How to help Haiti: Texting, other ways to donate
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Are you organizing Haiti relief efforts in Chicago? Share the information with our readers at facebook.com/theredeye.
--Keep up with local and international Haiti news with this Twitter list.--Photos of earthquakes around the world, plus more ways you can helpBy Christina Salter
Want to help?Aid organizations need your assistance. Some tips from InterAction, a coalition of U.S.-based international non-governmental organizations.
- Donating cash to established relief organizations is the best way to help because it allows professionals to get exactly what they need and does not use up scarce resources such as transportation, staff time or warehouse space.
- If you decide to donate supplies and not cash, contact an established relief organization before you collect anything. If you have already collected items, donate them to a relief organization within your community or sell them at a yard sale or charity auction and donate the proceeds.
- People who want to volunteer should have previous disaster or international experience or technical skills and should work through a relief organization. More information is available from the Center for International Disaster Information, cidi.org.
[source: AP]
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Here is a list of organizations accepting donations:
- InterAction has a list of agencies responding and how to donate to them. Find it here: interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti
- To find out how to help the International Rescue Committee, visit theIRC.org or call toll free, 1-877-REFUGEE.
- To donate through Oxfam's emergency appeal, visit oxfam.org.uk
[source: AP]
As news of the post-earthquake devastation in Haiti continues to pour
in, relief agencies are sounding a call for help using text messages.
Haitian-born musician Wyclef Jean hit social media sites Wednesday
asking for donations to his charity, Yele Haiti. Wyclef, one of many
celebrities to appeal for aid to Haiti, used the site to ask users to
text "Yele" to 501501 to make a $5 donation to the Yele Haiti
Earthquake Fund. The amount is charged to the phone's bill. Meanwhile,
the American Red Cross set up a donation system where users can text
"Haiti to 90999" to make a $10 donation.
Chicagoans told RedEye on Wednesday that the ability to text in donations could only help the relief efforts.
"I think any means to get that out there and make it available and easy
to donate is a good idea," said Matt Hahn, 36, of Lincoln Square. Hahn
said he had never donated via text before, though he had used Facebook
to give to charity in the past.
"Why not?" said Habacuc Oviedo, 34, of Edgewater. "Because of what happened there, they need the support."
Despite an outpouring of support--the Red Cross said it raised $XX as
of Wednesday night--the FBI issued a warning to potential donors to be
wary of unsolicited appeals online.
"Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with
criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable
organization and/or a good cause," the bureau said in a statement.
"I had no idea [texting] was going on, but frankly, I don't believe
it," said Allison Trautman, 23, of Uptown. "I doubt the proceeds really
go to them, but it's great if it does."
Lincoln Park resident Nicholas Vafakas, 28, said he thinks Americans
will donate regardless of the method with which they contribute.
"If people want to donate, they'll donate," Vafakas said. "This is the
most generous country with the most generous people in the world. We'll
give as long as we're allowed to."
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