A Hot Mama

Living in California, makes me very conscious to earthquakes. I’ve been through a few minor ones, but none the magnitude of the 7.0 earthquake that shook Haiti on January 12, 2010.

I can only imagine the devastation to a country that is desperartely poor and politically unrest.

Without the help from other countries, it would be incredibly challenging to coordinate mass relief efforts from such a major natural disaster.

Haiti might be a small country, but it is mighty. The Haitian Revolution (1791-1804), the successful slave revolt against the French, established Haiti as the second independent country in the Western Hemisphere. There is no doubt the Haitian people are resilient, but international help is essential for a new beginning.

Haiti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, 80% of Haitians live below the poverty line. It also has the highest rates of infant, under-5 and maternal mortality. 

As a mother, seeing pictures of children alone and scared really resonates with me. That could easily be me or my kids. Perhaps one day me or someone in my family could be in a position that we could benefit from the kindness of strangers.

For those interested in helping, something known as “text donations” have been popular. You simply type a code in a text message to a number and the dollar amount is added on to your cell phone bill. I have done this and it is highly efficient and very easy.

You can do this with The Red Cross and Yele (an organization established by entertainer Wyclef Jean).

Text ”Haiti” to the number 90999 to make a $10 donation to the Red Cross. 

Text “Yele” to the number 501501 to make a $5 donation to Yele.

 

Other organizations and sites to make donations or get information are:

 

 

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross, which is almost three-times bigger than the next-biggest charity listed here, is providing support to Haitians affected by the earthquake. 

Food for the Poor Haiti Earthquake Relief

Food for the Poor is providing emergency relief to earthquake victims.

World Vision Haiti Earthquake Relief

World Vision is distributing relief supplies – including food, clean water, blankets and tents to children and families impacted by the earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti.

Care Haiti Earthquake Relief

Care is sending helping to rescue people from the rubble, and providing food and water.

UNICEF Haiti Earthquake Relief

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, is providing immediate support, even though its own offices in Port-au-Prince were devastated by the earthquake. At this writing, the UNICEF USA donation page is down, though.

Samaritan’s Purse Haiti Earthquake Relief

Samaritan’s Purse dispatched a team just hours after the quake to help with water, shelter, medical care and other emergency needs. We will focus on medical help, shelter, clean water and hygiene supplies.

World Food Program Haiti Earthquake Relief

Friends of World Food Program works in the U.S. to support the U.N.’s World Food Programme, which is supplying food to Haitians during the crisis.

Global Giving Haiti Earthquake Relief

Global Giving has launched an emergency earthquake relief fund that will provide emergency assistance.

Fonkoze  is providing emergency relief to earthquake victims.

Fonkoze is Haiti’s alternative bank for the organized poor. It is a family of three institutions working together towards a single compelling mission: building the economic foundations for democracy in Haiti by providing the rural poor with the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty. 

Partners In Progress

Partners in Progress help the organized poor of Haiti help themselves to increase human capacity for living with dignity by promoting and advancing a Fondwa community  model of (sustainable) rural development through educational outreach and resource networking.