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Individuals and groups across the state are contributing to funds for relief in Haiti, and this morning, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced that state workers can donate to the Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign, which will forward donations directly to the International Disaster Relief Fund of the American Red Cross.
INFORMATION
The U.S. State Department Operations Center has set up a number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti: 1 (888) 407-4747
TO DONATE
Physicians for Peace, a Norfolk-based international nonprofit organization focusing on medical care and education in the developing world, has set up a special relief fund for the victims of yesterday’s earthquake in Haiti. Donations can be made at physiciansforpeace.org.
The group is sponsoring a drive on Saturday, Jan. 23 to collect prosthetics, wheelchairs, walkers, canes and crutches for earthquake victims. It will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Webb Center on 49th Street at Old Dominion University. Cash donations also will be accepted during the drive.
The American Red Cross International Response Fund accepts donations for crises, including the Haiti earthquake. redcross.org
You also can text "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be made automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill. By Thursday afternoon, donations through that text message had reached nearly $4 million.
Mercy Corps accepts donations to aid in the aftermath of natural disasters. mercycorps.org
CARE is sending additional emergency team members to Haiti and is accepting donations. care.org
Catholic Relief Charities has turned its Web site: http://crs.org into an “emergency page” that focuses solely on its efforts in Haiti and collects donations.
The Maison Fortune Orphanage was built and maintained by a group of Catholic churches in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach. The foundation is working to find space, people and supplies to help house children who have lost parents in the earthquake. Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 3092; Chesapeake, Va. 23327-3092 or by visiting mfofoundation.org.
Operation Blessing International, based in Virginia Beach, is asking for donations to help with their efforts in Haiti. Donations designated for the earthquake relief will only go to Haiti. http://www.ob.org/
Gateway Free Will Baptist Church in Virginia Beach sent volunteers to Haiti, who arrived minutes before the earthquake struck. Donations may be sent to Gateway FWB Church – Haiti Fund, 5473 Virginia Beach Blvd., Virginia Beach, VA, 23462. More information is available on the church’s Web site: http://www.gatewayfwbchurch.com/
Olive Branch International in Norfolk, which provides humanitarian relief in Haiti, has created a Haiti relief fund. Checks may be written to Olive Branch International, P.O. Box 748, Norfolk, Va., 23501-0748, with the notation "Haiti Emergency Relief" on the check. The group's Web site is at http://www.olivebranchinternationalonline.com
Partners in Health, provides health care to the Haitian poor, by pursuing a strategy that seeks to make the health care grow from the ground-up, as most physicians are Haitian. Donations can be made at the organization's site www.pih.org, or directly to their Stand with Haiti link.
Doctors Without Borders also has a link for donations on its site.
MORE ON HELPING
The U.S. State Department encourages anyone wishing to donate or provide assistance in Haiti following the earthquake to contact the Center for International Disaster Information. cidi.org
InterAction also has a guide to the most valuable ways to help after an international disaster. interaction.org
For more information about what can be done to help the victims of the earthquake, visit www.usaid.gov.
FBI FRAUD ALERT
From the FBI: "Before making a donation of any kind, consumers should adhere to certain guidelines, to include the following:
* Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming e-mails, including clicking links contained within those messages.
* Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims or officials asking for donations via e-mail or social networking sites.
* Verify the legitimacy of nonprofit organizations by utilizing various Internet-based resources that may assist in confirming the group’s existence and its nonprofit status rather than following a purported link to the site.
* Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
* Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf to ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes.
* Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: Providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft."
VIRGINIA FRAUD ALERT
The Office of Consumer Affairs of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services warns the public to be wary of any requests for personal information or financial support that cite the Haiti disaster as justification.
For more information, call the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Consumer Protection Hotline, toll-free in Virginia, at 1(800) 552-9963.
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example of spam e-mail for Haitian relief
Dear,
Re: Haitian Earthquake Relief
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 the earthquake 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.
The Haiti Relief Agency UK is soliciting to individuals, companies, churches and
other organizations to help in making life better for the disposed victims.
Send any amount you can to any of the following, Thomas Smith, Ruth Sandra, Ruky
Jones, and Mike Davis, London UK either by western union or money gram.
God bless as you attend to the cry of many.
Jessica Moore
UK Haiti Relief Agency