Haiti Earthquake

[plantmama]

I've already made a money donation to Oxfam. Does anyone know if there is a place I can send clothes?

[elmh23]

Call around to your local churches. I know at least one church here will be sending all "warm weather" clothing down to Haiti. UPS is apparently deliving all donations like this for free so a lot of churches are looking in to it.

[MrsMike]

The UPS is not delivering to Haiti for free.

Right now, the biggest need is for money. Due to the conditions of airports, roadways etc., the delivery of items from outside of Haiti is pretty difficult. In a few months time, when it becomes easier to land planes and navigate roads, there will be a great need for donations of clothing and other supplies.

http://blog.ups.com/2010/01/13/ups-d...-you-can-help/

[jeanine123]

CNN has a list of organizations looking for volunteers on their website. Most of them are looking for medical personnel who can go to Haiti but some are looking for folks to help pack food and supplies to ship.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact/?hpt=T1

It's about half way down the page or so on the right hand side.

[Turquesa]

Originally Posted by MrsMike

Right now, the biggest need is for money.

Look up any charities you're considering on give.org.

The House just unanimously passed a bill allowing you to declare any donations to the Haiti relief effort on your 2009 taxes. It's not a law yet, so stay tuned.

[elmh23]

Originally Posted by MrsMike

The UPS is not delivering to Haiti for free.

Thanks for clearing that up!

[plantmama]

Yes, I assumed that mostly they just need money because they just need to get very basic things out to the people.
We don't have very much of that so I've given as much as I can right now. We do however have lots of clothing hanging around so I thought I'd try to donate that. I'll look around in a month or two to see if someone's sending stuff.

I know some groups that are excellent are Partners in Health and Oxfam. I'll have to check them out on give.org.

[dirtgirl]

Statement from the US Breatsfeeding Committee

This is a quote from their revised statement:

Members of the public who wish to promote the survival of mothers and babies in Haiti can donate money to the following organizations: UNICEF, Save the Children Alliance, World Vision, and Action Against Hunger.

[proudmamanow]

I work in International Development & Women's Rights and am working on Haiti at the moment. All the organizations mentioned above are great, and I would also direct you to this great link about women's needs in the context of the Earthquake and how you can help:
http://www.awid.org/eng/Issues-and-A...risis-on-Women


And I can't emphasize strongly enough--please send money!! That is what organizations helping Haitians need...not shoes, clothes or volunteers! If you want to help, organize a fundraiser. Donations of stuff just cost a lot in shipping and take up storage space needed for lifesaving items. Reliable, experienced organizations like Oxfam, CARE, Doctors without Borders, the Red Cross etc. can use the money to buy appropriate supplies closer to the disaster zone.

The other thing you can do is write to these organizations & to your government representatives and ask what, specifically, they are doing to help women & children in Haiti--how are they taking into account their particular needs & ensuring that they aren't left out of relief efforts.

Great that you want to help