Haiti Earthquake Relief

The Network members recently read articles on Haiti and relief efforts. We visited websites of US-based non-profits and were shocked by results. Some non-profits are using the disaster in Haiti for their own benefit. They are requesting donations, yet not line iteming the donations for Haiti in their paperwork. They are using Pay Pal, which charges tax exempt organizations a processing fee, yet promising that 100% of all donations will go to Haiti. Some have histories of making empty promises, yet are getting new people who are compassionate to donate money. Others, who lack disaster relief training are trying to go to Haiti and are stating they can buy what is necessary once they arrive to the island, which is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. Tips to those who wish to help: Donate to ESTABLISHED tax exempt organizations and in the memo of your check write Haiti Relief. If donating online, donate to organizations who have bases or already frequent Haiti. The same if donating via text message. In any disaster, the items needed most are food, shelter, water, medical attention and clothing. Donate bottled water, water filtering systems, non-perishable boxed food items (really who has a can opener if everything around them collapsed?). Although you may want to go there to help, you're more of a danger unless you have sheltering, search and rescue or medical experience. If you've never participated in a local disaster, don't use an international one as your first experience.