HAITI hit by 7.0 earthquake - what can we do?

jo21washburn

IheartBKNY wrote: My earlier post was based on organizational first hand information. Preparations are being made to send goods down. I'm sure the Logistics are being worked out by the decision makers.

while I admire your intentions, Presidents Obama, Clinton and Bush all spoke at a joint press conference today and were very clear - give CASH......not blankets or water (or anything else)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100116/ts_alt_afp/haitiquakeaidusobamabushclinton_20100116173918

iheartbkny

CBS 2 News is at the Flatbush Caton Market covering Local Relief Efforts. Thanks to All who Donated Items for Haiti Relief Efforts. The magnitude of this recovery truly requires a combined effort. A million thanks!
Red Cross needs Volunteers who speak creole/english for a month to go on Relief missions. Contact council Member Jumaane Williams' office or the Red Cross.

the ice cream girl

EARTHQUAKE RELIEF
HAITI
- A PASTA-DISH FEST -
AN OPEN DOOR EVENT

HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO TAKE A BREAK, STOP BY MAKE A DONATION, ENJOY SOME MUSIC AND HAVE A PLATE OF YOUR FAVORITE CHOSEN PASTA'S AND A COOL REFRESHMENT.

HOSTED BY
-STATE SENATOR MARTY GOLDEN-
-QUEEN ANN RAVIOLI AND MACARONI-
-THE ICE CREAM GIRL-
-RoSal's RESTAURANT-

$15 MIN. DONATION SUGGESTED PER PLATE/ ADULTS
$7- CHILDREN

PLACE: RoSal's Restaurant 248- Avenue X.
Corner of McDonald Avenue & Avenue X
(Gravesend/Brooklyn)

DATE: THIS SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2010

TIME: 1- 4 PM

$5- RAFFLES WILL BE SOLD THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND WINNERS WILL BE
NOTIFIED VIA TELPHONE

Special Thanks to Queen Anne Pasta for catering delicious Italian Pasta.

ALL PROCEEDS COLLECTED FROM THIS EVENT WILL GO DIRECTLY TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS/HAITI RELIEF FUND.
ONE WORLD - PLEASE COME
Maria (917) 578- 6374

THIS IS THE REAL FLYER~!! Sorry about the other one!
(mod note: no problem. deleted the other one -- which you can do yourself by hitting the x in the upper right of a post made by mistake)

windsorwines

"In the midst of her whirlwind, award-laden weekend, Sandra Bullock took time to donate $1 million to Doctors Without Borders' emergency overseas relief efforts, a charitable organization which offers medical care to those in need."

=D>

jml

From Unicef:
----------------
I am so humbled by your overwhelming response to our early appeals. Already the U.S. Fund for UNICEF has committed over $11 MILLION in relief to Haiti.

Caryl M. Stern
President & CEO
U.S. Fund for UNICEF

P.S. Remind those you know that if they would like to help, the U.S. Fund has waived all administrative fees for anyone donating to Haiti relief efforts, so that 100% of every dollar donated will go directly to save the children of Haiti. http://www.unicefusa.org/haitiquake

iheartbkny

@ UNICEF- AWESOME!

idlewild

I imagine that clothing donations from the NE area would be useless, if only because it's about 90 degrees in all of Hispaniola. Canned goods are better of bought south because of the weight and cost of shipping. BBB.org and Consumerreports.org list charities who are in their good graces. I went through the Red Cross. I imagine with close to 500,000 dead and more homeless, that Haiti is on top of their list for awhile.

carnivore

If you want to donate, but don't want your support to go through a religious organization, Richard Dawkins has set up the following link:

http://givingaid.richarddawkins.net/

ishtar

Idlewild wrote: I imagine that clothing donations from the NE area would be useless, if only because it's about 90 degrees in all of Hispaniola.

We do wear lighter clothing during the hot and humid summers here. It would be great if we went through our stored away summer clothes a little earlier than we normally would and donate the things we know we won't be wearing come June.

As others have already stated, cash is best.

homeowner

There are organizations collecting goods to send to Haiti, but they are asking for very targeted items. I have friend that works with the Timoun Lakay Foundation (TLF). Prior to the earthquake TLF's mission was to collect clothes, food, school supplies and money for orphanages in Haiti. Since the earthquake they are working in partnership with the Fondation Rose et Blanc (FREB) based in Petion-Ville, Haiti to deliver donated food and supplies to orphanages and health facilities in Port-au-Prince. Packages will be sent to Haiti with the generous assistance of the Freedom Waters Foundation.

Whether you donate goods through TLF or another organization, TLF has been able to identify those items which are of highest need today. If you feel strongly that you want to donate things, TLF has asked people to donate the following items:

Medical supplies
Water and water purification tablets
Dehydration packets
Batteries of all sizes
Tents
Feminine hygiene products
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Soap and deodorant
Garbage bags
New male and female underwear
Canned baby food
Baby diapers

To find out more about FREB, go to their website at http://frebhaiti.org . To donate to TLF please visit www.timounlakayfoundation.org or their Causes page on Facebook

stacey

In case you want to keep it local, we also have the Bed-Stuy Volunteer Ambulance Corps. already there and they are raising funds to send more personnel there.

http://www.bsvac.org/

deedee

I have to agree with others that money is the best way to help at this point. If you're insistent on donating items make sure that you consult the list of what is actually needed rather than coming with a project like sewing wrap skirts which are not needed at all at this time.

@ stacey, thanks for information about the Bed-Stuy Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

iowagirl

I haven't read all the posts, but I know that Doctors Without Borders is well-represented here.

The other organization we are supporting is Shelterbox. What is a Shelterbox? From their website:

What's in a ShelterBox?
Each ShelterBox is a large, rugged, green plastic container that holds a 10-person tent and a range of other equipment. In general, typical box contents could include:

• Thermal blankets and insulated ground sheets
• Waterproof ponchos and bin bags
• A multi-fuel stove that can burn anything from diesel to old paint!
• Cooking pans, utensils, bowls and mugs
• Collapsible water containers and water purification tablets
• A basic tool kit – hammer, axe, saw, pliers, hoe head, trenching shovel, rope etc
• A small, children's pack containing drawing books, crayons, pens etc.

However, a range of equipment is kept in stock. This allows ShelterBox to be flexible and adjust the contents of the box according to local conditions and what is most urgently needed.

Sometimes – particularly if other resources are available locally and the overwhelming need is for shelter – we will just send tents and pack two in each box.

Once assembled, boxes will be banded and sealed ready for transit. They are also individually numbered so each box can be tracked and donors can know its final destination.


Do you send anything else?
In any disaster a large number of victims will inevitably be children. Schools will often have been destroyed along with homes and other buildings. ShelterBox will, therefore, sometimes include blue ‘school boxes' in their consignments along with the usual green boxes. These contain essential tools for teachers, including blackboard paint and chalk, along with basic school supplies for 50 children. School boxes are funded entirely by independent UK resources.

Depending on the situation, we also sometimes send out – in about one box in 10 – a wind-up, solar-powered radio capable of receiving FM and other transmissions (LW, MW & SW) so that communities can hear broadcasts from local authorities, aid agencies etc.

They've already delivered a number to Haiti and there are more on the way. Please go to their website and see if their work interests you. If so, send them some love to help them continue their important work!


http://www.shelterboxusa.org/

homeowner

stacey wrote: In case you want to keep it local, we also have the Bed-Stuy Volunteer Ambulance Corps. already there and they are raising funds to send more personnel there.

http://www.bsvac.org/

Just wanted to echo Stacey on this one. BSVAC has already sent 44 EMT, doctors and nurses to Haiti. They are trying to send another group down but need to raise about $30,000 in funds to do so. Please consider donating to them. Your dollars will result in direct provision of needed medical emergency services.
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2010/01/20/2010-01-20_more_bedstuy_vols_haitibound_as_group_seeks_donations.html

snarkslope

Another truly great, and local, resource is DWA FANM. They are a Haitian womens' and girls' advocacy center on 4th Avenue near St. Marks. They have been working in both Haiti and New York for many years and know how to put your monetary donations to excellent use. Their plea is here:

dwafanm.org

You can donate online or drop in (or mail a check).

dlehon

Subject: Haiti Long Term Relief

The Brooklyn Community Foundation has put out the following statement about its plans to help deal with the longer-term needs in Brooklyn resulting from the earthquake in Haiti. Please stay tuned for more as it develops...

The tragedy unfolding in Haiti following the earthquake on January 10 is stunning in its proportions and sobering in its implications. Aftershocks felt in Haiti ripple in effect as Brooklyn’s huge Haitian Diaspora community of over 100,000 people suffer from afar. Our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers go out to all who have lost family members and friends or who still await word of their loved ones whereabouts in Haiti.

History teaches us that while the earthquake lasted only moments, its damage extends well into the future – and well beyond physical destruction and loss. Local organizations here in Brooklyn will be called upon to address the immediate and long-term needs of surviving children, seniors, and young adults who relocate to be with family members or friends. They will all need support, strength and commitment from all Brooklynites to help build and rebuild the destruction resulting from this natural disaster.

As an organization devoted to helping support Brooklyn's communities, nonprofits and its people, the Brooklyn Community Foundation is rapidly working to create a fund that will provide nonprofits with new resources to respond to the inevitable aftershock of this earthquake on our vibrant Haitian community...

see www.BrooklynCommunityFoundation.org for more.

MOD

small note: Wallmart employees in Haiti (sweat shop workers) are working again and they get paid $1.25 an hour. They are considered the lucky ones :shock: not sure what to say about that...

blkpetal

If anyone is interested, on Thursday, February 4 (this Thursday) I am holding a fundraiser for Haiti.

Sadly, i won't be holding it in Brooklyn, but instead at Puck Fair in Manhatten on Broadway and Lafayette (so the F-train is right there...easy Brooklyn access!).

Starting at 7 pm I will be in the downstiars bar collecting donations and all money donated will go directly to Yele Haiti. Puck Fair has agreed to offer $2 off their already reasonable well drinks/draft beers as a thank you for donating.

Just thought I would let you all know. Hope to see you there!
PM me if you have any questions.

catwalkertexasranger

Mamacita wrote: small note: Wallmart employees in Haiti (sweat shop workers) are working again and they get paid $1.25 an hour. They are considered the lucky ones :shock: not sure what to say about that...

In a country where the average salary is 300 bucks per YEAR. 1.25 an hour is a godsend. Most of the worlds baseballs and softballs were made there until government instability put the supply chain in question and the whole industry relocated. Great % to DR and China