My aunt, uncle, and extended family live in Haiti, in the Turgeau area, which was hit by a 7.0 earthquake yesterday. The destruction has been massive, the death toll high, and while I'm waiting and hoping and praying to hear from my family, all I can do is gather information and pass it along.
Here's a short list groups raising aid for of ways people can help those affected by the 7.0 earthquake that hit the Carribean island yesterday. They've made it easy for you to help them help others; you can send a donation via text message (SMS) or online. Even the smallest amount counts: The $5 you were going to drop at Starbucks later today can make a big difference to the people in this devestated country right now.
1.) Grassroots International, a progressive organization that funds social justice organizations in Haiti, has set up a page to help raise funds for emergency relief. Click here to make a secure donation through them.
2.) Yele Haiti, a group established by musician Wyclef Jean of the Fugees, inspires change in Haiti via education, sports, and the arts. Using your cell phone, text Yele to 501501 to donate $5 to the relief effort; the donation will show up on your cell phone bill.
3.) The Lambi Fund of Haiti supports sustainable development and democracy in the tiny island nation. You can donate to them via this secure donation page or via Paypal mobile by texting send $20 to give@lambifund.org to PAYPAL (729725) on your cell phone. The Lambi Fund is also posting information about specific people who are trapped in the rubble, in order to help rescuers find them.
4.) The Red Cross pledged an initial $200,000 yesterday and made available all of the supplies in it's Panama warehouse to help responders in Haiti. These supplies will provide basic needs for about 5,000 families, but the need is much, much greater for so many people. They are also accepting donations via text message; text Haiti to 90999 to send $10. Please note that if you would like to help in person, the organization is not accepting volunteers to travel to Haiti, but is asking that people contact their local chapter for more information on ways to help.
5.) Doctors Without Borders (Medicins sans Frontieres) has set up clinics to help treat earthquake victims; hospitals and other facilities have been damaged beyond repair. Donations made today will immediately be directed to their Haiti Earthquake Reponse team; you can make a one-time donation using your credit or debit card here.
Thanks to social media and the internet, there's a flood of information out there; CNN has a page devoted to the latest updates and a great list of other organizations that are trying to help Haiti specifically. Please keep the victims and their families in your thoughts, and do what you can to help responders help those in need. Remember: No amount is too small. Right now, everything counts.
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Here's another organization that's on the ground in Haiti right now and focuses on helping children. It's an organization I've known and contributed to for years and they're very reputable - and based out of RI - www.planusa.org.
As of now, Plan is the only major relief organization in the remote, mountainous region of Jacmel. We MUST make sure our teams there have the resources to sustain relief efforts to the children and families of this isolated area as well.
Help us speed emergency relief to the children of Haiti.
These first 24 hours are critical. Your gift right now can help Plan expand our relief efforts to survivors of Haiti's catastrophic earthquake.
Click here to make an emergency donation to expand relief efforts NOW.
Here's the rest of the email I got from them last night:
Dear Friend,
I wanted to bring you the latest news I have about the massive earthquake that devastated the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince last night.
The death toll is already estimated in the thousands, but as you read this message countless more men, women and children are still trapped under collapsed hospitals, schools and homes.
Plan is already on the ground providing emergency assistance to survivors – but we need your help to reach as many children as possible in the next critical hours.
Will you make an emergency donation right now to help? Your gift could make a critical difference for the children of Haiti.
Our teams are not only on the ground in the devastated capital city of Port-au-Prince, but also even closer to the epicenter of the quake in the village of Jacmel.
As of now, Plan is the only major relief organization in the remote, mountainous region of Jacmel. We MUST make sure our teams there have the resources to sustain relief efforts to the children and families of this isolated area as well.
Please make your emergency donation right away.
The sad fact is that much of Haiti was struggling with extreme poverty even before this disaster struck. Plan has been working with girls, boys, families, and communities in Haiti since 1973. To continue the child-centered community development programs we have established, and help Haiti's families rebuild, we urgently need your support.
Click here to make your emergency donation today, and we'll keep you posted as our teams send us updates from the ground in Haiti.
If you are a current sponsor or donor please use your sponsor/donor number when making your donation: 400533
Thank you for standing with the children of Haiti in this difficult time.
Lisa Ledoux
Internet Marketing Manager
Plan USA
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