Helping Haiti
Effective ways to give in times of disaster
As we wait to learn more about the situation in Haiti, which was hit yesterday by a magnitude 7 earthquake, disaster response organizations are mobilizing from across the US and around the globe.
We’ve been getting updates all day from National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) members, letting us know who is going, what they’ll be doing, and the status of any on-the-ground efforts previously established in Port-au-Prince.
We’ve also been receiving phone calls, e-mails, and seeing interested posts on Facebook and tweets on Twitter, many asking the same question: “How can I help?“
“Americans can help the most by donating cash to an established relief agency,” says Suzanne H. Brooks, Director of CIDI. “Haitians have suffered greatly in recent years and desperately need Americans to respond appropriately. Helping the efforts of professional humanitarian relief agencies is the absolute best way to aid the victims in Haiti.”
To that end, the Center for International Disaster Information offers this press release, which provides an overview of the current situation and ways in which people can effectively help.
- Financial donations are preferred over donated items. It gives agencies the flexibility to purchase items as needed, and there is no shipping cost. In some cases, financial contributions can also be used to help support the local economy by allowing agencies the option of “buying local.” Thanks to technology you’ll find that for many agencies, no amount is too small.
- Instead of donating to general funds, it’s recommended that you donate directly to responding agencies. Find one that is involved in response and recovery efforts using lists from InterAction and National VOAD.
- If you decide to donate, please make sure you’re donating to a reputable agency. The Better Business Bureau and GuideStar are both good resources to research nonprofit and charitable organizations.
- Please do not self-deploy as a volunteer. Wait to learn about volunteer needs from responding agencies. Consider becoming affiliated with an agency now in order to have your skills used effectively following the next disaster – affiliated volunteers who have already been trained are typically the first used in disaster situations.
- Contact number for families seeking information on relatives in Haiti: State Department phone 888-407-4747 and International Committee of the Red Cross website http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/WFL_HTI.NSF/DocIndex/locate_eng?opendocument
One thing is certain – Haiti’s road to recovery is long, as is that of any community affected by disaster. Help set the stage for a powerful and effective response by sharing this message with others, and we’ll keep you updated as we learn more about additional ways to donate and volunteer to help. Thank you.
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