Help For Haiti
January 13, 2010 As the news continues to pour in about the shocking loss of life (estimated in the tens of thousands now) and wide-spread destruction following the quake in Haiti this week, I hope you Wreckies will consider donating to one of the many relief organizations providing aid there.
Unfortunately there are a lot of scammers popping up, though, so do be careful where you give. Charity Navigator has a great list of trustworthy organizations here, which includes our previously featured Doctors Without Borders.
For an easy way to donate to the Red Cross, you can text “Haiti” to 90999 and $10 will be added to your next phone bill. (Over $1 million raised this way as of this writing.)
I know a lot of you can't afford to give much. That's Ok! As we saw from the Charity Countdown, it only takes each of us giving a little to accomplish a lot together. So let's give what we can, spread the word, and say a prayer for this poor country and the heroes working there on the ground.
(Our Doctors Without Borders First Giving page is still up, and there's no minimum donation required. Only have a buck to give? Then please, give it here.)
Reader Comments (65)
God bless you, Jen and John! This is so sad and tragic, and my heart goes out to the Haitians. I was just wondering how best to help. Your post reminded me to just help! Give to one or more reputable organizations and pray for them. Thanks for pulling us together and reminding us that as a community we can accomplish much. I'll do the text giving, the Doctors without Borders, and the Red Cross for starters.
Long time reader first time to comment.
You rock! Thank you for giving us this opportunity.
I think actually donating will do a lot more than praying!
Doctors without Borders is amazing, and I'm so happy you're giving it some more publicity. I just wish I could give more than $10!
Thanks for this method, brilliant...I reposted on facebook and will also post in my blog so that people will see there are smaller denomination options that still make a difference.
Thanks for posting this.
Just for your readers from Canada, the text message way of donating doesn't work up here. But please still donate to your chosen charity!
<3
thank you.
Jen and John, you make us: chortle, snigger, snort, guffaw, gag, gasp, giggle, dream, discombobulated, bewildered, educated, confused and happy. It is amazing that you also know how to keep it in perspective and remind us what is really important. thank you for making us think.
WV: binest - i got nothin, sorry
State Department is recommending Red Cross and MercyCorps (as seen here: http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/disaster_haiti )
Lots of folks have been wanting to volunteer with donations of items, but most organizations are asking for people NOT to send items, they need cash to spend there, or near there, to cut down on transportation costs.
http://cidi.org/media/faq.htm
Great idea, guys. Let's raise awareness and money any way we can.
Doctors Without Borders goes by other names in other countries. In Canada it's Medecins Sans Frontiers and you can access their page here:
http://www.msf.ca/donate/
For countries outside the US or Canada, you can go here:
http://www.msf.org/
Do what you can - every dollar, euro, peso, pound, etc... counts and really does make a difference.
~ Susan B in Ohio
Mercy and Heifer Intl are both really excellent organizations - Mercy Corp responds to these types of crises and has people able to respond to them.
Thanks Jen and John for helping keep things in perspective. You're the best!
I sent my donation to Partners In Health. PIH was founded by Paul Farmer, a physician and anthropologist at Harvard, and it's one of the most effective medical aid organizations in the world. They've been on the ground in Haiti for a long time, and their people are already working to help. PIH also gets 4 stars on www.charitynavigator.org.
Here's their web site: http://www.pih.org/home.html
Thank you so much for posting the way of donating through texting. I've been meaning to donate, but I kept putting it off. This way was so easy that I had no excuse.
I'll be thinking of all the people in Haiti and their family members abroad. I hope relief comes soon.
Please also consider donating to Partner's In Health, an organization that is a permanent fixture in rural Haiti. Please visit their website to learn more, http://www.pih.org/home.html
I visited Haiti in 2004, and am in no way connected to PIH.
thanks,
Robin
Thank you both so much for posting this and promoting relief efforts like this! I've added the link to my own various outlets online, but I only have the link because of you. Keep spreading the word, you two! We love you for it.
Thank you for posting the information about the Red Cross donation through text - I had been looking for a way to help.
My heart and prayers go out to all affected
I would recommend donating to organizations other than the Red Cross. The national American Red Cross organization is notoriously corrupt and dishonest, and your money is better off being given to more honest causes.
A lucky coincidence in Finland: the target for the annual charity campaign Common responsibility (that's Yhteisvastuukeräys for any of you Finnish readers) is Haiti. Therefore all the necessary connections for delivering the aid to Haiti through FinnChucrhAid were ready.
The campaign and the collection were planned to start in February, but because of the catastrophy we were able to open the collection accounts early.
The info on how to donate is available in Finnish and Swedish here: www.yhteisvastuu.fi.
English summary: http://www.yhteisvastuu.fi/index.php?fid=180
Also international donations are possible.
Account 208918-6775
IBAN: FI1620891800006775
SWIFT: NDEAFIHH
Thank you Jen and John for bringing such joy to us all - and also for reacting rapidly and responsibly in these more serious matters. God bless.
What happened in Haiti is so tragic! Everybody can help them! They need it badly. Life will be difficult for them after this incident. God bless the two of you!
Just leaving something here for you guys...red cross is great to donate to, don't get me wrong, but I remember that my Girl Scout Troop (hahaha) wouldn't donate to them because we found out those who the funds were for got barely any of the money. Do your research, find a sponsor or w/e that will give most if not all of the funds to those who need it :)
You guys rock as usual!
http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1
Sites like this one can also help, in their own way. Another way to give is:
https://my.care.org/site/Donation2?5000.donation=form1&df_id=5000
They were vouched for by CNN
You can also donate to Yele.com by texting YELE to 501501. This is Wyclef John's Charity to help Haiti. $5 per text and it's added to your bill.
If $10 is more than you can afford right now, you can donate $5 by texting YELE to 501501. Yele Haiti is a non-profit organization run by singer/songwriter Wyclef Jean. You can visit yele.org for more information.
A text message takes less than 1 minute. If you can afford it, please, please, please give what you can to the charity of your choice.
Thank you for leaving up all your charity links! I was on vacation so I just got to put in my donations, including Doctors without Borders. Your concept of Christmas gifts was incredibly refreshing.
Thanks! I updated my Facebook status with the info to text the Red Cross. Hopefully others will do the same and many people will see it! That is such an easy way to give.
Hey, Thank You! for making Haiti's need known on your blog. I lived there after I finished school and I don't know if my Haitian friends are alright or not. My American friend had flown in on Monday and was in the middle of the quake but it ok right now. It is hard to be watching this from the Midwest right now. But, thanks for giving an opportunity to which the blog world can respond.
PS see pics of my time there at my flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/bjdenbow
Thanks to the Canadian readers posting the Canadian links for donations. I'll be donating what I can.
In the meantime, many of my friends and neighbours are proudly going husbandless for the next little while as their hubbies are deploying to Haiti as part of the Canadian Forces Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART).
Who knew that a site called "Cake Wrecks" would be the source of so much goodwill and community? Jen & John, you are very special people.
Canadian Wreckies: The Government of Canada pledged yesterday to match every dollar donated by Canadians to international relief organizations.
You might want to consider donating to World Vision Canada.
http://www.worldvision.ca/Pages/Home.aspx
World Vision has been working in Haiti for over 30 years and are on the ground with 300 staff in Haiti right now.
I gave my $10 to the Red Cross International Relief fund this morning. My first thought was "$10 isn't going to make much difference", but then I read about the millon dollar texting campaign. It just proves that if everyone takes a few minutes from their day, we can make a differance!
My heart goes out to the people of Haiti. May relief come on swift wings.
Ah Jenn, I knew you wouldn't disappoint! I clicked on this site fully expecting to see a push for aid to Haiti, go you!:-D
There's also Yele Haiti, an organization founded by musician and humanitarian Wyclef Jean who's from Haiti and has often been upfront and vocal about helping his people over the years. You can donate $5 by texting YELE to 501501 or get more info by visiting www.yele.org.
Sending prayers and positive vibes to those poor people and hugs to anyone here who might be searching and waiting to hear word about loved ones.
Thank you for posting this. My husband and I are adopting two precious girls, Islande, 9, and Katiana, 5, from an orphanage in PAP. We've been in process for nearly 3 years and were hoping to bring home our girls in a few months. That is unlikely at this point, barring a miracle (but I serve a BIG GOD and HE can do it!). Our orphanage, Maison des Enfants de Dieu, cares for more than 130 children and employs 90 staff. Clean water, food, medicines and fuel are of utmost importance at this point. The creche also hopes to become a place of refuge for the birth parents and neighbors. If anyone would like to donate directly to our creche, the site is http://www.forhisgloryoutreach.org/earthquake_relief For His Glory is the American support ministry. Blessings to you all!!!
Jodie
I almost donated through Firstgiving until I noticed that they are keeping 7.5%. That seems like a lot to me so maybe the other sites are a better ide?
Still, It's awesome that you posted on this because it caught my attention and I *will* be donating in some way.
Thanks!!
Another friend also recommended Partners in Health. She wrote "In addition to an innovative model practicing the preferential option for the poor, PIH makes great use of its gifts...according to Charity Navigator, only about 5% goes to overhead. Also, because it is based in rural areas around the... country, many of its hospitals and medical personnel still stand after the quake." http://www.pih.org
This isn't a joke--can someone please tell me how to text to that number. Do I enter it as a phone number? And then put the message Haiti in?
I really am serious. (I know it is such a silly question!)
-K.
I wanted to donate through the link to Firstgiving but discovered that they are keeping 7.5% which seems like a bit much to me. Still, I think it's great that you posted on this because it got my attention and I will be making a donation somehow.
Thanks!
Janet
For Canadian wreckies:
You can donate (to the Salvation Army, I believe) by texting HAITI to 45678 or 1291
You can also donate to the Canadian Red Cross at http://www.redcross.ca/helpnow, or you can call 1-800-418-1111.
Jen, having seen you raise so much through $1 donations was what got me to get online and donate last night. Faced with such an overwhelming tragedy, it's easy to say "my little $20 can't do much / won't be missed," but you already proved that WRONG!
I figured you'd have a post about this!
The Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders are great causes. Another one to check out is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through their charity LDS Philanthropies 100% of your donation will go to helping those in need. You can read about their efforts and donate at:
http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/humanitarian-services/news-features/lds-haiti-2010a.html
Thanks to every group and person that helps another!
Lydia :)
I read that the Haitian branch of Doctors Without Borders lost most of their equipment in the earthquake, just when they will need it most.
Thank you for the links -- and for the info on the texting. I really appreciated the link for the list of charities too. You make it so easy to give (lol, almost too easy...get a little carried away and should check the budget first, lol) and I am grateful for the opportunity to help those in need. Thank you so much for helping us to help!!
K,
Yes, the number is the "phone number" and the body of the text is the word.
Don't have $10, donate $5! They have already raised over $800k through this text message. Small Text, big hearts!
Hip Hop artist Wyclef Jean is urging people to donate $5 to his Haitian charity, Yéle Haiti, by texting "YELE" to 501501
I did try DWB first at their website but objected to the mandatory email list sign up. So I donated through the UN.
I forgot to check here first...but in any case, kudos to you for doing this.
Now I am going see if I can put a widget for this on my blog.
Thank you for posting this! We donated to the American Red Cross for international relief yesterday. My heart breaks every time I hear a news story about Haiti. Giving money is the best way to help right now.
Thanks for posting this Jen and John. I just read the Yarn Harlot's post on Doctors Without Borders, went to the site and donated and now you've suggested it as well. While I would have loved to see some wreckful cakes, I'm even more happy to see this pop up on my reader this morning instead.
I donated $70 on the DWB / MSF site itself, but I've linked to this on a few different sites. Thank you for all that you do.
Thanks you for this.. I have three very close friends over there. They got there just before the Earthquake hit... They went down to visit an orphanage they work with, and are over there with low supplies and water, trying to pick up the pieces... Thank you for drawing attention to this issue and raising awareness.
One more time, I'm at a computer and without my credit card, and ready to drop some cash to help someone who asks for it, and once again my donation is not wanted because I can only do it through PayPal.
Want to do something good for DwB? Set them up a PayPal account! How many thousands of dollars have to be lost this way before nonprofits GET IT? Make it easy for someone to donate, you'll get more donations. It's not rocket science, folks!
I've decided that since I can't 'afford' to take money away from other places in my budget I'll fast for the day!
Man am I hungry! T.T
But I'm donating the amount it normally costs to feed me (rounded up.)
Did I mention I'm hungry?
If anyone thinks they can't afford to donate, I challenge you!
Unless you can't fast for health reasons of course.
If you are interested, we have a missionary team close to Port-Au-Prince. You can visit their blog to see any updates they have about the situation and needs there.
http://portmargot.blogspot.com/