Earthquake victims in Haiti need our help
As many of you may already know, my wife Erin and I adopted a beautiful baby boy this past summer. Although our son was born in the United States, both of his birth parents were recent immigrants from Haiti.
And so we found ourselves particularly troubled yesterday as we watched cable news coverage of the earthquake outside Port-au-Prince.
Haiti is one of the world’s poorest and least developed countries. It also has the unfortunate distinction of being the only LDC in the Americas. In spite of this, things were improving there. Hopefully yesterday’s events won’t put an end to this hard-earned progress.
There are a number of reputable non-profit organizations currently doing relief work in Haiti. They will surely need our support in the coming days. Please know that we appreciate any support you can provide to these groups.
Reputable Non-Profit Organizations Helping Earthquake Victims in Haiti
- Red Cross International Response Fund
- UNICEF
- Doctors Without Borders
- Partners In Health
- Hope for Haiti
23 comments posted
Posted by Ellen Delap - 01/13/2010
thanks for helping us find a way to help!
Posted by Olivier Vanbiervliet - 01/13/2010
Belgians and European residents in Brussels can help here:
http://donate.unicef.be/iwh/ac.....38;lang=en
o.
Posted by Lauren - 01/13/2010
Great compilation. Thanks!
You should know though, the Red Cross link sends you to someone’s (your?) receipt, and includes a good deal of personal information. Maybe swap it out for this one: https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?4306.donation=form1&idb=15839682&df_id=4306
Posted by PJ Doland - 01/13/2010
That Red Cross link was actually the link provided by the Red Cross in their tweet about the earthquake. I’ve gone ahead and updated the link though.
Posted by Shalin - 01/13/2010
Thanks for the donation path suggestions!
Thoughts and prayers,
Shalin
Posted by Emily WK - 01/13/2010
Best Red Cross link:
http://american.redcross.org/haiti
Posted by Alexandra - 01/13/2010
I just wanted to mention that as many of us are organizationally minded, some of us might be interested in studying emergency management. I know that every time I see a disaster, my first thought is “How can I help while still being able to feel like I am making a positive difference (without interfering with the organized efforts to help)?”
Yes, for an untrained civilian, money is the best way to help, as it travels quickly without needing to deal with the logistical nightmare of shipping into an emergency zone.
FEMA has a list of emergency management programs: http://training.fema.gov/emiweb/edu/collegelist/
Posted by Freddy - 01/13/2010
Haiti was in dire straits even before this earthquake. It is by far the poorest country in the western hemisphere.
The land is denuded of trees which has been used for fuel.
The people eat mud pies to fill their empty stomachs. The unemployment rate is about 2/3 of the population.
The rate of HIV infection is comparable to sub-Saharan Africa.
The average life expectancy at birth is about 60 years compared to the Dominican Republic (on the eastern end of the SAME ISLAND) at about 73 years. You can imagine the poor availability of clean water and sewage systems.
Port-au-Prince is the same distance from Miami as North Carolina is. There is no excuse for such a small country in our own backyard to suffer so. It is the slum of the Americas.
Perhaps some good of this earthquake can come if attention is drawn to conditions in Haiti and help given that will make a long-term difference in the situation there.
Posted by Kat - 01/13/2010
CARE International and CARE USA are also a reputable non-partisan aid agency who are accepting donations for their disaster relief efforts for this tragedy. (Remember – the originator of the CARE package…) They have people on the ground in Haiti who have been providing aid relief for this poverty-stricken nation, who are there to turn their efforts to disaster relief.
http://www.care.org/
In Canada,
Care.ca or http://www.thehumanitariancoalition.ca/
Posted by Terri M - 01/13/2010
Food for the Poor is also reputable. They have been helping Haiti for years. http://www.foodforthepoor.org
Posted by Patty - 01/13/2010
Think beyond yourself as well. We’re going to hold a collection at our office as I’m sure churches, scouts and others will be doing. Spread the word and ask others to help where they can. Also remember that at times like these when we try to send the bulk of our resources to the ‘disaster zone’ that there may be even more need on the home front as well so go ahead and donate your time or resources to shelters and food banks in America so trained rescue folks can go help overseas!
Posted by Allison - 01/13/2010
I donated to Oxfam.
Posted by Grant Parish - 01/13/2010
The United Methodist Committee on Relief is collecting funds to help victims of the earthquake.
United Methodists have had a long-standing relationship with Haiti through the Methodist Church of Haiti. The strong ties between the Methodist Church of Haiti and UMCOR helped facilitate the opening of an UMCOR Haiti field office in 2005.
Support for relief efforts can be made to Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance # 418325. http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/don.....id=3018760
Posted by STL Mom - 01/13/2010
Thanks for the reminder to do the right thing. I had received an email request about Haiti from Episcopal Relief and Development, but hadn’t gotten around to donating until I saw your post. Done!
Posted by Mrs. Money - 01/13/2010
I am so saddened about the earthquake.
I’m going to go donate!
Posted by Jenn - 01/13/2010
Heifer International is also raising funds directly for Haiti.
Posted by landrecord.ws/ - 01/14/2010
Yes we are definitely with the people of Haiti and with the organizations that have come to help them. This is definitely one of the bigger natural calamities. The loss is countless; people are helpless, buildings wreaked, dead bodies scattered all over the place. US people always with them until and unless they can revive their normal life.
Posted by Richard | RichardShelmerdine.com - 01/14/2010
Im going to contribute some money now. It’s not much but it’s better than nothing. Contribute anything you can guys even the smallest amount. Do you really need that takeaway when people are homeless and dying?
Posted by catherine - 01/14/2010
I am so mad about the Haiti disaster, because if that country had not been crushed by a dictatorship, then a communist leader, they would have been free enough to lift out of poverty decades ago. The pictures of the children are heartrending especially, of course.
On another note, please consider a fuller post about your adoption process (and congrats!). Talk about clutter! That process sounds fearsome. How would you recommend someone begin, what tips do you have, what is the cost? Thank you.
Posted by kim - 01/26/2010
Here is an idea lets help the starving unemployed people in the united states first. Then if we have extra we can help somebody who is not an american and does not pay taxes!!!!
Posted by Erin Doland - 01/26/2010
@kim — All people in need are worthy of being helped. Helping one group of people does not exclude another group from being helped. Your zero sum perspective is elitist. ALL humans deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
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