being treated in make-shift hospitals and often without anesthesia.
But, I am comforted by the number of people who are reaching into their purses, their savings, their coffee money, the change from their couch.
I have watched the tweeting, the blogs and sites popping up to offer assistance. I wanted to give you some options – from the big organizations and the notable musicians to the mommy bloggers and social media.
The American Red Cross -Earlier today, the Red Cross confirmed that over $35 million has been raised in the 48 hours since the quake – $5+ million of that from texting ‘Haiti’ to 90999. ($10 will be charged to your phone each time you text to the Red Cross) From their site: Your gift to the American Red Cross will support emergency relief and recovery efforts to help those people affected by the earthquake in Haiti. Assistance provided by the American Red Cross may include sending relief supplies, mobilizing relief workers and providing financial resources and recovery.
Unicef From their site: Children are always the most vulnerable population in any natural disaster, and UNICEF is there for them. Please give NOW—100% of every dollar you give to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF will be sent directly to UNICEF to support emergency relief efforts.
Care – A humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. From their site: Many of CARE’s staff in Haiti include emergency personnel who were part of the response to the devastating Hurricane Hanna in 2008. CARE began working in Haiti in 1954 to provide relief assistance after Hurricane Hazel. Today CARE’s work in Haiti includes projects in HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, maternal and child health, education, food security, and water and sanitation. They have deployed additional personnel to deliver food, hygiene kits and water.
Operation USA – From their site: Operation USA is an international relief agency that helps communities at home and abroad overcome the effects of disasters, disease and endemic poverty by providing privately-funded relief, reconstruction and development aid.
Wyclef Jean is raising money through his Yele Foundation. You can text YELE to 501501 to donate $5. (Latest numbers show more than $1million raised so far)
The Run Amuck (on behalf of Compassion International) Amber is dedicating her heart to this most-needed cause!
Hope for Haiti – Put together by members of the blogging community, you can purchase raffle tickets for fantastic services and items donated by some of the most amazing women online. Each dollar donated = 1 raffle ticket. All money raised will be donated to The American Red Cross and Compassion International.
Common Sense with Money is donating .25 cents for every comment (up to $500) on this post.…so….donate with your words!
If you are looking for family in Haiti, visit this site.
The New York Times has set up a post dedicated to the missing.
Hear from an American family living in Haiti via their blog.
For what appears to be a complete list of official organizations to make donations, head to MSNBC.
And on January 22nd, George Clooney will host a telethon to be broadcast on all the MTV networks. Rhianna, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Ashton Kutcher and John Legend are among those slated to appear.
I am heartened to read that Major League Baseball donated $1 million to UNICEF, that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie donated $1 million to Doctors without Borders, Alysssa Milano donated $50K…and on and on. And now, many businesses are getting in the charity swing. T-Mobile is offering free service for calls to and from Haiti – including roaming in the earthquake-torn country.
Small comfort during this tragedy.
If you are worried about being taken by a scam (stick with the most well known organizations) or want to confirm the authenticity of a charity, visit the Better Business Bureau’s charitable divsion.
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