Just a few months ago, I was reading the non-fiction book, Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder for my book club. The story chronicles Dr. Paul Farmer, a man who single-handedly started Partners in Health in Haiti – an organization providing free medically treatment to Haitians. It’s so bizarre to me that I read and mentally gathered all of this historical and current information on the state of Haiti only months before the earthquake. Now an already damaged country is broken more.
For miscellaneous monday, I’ve compiled a little list for those looking for ideas to help.
10 Ways to Help in Haiti:
- Nazarene Compassionate Ministries – see how the church is responding.
- World Vision – read about their response to the earthquakes.
- American Red Cross – give directly to the Haiti Relief and Development fund.
- Oxfam - read how Oxfam is responding and also donate to their cause.
- Craft Hope – an etsy shop where all proceeds from purchased donated crafts will go to Doctors Without Borders.
- Haiti Photography – “Sarah Kiewel is a photojournalist dedicated to making a difference around the world in any way possible. She works alongside a local church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to bring hope and healing to the people of Haiti. Sarah regularly takes teams with food, clothing, school supplies and medical supplies to aid orphanages, schools, hospitals, and churches in Haiti.” All proceeds from purchasing one of Sarah’s pictures goes to helping Haiti.
- Salvation Army – SA’s Emergency Disaster Services has EASY ways to donate. For example, Text to Donate: text the word “HAITI” to 52000 to automatically give $10 to The Salvation Army’s relief efforts.
- Save the Children – committed to helping children and families in Haiti – especially establishing much needed orphanages after the earthquakes.
- American Red Cross and iTunes Team – for convenience purposes, Red Cross ingeniously accepts donations via iTunes. So, next time you go to buy an album add $5 – $15 to the Red Cross fund. Go to your iTunes Store homepage, click on the Red Cross symbol. OR donate by purchasing the album from the benefit concert hosted by Hope for Haiti Now – 20 songs for $7.99 and every cent goes to Hope for Haiti Now’s fund.
- Meds & Food for Kids – Your contributions will provide Haiti’s malnourished children with Medika Mamba (a ready-to-use therapeutice food endorsed by the World Health Organization and UNICEF). “Since MFK has always been committed to Haiti’s long-term development, we produce Medika Mamba in Haiti, with Haitian labor, and with many Haitian raw materials.”
Be mindful of who you are giving to – if you feel compelled to donate your money, be sure you are doing so to a legitimate charity or organization. Make an informed choice. Check out Charity Navigator if you’d like more information.
Have no money to donate? Pray.
Also, check out this clever blog post from the blogger, The Common Room.
xoxo.
Tags: Haiti, help, organizations, prayer
