After hurricane Katrina, one of my friends went to Home Depot, bought as many gas generators as he could fit into his car, gathered a friend or two, then drove to Mississippi where he found actual people who could use the generators. After he gave away all the generators, he drove home.
I loved that approach, how direct and personal and successful he was. He actually helped! Wow. Right now I'm sending Reiki to Haiti around the clock, and of course I've sent my paltry $10 through the cell phone. Though I would also be very willing to send more money somewhere, I'm hesitating because I have no idea which organizations could best use it. I am not a cynic, but I always worry about relief effort getting sidetracked somewhere enroute to places where something disastrous has happened. The NY Times had a good article yesterday, advising people to send money to organizations that are already working in Haiti. But - which one? It's so confusing.
Why did this happen to Haiti? An earthquake in the Caribbean? What gives? It seems completely unfair.
25 comments:
Partners in Health is recommended by Tracey Kidder as a legit medical group already up and running in Haiti - Doctors without Borders apparently had a limited presence and their HQ was destroyed.
And Wyclef Jean's http://www.yele.org/ has a good rep.
In searching for the answer to why this happened to Haiti, you should read "Crazy Alert" at this blog: http://experimentaltheology.blogspot.com/2010/01/crazy-alert.html
Richard Beck is "speechless" after having seen this news report... but it is just like the christian-right to think this way! Visit it... you'll be appalled!
Whoops... had a bit of problem posting the link... you may have to copy & paste
Anything anyone does helps. According to mashable, the internet had raised over $3mm by early Thu and I think that was only one site.
I pasted a link to Huffington Post's list of organisations that are helping the people of Haiti. It's on my Women of a Certain Age blog.
We are stunned by the news from Haiti. The devastation almost goes beyond imagination.
Linda's school is collecting money today to forward to the Red Cross. We have both made healthy contributions.
We sent through Catholic Relief ( we are madly NOT Catholic!!!) but they have a very good track record of being THERE and hands on.
We just try to do our best.
Yes the EVIL so-called "Christian" right is being so unkind and STUPID.
If there is a loving God, I'm certain he/she does not go round punishing little children.
YIKES!
PIDonline.org is a good one and they can report that the houses and medical clinic that they built are still standing! This is a local organization (to me) sending real people to do real things to help real Haitians. Our church recently reviewed their mission plan and PID is one of the five organizations that will receive our mission money.
if everyone only gave 5$, let's see how much would,, hummm a bunch. thankx for your support.. glenn
I gave to the Red Cross. They always seem to be on the scene when they are needed, are organized and effective. But I have read the credit cards are skimming their fees off the top. Texting may be the better way.
The magnitude of this is unfathomable. The devastation and human suffering..... there are no words.
Episcopal Relief & Development is also an organization that's already been working in Haiti. They have a good track record for providing actual HELP to folks who need it...
I donated $5 to PID.org, thanks Ptolemy for telling us about them! Like glnroz said, if everyone gave $5...
Oops, I typed that in wrong, it's Partners in Development at pidonline.org
I think the Red Cross is a pretty dependable organization. They showed up about an hour after my house burned down and said "We're here to help you whether you think you need it or not!" I didn't realize yet that I actually did need their help, so they have a special place in my heart.
I hope that all of these various disaster relief organizations will coordinate their skills in the most efficient way possible because the people of Haiti need all the help they can get right now and will for some time to come.
hi reya - during yesterday's morning reflection time, my class reflected on the true and real needs of haiti and how we could meet them. among other things, we agreed to start raising money through whatever means are fair given that we are in a really hurtin' neighbourhood. the staff has set the bar high as we did for the tsunami and katrina and we're digging deep. peace and love to the people of haiti. steven
Yes, peace and love. I chose Partners in Health, sent them some $ today between clients.
I find the situation completely heartbreaking.
It really is hard to decide the best way to help. The energy work is so good!
This may sound cold, but why not Haiti? Earthquakes happen to people who live in those zones, volcanos kill people who live near them, hurricanes get the ones on the coast. I mean, it's terrible that it happened and everyone who survives a disaster needs help but there is no why. The planet moves. Please don't think that I have no empathy or compassion for these people.
What a sad, sad situation that looks so immensely difficult to get through. Thank goodness for the amazing internet, enabling organizations to reach out and collect money practically instantly.
It sounds like everyone is doing something to try to help. And I too will have to decide which group to send to.
Coming from earthquake land here in California and experiencing so many of them in my lifetime, I can tell you that a 7.0 had to of been so terrible to go through. 6.9 is the greatest one I have been through, and a 7 is a lot and I mean a lot worse. But the thing is that they do not have the building codes and so they lost most of their infrastructure. And does God punish us because we live in California, I think not, it is just that we live in an earthquake prone area, the same as the people in Haiti. Not much different than those who live in the path of Hurricaines. These are facts of life.
I am sure that any of these places listed is a good place to donate and even the ten dollars on the cell phone is great. If one million cell phone users donate then that is ten million dollars donated which sure as hell beats the "one" million donated by China. I hope we can shame China into donating more. Especially since they control most of our governments money.
Pray for the Haitians, they need that too.
God bless.
I agree with Ronda in sending good energy and have been sending Reiki as my contribution.
The following have been checked out by a local news agency as using for direct relief all or close to all of the money donated.
*The American Jewish World Service has set up the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund to respond to the crisis by supporting a network of organizations it works with.
*AmeriCares has pledged $5 million to Haitian quake relief, and is soliciting donations to a general emergency disaster relief fund to help it accomplish that.
*CARE is sending relief workers into the city of Port-au-Prince and needs funds to support its efforts. Suggested donations range from $50 to $1,000, but you can name your own amount if you prefer.
*Catholic Relief Services has an office in Haiti, and luckily it’s still standing even though one of its neighbors collapsed. The organization is accepting donations of any amount. Donate to: Catholic Charities (100% of donations go to CRS) Mail to: Catholic Charities; Haiti Earthquake; 40 Main North Ave.; Albany, NY 12203 (Write "Haiti Earthquake" in memo portion of check).
*Direct Relief International has committed up to $1 million in aid through two on-the-ground partners, and is sending containers of medical material aid.
Ellen I definitely ask the same kinds of questions. We are, compared to tectonic movements, very fragile and expendable.
But an earthquake in the Caribbean? It's really unusual!
My Reiki students and I got together last night and sent Reiki as a group. It felt powerful. Hope it got all the way to Haiti.
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