How to help the Haiti relief effort

8 Responses to “How to help the Haiti relief effort”

1. HistoricUpstart says:

   January 14, 2010 at 12:28 am

   Thanks so much for this, Sarah. I feel bad that I can’t donate much, since my bank account has been sucked dry by unemployment. But I know that even a few dollars goes a long way in Haiti, so I plan to give what I can.
2. rodriguez says:

   January 14, 2010 at 9:46 am

   Both the Miami Herald and Jezebel commenter big legged woman recommend Mercy Corps. https://donate.mercycorps.org/donation.htm?DonorIntent=Haiti+Earthquake

   I would like to add Lions Club International Foundation:
   http://lionsclubs.org/EN/lci-foundation/supporting-our-work/make-a-donation/lions-lcif-online-donation.php

   Whenever these disasters happen, we all feel a rush to want to help, and the aid pours in. Is this really the best way to give?

   Wouldn’t it have been better to have given to the Red Cross or whatever with no strings attached last week? Wouldn’t it be more productive to look into the many charities people list and act preemptively?

   Here’s my advice to myself:

   Look into groups and make a choice – Lions Club International Foundation.
   Give to them regularly in unrestricted gifts.
3. BeckySharper says:

   January 14, 2010 at 10:58 am

   @Rodriguez: Mercy Corps and World Vision do valuable work, but it should be noted that they are Christian organizations rooted in evangelical Protestantism (World Vision is run by Billy Graham’s bigoted son Franklin).

   Personally, I prefer secular charities like Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross.
4. ImTheMarigold says:

   January 14, 2010 at 11:38 am

   I’ll add a shout out to Partners In Health.

   http://www.pih.org/inforesources/news/Haiti_Earthquake.html
5. rodriguez says:

   January 14, 2010 at 12:54 pm

   Becky, I hear you re: mercy and truth be told, I have some low-level beefs with the Lions that relate to feminism and religion.

   I suppose that’s part of my larger point/advice to myself: There are few perfect organizations. Research these groups and pick the best fit, given my pov. Then give proactively, not reactively.
6. theorchidthief says:

   January 14, 2010 at 4:44 pm

   @Imthemarigold….PIH is my choice too!
7. BeckySharper says:

   January 14, 2010 at 4:58 pm

   @rodriguez: Yeah, I’m the same way with a lot of charities. I know many of the faith-based ones do really good, valuable work, but I balk at the knowledge that a certain amount of Jesus (or Cheez-its, as I’m now calling him, thanks to commenter thelady) inevitably goes along with the aid they offer. Oh well. Some trade-offs are inevitable.
8. sarah.of.a.lesser.god says:

   January 15, 2010 at 12:05 am

   Doctors Without Borders will get some of my money tomorrow. My money spent on lattes and pizza seems kind of superfluous right now. There was an Anderson Cooper clip of a girl being pulled from the rubble. If anyone isn’t moved to donate after that…