As I sit here watching Anderson Cooper 360, live from Haiti, I can’t help but wish there was something that I could do to help the people and country that has been devastated by the earthquake. At last count, more than 50,000 people had been killed by this tragedy, with more bodies waiting to be found.
There has been some positive stories, with a lady from New Jersey being found alive in the rubble after being buried for more than 50 hours. I pray there will be more of such rescue stories, but as the time passes, the hope of finding survivors diim.
Bodies are lying on the streets and these people don’t have the resources we do. They need help and every little bit helps. It’s important to understand that if you choose to donate, make SURE that it’s a reputable organization, where you know the donation is going to help those in Haiti. Unfortunately, there are those who wait for these type of things to happen, so they can use this as an opportunity to scam and cash in on those just wanting to help those in need.
In order to avoid being scammed, I personally would only give when you initiate the donation. Even if someone CALLS you and says they are from (for example- the Red Cross) doesn’t mean they are. Visit the website, or a local brand and donate that way.
To help out- I’m sharing a list of links of reputable places you can donate, whose funds will go towards the relief efforts in Haiti. I can’t take credit for compiling the list, I got it from Fox News.
Action Against Hunger -ACF International has mobilized an emergency response following the earthquake that devastated the city of Port-au-Prince. ACF teams on the ground have begun to carry out rapid evaluations across the city, while additional support, equipment, and materials — including water treatment supplies, emergency vehicles, and communications equipment — are en route from ACF’s bases in Gonaives.
Action Aid– ActionAid asks for donations for its relief efforts. ActionAid has been working in Haiti since 1996 and is deploying an emergency team to deliver clean water, shelter and goods like blankets and soap.
ADRA– ADRA is launching an initial response worth $85,000 to meet the immediate needs of survivors. According to an initial assessment, the immediate needs include water purification supplies, food, temporary shelter materials, hygiene kits, and medical assistance.
American Red Cross– The American Red Cross has pledged an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by the earthquake in Haiti, and is prepared to take further action as local responders assess the situation.
American Friends Service Committee– Accepting financial aid only at this time. Funds will go to immediate material needs and to help Haitians themselves rebuild their communities.
AME-SADA– AME-SADA is currently assessing the situation in Haiti and will provide humanitarian relief and care on site through their system of local clinics and micro credit operations.
Americares– Specializes in immediate disaster relief.
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee– The world’s largest Jewish humanitarian assistance organization is collecting funds for relief efforts and working with partners on the ground in Haiti.
American Jewish World Service– Donations will enable AJWS’s network of grantees in Haiti to meet the urgent needs of the population based on real-time, on-the-ground assessments.
Catholic Relief Services– Donations will go to help Haiti victims, who are still recovering from the deadly 2008 hurricanes.
CARE – CARE donations will go to deliver emergency aid to victims of the impoverished nation’s capital city.
CONCERN Worldwide– Concern Worlwide US calls on the public for urgent support to allow the agency to provide food, water, shelter and medicine as the immediate priority for those that have survived the catastrophe.
Direct Relief International– Direct Relief’s response efforts are fast, involve local partners, and are coordinated with other international organizations and governmental authorities to ensure the most efficient use of resources.
Food for the Hungry– FH’s operational focus in Haiti is HIV/AIDS and Child/Maternal health, and we will be looking to respond in these areas as well as other areas of need.
Giving Children Hope– Giving Children Hope is talking with partners in Haiti, determining the greatest needs of the earthquake victims.
Habitat for Humanity– Habitat for Humanity International is addressing shelter solutions for low-income families affected by the earthquake. Habitat’s ability to respond effectively to this disaster will require support from donors, volunteers, corporate partners and other community organizations.
Hands On Disaster Response– Hands On Disaster Response (HODR) is returning to Haiti after a 2008-2009 hurricane response project, to determine how and where the organization’s main resource of volunteers would be most effective in the response and recovery efforts.
Handicap International– Already present in Haiti, Handicap International reacted rapidly to the earthquake, which hit the country Tuesday night. The association released $217,657 in funding Wednesday and will provide support for the team.
International Medical Corps– International Medical Corps is deploying an Emergency Response Team to Haiti.
International Relief Teams– International Relief Teams (IRT) is appealing for cash donations to help the victims of the powerful 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck near the capital city of Port-au-Prince.
The International Rescue Committee– The International Rescue Committee is deploying its Emergency Response Team to Haiti to deliver urgent assistance to earthquake survivors and help overwhelmed local aid. They’ll be focusing on critical medical, water and sanitation assistance.
Islamic Relief– Islamic Relief USA has launched a $1 million appeal for the victims of the quake, and is coordinating a massive shipment of much-needed aid to the island nation.
Lutheran World Relief-Lutheran World Relief is accepting donations to provide life-saving assistance in response to the earthquake in Haiti. Details of the emergency response will made available as the organization learns more about the immediate needs on the ground.
Operation USA– Operation USA is appealing for donations of funds from the public and corporate donations in bulk of health care materials, water purification supplies and food supplements which it will ship to the region from its base in the Port of Los Angeles.
Operation Blessing– Operation Blessing’s Haiti National Director, Eric Lotz, is on-the-ground making first responder assessments and disaster relief teams are mobilizing to bring emergency relief to victims.
Oxfam– Oxfam has long experience in Haiti, and we’re rushing in teams from around the region to respond to the situation where our assistance is most needed.
PIH– Has had longstanding aid relationship with Haiti.
Salvation Army– The Salvation Army is currently mobilizing personnel and supplies to assist in the relief effort in Haiti, following the severe earthquake that struck Tuesday. The Salvation Army has already dedicated $50,000 in direct aid to the country, and it is in need of additional donations.
Samaritan’s Purse– Samaritan’s Purse is responding to the earthquake that devastated Haiti by providing critically needed assistance, including water, temporary shelter, blankets, hygiene kits, medical aid, and other essentials.
Save the Children– Donations to Save the Children will help the charity provide urgently needed medical attention, safe drinking water, and other necessities.
Stop Hunger Now– Stop Hunger Now will be coordinating relief efforts to our partners in Haiti by organizing shipments of meals and financial support.
Unicef USA– Donations to UNICEF will go to children, the most vulnerable population in any natural disaster.
United Way Worldwide– Gifts to the Fund support long-term recovery efforts to rebuild lives and infrastructure devastated by disaster and to address educational, financial and health-related challenges.
World Concern– Donate to Haiti relief efforts.
World Food Programme– WFP is mobilising all available resources to bring urgently needed food assistance to thousands of people affected by the devastating earthquake which hit the Caribbean island of Haiti.
World Vision– Your gift now will help distribute relief supplies — including food, clean water, blankets, and tents to children and families impacted by the earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti.
Texting HAITI to 90999–
The U.S. Dept of State’s Web site suggests texting to donate $10 to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts. $10 will be charged to your cell phone bill. Or you can go online to organizations like the Red Cross and Mercy Corps to contribute to the disaster relief efforts.
I encourage you to pass this list on to others, repost it to your own blogs, add it to your Twitter, Facebook or anything else to help share the list of places people can donate to and help those in Haiti. If you know of any other organizations who should be on this list but isn’t- please drop me a note.