Darn it, Haiti

[Anonymous]

I went down to Mississippi to volunteer with a faith-based group after Katrina. The Red Cross was mismanaging things so badly in their shelters that displaced people were lining up at the doors of the little school where my group was running material distribution, begging to be allowed to shelter there. But I have to say, the RC reps had snazzy customized polo shirts (Katrina Relief 2005), a mere five days after the storm! So they're organized on that front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CARE and Oxfam are two organizations with excellent history and experience, and staff already on the ground in Haiti.

When considering what organization to donate to, you should look not only at charity navigator, but also at the org's experience in the country in question. You don't want to be funding a group that will just take its cut and send the balance on to the Red Cross. In a case like Haiti, you want your funds going directly and quickly to relief efforts, and in order for that to happen, it needs to go to a group already in place.

CARE is wonderful. One of my friend's dad worked for them when I was growing up overseas. They did not live in a big house, ostentatiously etc. despite the generous exchange rate of the local economy. CARE truly seemed to be an organization that followed its credos humbly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went down to Mississippi to volunteer with a faith-based group after Katrina. The Red Cross was mismanaging things so badly in their shelters that displaced people were lining up at the doors of the little school where my group was running material distribution, begging to be allowed to shelter there. But I have to say, the RC reps had snazzy customized polo shirts (Katrina Relief 2005), a mere five days after the storm! So they're organized on that front.

If I remember correctly, the Red Cross completely mismanaged funds received after 911. I haven't given to them since.

[Anonymous]

You know, this might set them back 25 years or more. Their roads are so badly damaged. Whole buildings gone, many able bodied adults dead. WTH do you do now??

[Anonymous]

The church I attend, Fairlington Presbyterian, supports the Community Coalition for Haiti.

http://www.cchaiti.org/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so sorry for these people, especially the children. What is a good organization to donate to?

This is my question.
I am from the Caribbean and in medicine, and I actually thought of going down there, but I am not a Francophone, so I would probably just in the way.
I might check with Doctors Without Borders, but they always say that they have enough money.

Actually Doctors Without Borders is asking for donations specifically for Haiti. You can donate on their website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so sorry for these people, especially the children. What is a good organization to donate to?

This is my question.
I am from the Caribbean and in medicine, and I actually thought of going down there, but I am not a Francophone, so I would probably just in the way.
I might check with Doctors Without Borders, but they always say that they have enough money.

Actually Doctors Without Borders is asking for donations specifically for Haiti. You can donate on their website.

Thanks, will do. I like how they always seem to be professional and focused.

[Anonymous]

I'm looking at the roads I used to travel in Haiti, and I just can't believe it. Buildings everywhere are just a pile of concrete and a tangle of Rebar. Every memorable thing I can find a picture of is gone, gone, gone. From what I gather, the only thing left is the Hotel Oloffson, the hotel from the Graham Greene novel.


The orphanage I used to stay in during my trips is pancaked. The boys are sleeping on the streets. Thankfully they were outside when it happened, but one boy and the director of that house are injured. We think they may be able to get medical attention, but no one knows how serious their injuries are. The organization has two other houses in different parts of Haiti, and one of them takes care of disabled children. It's got structural damage and so they are living outside as well. We don't know about the third house because no one has been able to get to it but we are hopeful because it is well outside of P-au-P. This organization has done miraculous work with former child slaves, street children, and now they have taken over this house of disabled children from a mission group that had to leave the country. I first went there 25 years ago when they were just getting started, and I'm so proud of where they have gone. At first I was worried about how they would rebuild, but now I am worried about how they will survive the next few months. This is their organization.

http://www.heartswithhaiti.org/