What Haitian relief organizations can do with your cash donations

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Organizations are begging that people send cash, not material goods, which are hard and expensive to ship, and also may need volunteers here and in Haiti to sort them.</p>

<p>I am delighted that a college student organized a community yard sale in my city that raised almost $3,000 for the Red Cross’s efforts in Haiti. I was able to donate a picture by a Haitian artist that I had bought years ago when I was working my first job I also donated a mink coat left to me by my mom.</p>

<p>I had put the pix away when I realized that I had somehow been collecting pictures of sad women. I had put the coat away because I don’t wear fur. I was so glad to let go of those items and give them to a good cause.</p>

<p>Here’s info from the Red Cross about what your small and large donations can supply for the Haitian survivors.</p>

<p>"$5 provides a water container to store clean drinking water.</p>

<p>» $10 provides a blanket that is appropriate to the climate and culture of the disaster-affected area.</p>

<p>» $25 provides a family of five with a kitchen set, giving them the ability to cook and serve food (a disaster can destroy even the most basic family possessions and restoring family’s self-sufficiency is essential). This includes two cooking pots, a frying pan, bowls, plates, cups, and utensils.</p>

<p>» $30 provides essential hygiene materials to five people for one month (ensuring adequate hygiene after a disaster is essential in promoting the health of those affected). This includes items like a toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo, body soap, laundry soap, toilet paper, sanitary pads, a razor and a towel.</p>

<p>» $60 provides tools for a family of five to build a temporary shelter: two tarps, a rope, hoe, machete, tin snips, handsaw, roofing nails, shovel, long nails, tie wire, claw hammer.</p>

<p>» $100 provides a cooking set, hygiene pack, blankets, and water containers for one family of five following a disaster.</p>

<p>» $500 provides a family tent for a family of five."</p>

<h2>[Haiti</a> Earthquake-Relief Donations: What Does Your Money Buy? - News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News](<a href=“http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1630052/20100120/story.jhtml]Haiti”>http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1630052/20100120/story.jhtml)</h2>

<p>"If you’re considering doing your part, that’s great. But, experts say, whatever you do, don’t donate anything but money. Under no circumstances should you mail care packages, toys, food or clothes. Don’t even think about sending drugs. The response to prior disasters shows that regardless of your intentions, you will only be making matters worse. "
[Help</a> Haiti with Money, Not Stuff - CBS News](<a href=“http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/14/world/main6096807.shtml]Help”>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/14/world/main6096807.shtml)</p>

2

<p>I was surprised when a local columnist promoted several organizations that are collecting goods for Haiti. What a terrible idea.</p>

<p>One organization to consider is Fonkoze.org. They give microloans to woman in business and have 34 locations in Haiti that are functioning still, in Port au Prince and in rural areas. I think that, as people in Port au Prince are fleeing to the countryside there will be a lot of small enterprises started. Food stands, etc. They are a 3 star charity on Charity Navigator, not 4 star but a man I respect who knows them well thinks very highly of them. They are very small banks that accept remittances and deposits and that can still release cash to people.</p>

3

<p>We gave to Partnersforhealth.org which was founded by Paul Farmer and to Doctors Without Borders. My cousin volunteers for DWB (Medecins Sans Frontieres), whose founder, Bernard Koucher, is the French Foreign Minister.
Our local k-8 school raised $2000 for Haiti last week.
Cambridge, MA is home to a large Haitian community, many of whom were refugees from Papa Doc and Baby Doc’s regime. It’s been heart-breaking.</p>

4

<p>Yes it is heartbreaking. What pleased me most that I told our son that you are earning now so donate some. I suggested a number and I was pleased that he gave more than that.</p>

5

<p>On a related note, please donate directly to organizations. Reputable organizations. The text donations, while good in theory and will eventually get to Haiti, generally take as long as 90 days to process. The people there need help NOW, not in April. </p>

<p>Thank you for the post NSM, it put things in perspective.</p>

<p>ETA: The earthquake happened about a week before my birthday so my friends and I decided to turn what was going to be my birthday party into a Haiti fundraising party. It was a way for people to donate money (at my U) without actually having to give out their credit card numbers or track down organizations. My friends made fun of me (jokingly, of course) because I had given up my birthday money to complete strangers. It was the best birthday present I could give though and we raised about $100. Not a lot, but much better than nothing especially from a small group of poor college students :D. Every little bit helps right?</p>

6

<p>^ sure it does</p>

7

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<p>Actually this is not true for most of the large cell phone carriers. They are fronting the money, meaning they are sending money to the Red Cross before you pay your bill. If in doubt, check with your carrier.</p>

8

<p>I sent a donation online to Doctors Without Borders and I already got a receipt from DWB!</p>

9

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<p>Sorry, that was what I heard on CNN when they were interviewing someone from the Red Cross (I believe).</p>

10

<p>I just wish there were a way to get help to the Haitian people faster. I understand the difficulties with the logistics because of the collapse of the infrastructure but I’ve also lived through the aftermath of hurricanes where overnight we were reduced to living as though we were in a third world country. People all over the country were making donations and sending people to help during those times as well but we still could not get basics like bottled water, food, ice to keep prescription medications viable and gasoline. The Red Cross and other organizations do great work but with a handful of organizations providing relief, it doesn’t happen in a broad enough way fast enough.</p>

<p>Don’t get me wrong, we’re doing all we can here to raise money for Haiti as well but it just feels like there should be something more we could do to help in a more immediate way. Just my two cents out of frustration.</p>