Helping Haiti

For some of us, Haiti is familiar as a home, for others we are being introduced to a country at a time of great need.  Regardless, the immense tragedy of the earthquake in Haiti reaches us all through images and reports in the news and other media outlets, and we cannot help but feel moved.  What hurts more than recognizing human suffering is the feeling of wanting to help but not knowing how.  What feels even worse is turning away.

If Roosevelt stands for anything, it is about combating this helplessness and taking action to create change we believe in by facing problems with solutions. This encompasses action on multiple levels from large plans to small and seemingly insignificant steps towards larger goals. 

Inspired by the Boston University blog post, I am reposting Goodwill’s list of aid organizations seeking disaster relief donations.  I will be updating this post as time goes on to include efforts being made in the western Massachusetts area, the Pioneer Valley, as well as efforts made on the Mount Holyoke campus and the other colleges in our consortium.  If you have anything to add to the list, please respond in the comment section, or e-mail me at wazla20e@mtholyoke.edu.

• American Jewish World Service is collecting donations for its “Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund,” which will help “its network of grantees in Haiti to meet the urgent needs of the population based on real-time, on-the-ground assessments.”
• The American Red Cross is pledging an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by the earthquake. The organization expects to provide food, water, temporary shelter, medical services and emotional support. It is accepting donations through its International Response Fund.
• Baptist Global Response, which coordinates the mercy efforts of the Southern Baptist Convention, is sending a team from Florida to help its initial outreach. In addition to donations, the organization asks that concerned individuals join in focused prayer for Haiti’s nine million people.
• The Baptist Haiti Mission is operating an 82-bed hospital that is “overflowing with injured.” Donate online to BHM and 100 percent of your donation will go to the relief effort.
• CARE is deploying emergency team members to Port-au-Prince to assist in recovery efforts. It is focusing its efforts on rescuing children who may still be trapped in schools that collapsed. Donate to CARE.
• Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has made an initial commitment of 5 million dollars for immediate use in the relief effort. According to its press release, the CRS offices in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, ”were shaken, with some damage to the compound walls, but there were no injuries in the building.” Donations can be made via itswebsite or by phone at  (877) HELP-CRS.
• Christian Aid Ministries, an Amish-Mennonite organization, has had staff and a distribution network in Haiti for over 20 years. To help earthquake survivors, it is providing search and rescue operations, emergency supplies such as medicines and food, and later on rebuilding of houses. Donations are being accepted through mail or credit card.
• Compassion International, the world’s largest Christian child development program, serves 64,000 sponsored children in Haiti, most near the earthquake zone. Their website allows donors to earmark contributions for Haiti.
• Direct Relief is committing up to $1 million in aid for the response and is coordinating with its other in-country partners and colleague organizations. Its partners in Haiti include Partners in Health, St. Damien Children’s Hospital, and the Visitation Hospital, which are particularly active in emergency response. Donate to Direct Relief online.
• Doctors Without Borders is on the ground and has set up clinics to treat injured in Haiti. Donate any amount so it can keep its efforts going.
• The Episcopal Diocese of New York, which has Haitian congregations and a partnership with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, is collecting aid both through the diocese and through the national denomination’s Episcopal Relief and Development;
• Several of InterAction’s 190 member organizations are working to provide humanitarian assistance in Haiti as it copes with the after effects of the country’s worst earthquake in 200 years. For more information, please contact Tawana Jacobs, (202) 552-6534 (office), (202) 297-1696 (cell) or tjacobs@interaction.org; or Nasserie Carew, (202) 552-6561 (office), (202) 241-3814 (cell) or ncarew@interaction.org.
• International Medical Corps is assembling a team of first responders and resources to provide lifesaving medical care and other emergency services to survivors of the earthquake. Donate online.
• The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod along with its mercy arm, LCMS World Relief and Human Care, announced it was making an initial grant of tens of thousands of dollars available to meet emergency needs. Support its efforts by making a donation here.
• Mercy Corps is sending a team of emergency responders to assess damage, and seek to fulfill immediate needs of quake survivors. The agency aided families after earthquakes in Peru in 2007, China and Pakistan in 2008, and Indonesia last year. Donate online, call (888) 256-1900 or send checks to Mercy Corps Haiti Earthquake Fund; Dept NR; PO Box 2669; Portland, OR 97208.
• Operation USA is appealing for donations of funds from the public and corporate donations in bulk for 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. Donate online at www.opusa.org, by phone at (800) 678-7255 or, by check made out toOperation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave, Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.
• Oxfam is rushing in teams from around the region to provide clean water, shelter and sanitation needed to help people recover. Donate to Oxfam America online.
• Partners in Health reports its Port-au-Prince clinical director, Louise Ivers, has appealed for assistance: “Port-au-Prince is devastated, lot of deaths. SOS. SOS… Temporary field hospital by us at UNDP needs supplies, pain meds, and bandages. Please help us.” Donate to its Haiti earthquake fund.
• The Salvation Army is sending personnel and supplies to assist in the relief effort, and is in need of donations.
• Samaritan’s Purse, the international aid and development group headed by Rev. Franklin Graham, landed a medical supplies flight with teams of emergency medical workers Wednesday morning and will begin pouring in additional aid as needs become clear.
• Save the Children has launched an emergency relief effort for Haiti. Donate to its fund to provide medical attention and clean water to children and families.
• Ben Stiller’s Stillerstrong campaign will be temporarily diverting all donations to support the Haiti relief effort.
• The UN World Food Programme is gathering all available resources to deliver food to the recently homeless and impoverished in Haiti. Donate now to help bring food to those affected as quickly and efficiently as possible.
• UNICEF has issued a statement: “Children are always the most vulnerable population in any natural disaster, and UNICEF is there for them.” UNICEF requests donations for relief for children in Haiti via their Haiti Earthquake Fund. You can also call (800) 4UNICEF.
• The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) has long been working in Haiti. To support its relief efforts, go here.
• World Vision, a Christian humanitarian charity organization, is also working to help children and families devastated by the quake. To learn more about its efforts and to donate, visit its website.
• Donate through Wyclef Jean’s foundation, Yele Haiti. Text “Yele” to 501501 and $5 will be charged to your phone bill and given to relief projects through the organization.
• The fastest way to donate may be by text. Here are other options:
  • Text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross relief efforts;
  • Text HAITI to 864833 to donate $5 to United Way Worldwide’s disaster fund for long-
    term recovery.
• USAID

Update -

Lady Gaga Haiti Relief T-Shirt
http://ladygaga.shop.bravadousa.com/Dept.aspx?cp=14781_30120
$25, all proceeds from sales go towards Haitian relief.

The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org/
Read about it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/opinion/17clinton.html?hp

The Huffington Post
The Goods : https://store.causecast.org/huffingtonpost
“We have worked with The U.S. Fund for UNICEF and the International Medical Corps to make available for purchase supplies needed to help individuals affected in Haiti.”
Text List : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/14/red-cross-raises-4-millio_n_423...
Haiti Text-To-Give Numbers, via Gigaom and Mobile Giving Insider

•Text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross

•Text HAITI to 25383 to donate $5 to International Rescue Committee

•Text HAITI to 45678 to donate $5 to the Salvation Army in Canada

•Text HAITI to 20222 to donate $10 through the Clinton Foundation

•Text HAITI to 864833 to donate $5 to The United Way

•Text CERF to 90999 to donate $5 to The United Nations Foundation

•Text DISASTER to 90999 to donate $10 to Compassion International

•Text RELIEF to 30644 (this will connect you with Catholic Relief Services and instruct you to donate money with your credit card)

Lambi Fund of Haiti, www.lambifund.org 


Grassroots International, www.grassrootsonline.org

---MHC Update - Jan 19th---

CAUSE and MHACASA announce plans:
Haiti: I am sure that all of you are concerned about the tragic situation in Haiti and are wondering if there will be a campus effort to reach out to people there with relief. We want you to know that CAUSE and MHACASA are working together to coordinate campus
relief efforts and are beginning with ICE CAPELLA, an event taking place on Friday, January 29th in Chapin, where the a cappela groups will be entertaining, and all donations will be made for the relief effort in Haiti. We are still discussing the best possible relief organizations to donate to, and will keep you posted about that.

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/org/cause/

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Mount Holyoke Supports Haiti!

Show your support by donating items to Haiti. Boxes will be left in the main hall of your residential halls, as well as Blanchard. Items accepted include: bottled water, non-perishable food items (that will not be destroyed in shipment), clean clothing, shoes, clean bedding etc.

If you are interested in making monetary contributions, support the Ice Capella Jam. Look out for more information on how you can help support Haiti!

FB info: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=263041948671&index=1

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Hannah Woo '11 - Volunteered during first 48 hours of relief efforts.

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/news/channels/22/stories/5681949

Pictures:http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=144885&id=5542851771&ref=mf

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MHC alumnae with ties to Haiti are sharing information and ideas about the crisis. If you're an alum, please join them:

http://www.alumniconnections.com/olc/membersonly/MHO/dgroups/showGroupDe...

---UMASS Amherst Haiti Relief---
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=249805261273&ref=mf

1. FOOD/CLOTHES/MONETARY DONATION DRIVE

* BINS & BOXES will be located in the lobbies of RESIDENCE HALLS all around campus AND also in the lobby of the NEW RECREATION CENTER.

* There will be one for Clothing
* There will be one for Non-perishable food items.

Monetary Donations will be collected by Registered Student Organizations (RSO's) who are affiliated with UMASS HAITI RELIEF in the CAMPUS CENTER CONCOURSE.
* Tabling will start on the 1st day of classes, January 19, 2009.

---ROOSEVELT INSTITUTE AND HAITI---

http://www.wrgwnews.com/2010/02/roosevelt-institute-aims-to-help-haiti.html

---Volunteer Opportunities---

Volunteer positions opening up for Haiti, find out more;
http://hodr.org/volunteer-info/project-leogane-volunteer-info/
Hands On Disaster- Haii