If you're looking to help after the devastating earthquake in Haiti, a variety of charitable organizations are collecting donations to assist.
RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS
• UNICEF: Which helps children in humanitarian crisis
• Atlanta Red Cross: Provides humanitarian relief
• American Red Cross: Emergency response organization
• CARE: Atlanta-based humanitarian organization fighting global poverty
• Habitat for Humanity International: Addressing shelter solutions for low-income families affected by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010
• Help Haiti now: Organization which provides food, water, medicine, and educational support to the poor in Haiti.
• Hope for Haiti : An organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for the Haitian people, particularly children, through education, nutrition, and healthcare
• Partners in Health: Provides a preferential option for the poor in health care.
• North American Mission Board: Southern Baptists providing disaster relief volunteers and funds.
• We Have We Need: Site where relief organizations can quickly post their most urgent needs and have them matched by generous donors during a time of crisis. To participate in the program, go here.
HOW TO HELP
• The State Department's DipNote blog writes that "for those interesting in helping immediately, simply text 'HAITI' to '90999' and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill. Or you can go online to organizations like the Red Cross and Mercy Corps Mercy Corps to make a contribution to the disaster relief efforts."
• Childspring, an organization that brings children from foreign countries to the United States for medical treatment, is collecting items to take to Haiti. Items can be dropped off until Wednesday at two locations: Childspring International offices at the First Presbyterian Church at 1328 Peachtree St. Atlanta and at Progressive Medical at 4646 North Shallowford Road, Atlanta. Needed items include antibiotics, latex gloves, eye patches, disposable gloves, aspirin, crutches and walkers. Information: Christina Porter at 770-597-1221.
• If you'd rather help out locally, check out the AJC's charitable and nonprofit organizations. There are also numerous sites around the Web with links to aid organizations providing assistance to quake victims:
• The Hospital Albert Schweitzer
• Operation Blessing International
• The International Committee of the Red Cross
TWITTER FEEDS
• Help finding friends and family in Haiti
• Reports from individuals, news orgs, relief agencies in Haiti
FINDING PEOPLE IN HAITI
• Americans in Haiti can call the Embassy’s Consular Task Force at 509-2229-8942, 509-2229-8089, 509-2229-8322, or 509-2229-8672.
• For information or inquiries about U.S. citizens in Haiti, call 888-407-4747. Outside the U.S. and Canada, call 202-501-4444.
The AJC is not endorsing or vouching for any of these groups. The list is a starting point for your own research. A number of online tools are available to help you evaluate charities including CharityNavigator.org and NetworkForGood.org .