How You Can Donate to Haiti Relief If You Have No Money

I don't think there are many of us that haven't been touched by the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti. Individuals and organizations around the world are rallying to the cause, donating money and tangible goods to help Haitians dig out from beneath this momentous tragedy. How can you help if you have no extra money to donate?

How to Help Haiti When You Have No Money - Frequent Flyer Miles

Many airlines are set up to let you donate your frequent flyer miles to help pay for flying supplies and personnel to and from Haiti in support of the relief effort. Continental, U.S. Airways and United are three of the major airlines that are accepting frequent flyer mile donations. It should take just a few clicks of your mouse to find the site for your particular airline and donate your miles.

How to Help Haiti When You Have No Money - Hotel Rewards Points

Have you racked up points at your favorite hotel while on vacation or traveling on business? Choice Hotels, Marriott and Best Western are among the hotels accepting donation of points to the American Red Cross.

How to Help Haiti When You Have No Money - MyPoints

MyPoints is a popular site where you earn points by reading emails, making your online purchase through the MyPoints portal, downloading and using coupons, and various other simple tasks. These points are redeemable towards gift cards, but MyPoints has an option that allows you to donate your points to the American Red Cross.

How to Help Haiti When You Have No Money - Volunteer Your Time and Skills

There are many ways to volunteer your time to help the relief effort in Haiti. I don't know of a place of worship, school, business, civic or fraternal organization that isn't taking donations in the form of cash and/or purchasing supplies to send.

If you have clerical skills, offer to compose and send the email or print newsletter alerting membership to what your organization is doing. You could volunteer to be part of the group that purchases supplies with the money donated, or be a team member that packages those supplies for shipment. I'll be doing this myself at the end of the month with another Associated Content writer at her church.

Are organizational skills your strong point? Use them to solicit help in running a bake sale, rummage sale, car or dog wash. Do your kids participate in dance or music activities? Ask their teachers about putting on a recital and help them pull it together. Ask for donations as an admission fee.

We're all strapped for cash these days and have to be creative when managing our money. Be just as creative in coming up with ways to put away a dollar or two or give of yourself to help Haitians left with nothing.

Take a look around at other articles about Haiti that you see on this page. You'll be making another small donation by reading them.

Sources:
MyPoints.com
travel.latimes.com