How to help Haiti earthquake relief efforts

The Virginian-Pilot
© January 18, 2010

Information

The U.S. State Department Operations Center has a number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti: (888) 407-4747.

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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 Tuesday's earthquake. www.physicians forpeace.org
The American Red Cross International Response Fund accepts donations for crises, including the Haiti earthquake. www.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 made this way had reached nearly $4 million.
Mercy Corps accepts donations to aid in the aftermath of natural disasters. www.mercycorps.org
CARE is sending additional emergency team members to Haiti and is accepting donations. www.care.org
Catholic Relief Services has turned www.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 made by visiting www.mfofoundation.org.
Operation Blessing International, based in Virginia Beach, said donations designated for the earthquake relief will go only to Haiti. 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. www.gatewayfwbchurch.com
Olive Branch International in Norfolk, which provides humanitarian relief in Haiti, has created a Haitian 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. www.olivebranchinternationalonline.com
Partners in Health provides health care to the Haitian poor. Donations can be made at the organization's site, www.pih.org.
Doctors Without Borders also has a link for donations on its site: www.doctorswithoutborders.org.

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More about helping

The U.S. State Department encourages anyone wishing to donate or provide assistance to contact the Center for International Disaster Information: www.cidi.org.
InterAction has a guide to the most valuable ways to help after an international disaster. www.interaction.org
For information about what can be done to help people in Haiti, visit www.usaid.gov.

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Thank You Pilot!

Submitted by Seefah on Mon, 01/18/2010 at 9:41 am.

Thanks for providing the necessary information and details so that those who wish to do sometihng to aid those affected by the catastrophe in Haiti can do so through legit agencies and donation centers so that contributions get where their donor intended. In particuler, thats for listening to the desires of your readers.