Donating to Haiti-How Can I Help?

In times of disaster and great distress, people typically feel the need to help in some way. After hearing about the massive earthquake in Haiti, it's normal to wonder how you can contribute, and you may be overwhelmed with news alerts, e-mails, facebook status updates, and tweets that suggest where your money should go. However, it is important to be careful that your donations go to the organizations that will help the victims (the Associated Press reports that there are an estimated three million at this time), and not to an organization that does not use the money as promised. The following organizations are reputable, and will ensure that help gets to those in need.

Compassion-Haiti Earthquake Response Fund: Compassion is a Christian organization that sponsors children all over the world. The children receive aid for their current needs such as food, clothing, shelter, and education. Compassion currently has a special fund set aside specifically for the families affected by the earthquake, and you can make a donation here.

World Vision-Haiti Earthquake Relief: World Vision is an organization similar to Compassion, and focuses on poverty and helping those who have been through disasters such as earthquakes and floods. World Vision has team members currently in Haiti, and your donation will help them as they assist those in need.

Hope for Haiti: Hope for Haiti is an organization that helps provide clean water, medical necessities, educational needs, and disaster relief for the people of Haiti. They are currently on standby to send doctors, nurses, medical supplies, and other relief to the areas affected, but are waiting on enough donations to do so. This organization is of great importance to Haiti and knows the people and area well, and you can donate to them here.

Salvation Army: The Salvation Army is well known in the United States for their work with the needy and for disaster relief services, but they are also working in other countries to help as well. According to their website, they currently operate schools, clinics, a hospital, feeding programs, children's homes and church-related activities spread across two major facilities in Port au Prince, close to the epicenter of the earthquake and at other locations in the country. You can donate to them here.

Yéle Haiti: Yéle Haiti is a grassroots movement founded by Wyclef Jean founded in 2005. According to their website, they build global awareness for Haiti while helping to transform the country through programs in education, sports, the arts and environment. They have an earthquake fund website available for donations here, or you can donate simply by texting "Yele" to 501501. This allows you to automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund, and it is charged to your cell phone bill.

If you are unsure about which organization to support or would like to research additional giving opportunities, a wonderful website to help is the Network for Good. They have complied a list of additional donors, and give you a wide range of options for your donations, such as helping Doctors Without Borders and UNICEF. Their site is secure and is approved by the BBB, so you will feel safe knowing that your money is truly helping to make a difference.

Whether you donate to one of these organizations through your monetary gifts, time, or prayers, anything would be appreciated as we all come together to help those in Haiti.

References:

Yahoo! News: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_haiti_earthquake_aid;_ylt=AmaexrE2GXyTTtdmJ3eGkZBH2ocA;_ylu=X3oDMTNjbXIzaWduBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMTAwMTEzL2V1X2hhaXRpX2VhcnRocXVha2VfYWlkBGNjb2RlA21vc3Rwb3B1bGFyBGNwb3MDMgRwb3MDMgRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3JpZXMEc2xrA21hc3NpdmVhaWRlZg--

Network for Good: http://www1.networkforgood.org/