Haiti Donations Posted By: Richard B. Brooke, from Ross Bishop Date Posted: January 19, 2010
I’d like to personally thank my good friend Ross Bishop for sharing this important information with us to make sure donations go toward charities that can truly make a difference in the Haitian relief efforts. Ross concentrates his energies on writing, raising birds and on an active healing, teaching and counseling practice in Charlottesville, Virginia. His website can be found at RossBishop.com.
— Richard Brooke
One of the unfortunate things we have seen during the last couple of international tragedies is that some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) show up and make a splash for the TV cameras, ensuring donations, and then disappear when things die down. Charity Navigator has done an evaluation of the best places for you to put your money if you want to make a contribution to Haitian relief.
Charity Navigator’s ratings are based on efficiency—how the charity balances fundraising, administrative and program expenses—and capacity for sustained growth—annual growth of revenue, programs and capital ratio. They suggest that you avoid new charities and the temptation to send supplies independently. Make sure your donation will be used only for the current disaster.
One way to contribute to relief efforts in Haiti is to text the word "Haiti" to 90999, which will automatically result in a $10 donation to the American Red Cross. The $10 will be charged to your phone bill.
By the way, if you are tight on cash you can always give blood ...
Partners in Health has been working in Haiti for more than 20 years and is managing the major public hospital in Port-au-Prince at the direction of the World Health Organization. So far, Partners in Health has brought 60 orthopedic and trauma surgeons to Haiti to supplement the 4,000 Haitian employees already working for them before the earthquake. The organization has also sent 15 employees to focus on structural damage, restoring infrastructure and electricity.
They are running four operating rooms to the North and West of the Port-au-Prince and have brought five Haitians for emergency treatment at American hospitals.
Paul Farmer, the organization’s co-founder and deputy to former President Bill Clinton, U.N. Special Envoy to Haiti, offered his perspective on the crisis in Sunday’s Miami Herald.
Water Missions International has had a permanent team in Haiti for two years and has seven staff members on the ground now. By Monday night, they expect to have delivered 22 water purification systems to the country. The organization plans to ship 20 more systems in the next two days and manufacture five more each day going forward. From start to finish, each system costs roughly $25,000 – $35,000 and can serve 5,000 people indefinitely. Water Missions International is one of the smaller organizations with just under $3.5 million in net assets, but maintains high efficiency scores because of its specialized nature.
Save the Children has worked in Haiti for 30 years and has 170 staff members on the ground now. They have delivered 10 metric tons of medical supplies, food and water to 14 hospitals and clinics in Port-au-Prince. They are also bringing in additional doctors from the U.S. and delivering medications and assisting with child delivery at city clinics.
Unlike many organizations that struggled to get aide into the country because of a bottleneck at the airport, Save the Children was able to truck family supply kits, including temporary shelter, bottled water and cooking supplies, from the Dominican Republic within 24 hours of the earthquake.
CARE has had a permanent team in Haiti since 1954 with at least 145 employees on ground now. They have delivered 600,000 water purification packets, each of which treat nearly three gallons of water. Now one of their major focuses is caring for and delivering hygiene kits for an estimated 37,000 pregnant women. Further donations will go to their water programs as well as food, tent and mattress distribution.
Direct Relief International has been supplying local clinics and hospitals since 1964, delivering $150 million in medical materials since 2000. On Sunday morning their first airlift containing $1 million in medical supplies arrived on the ground along with their emergency responder team.
Food for the Poor is accepting cash donations, canned food, fish and condensed milk. They have already sent 100 containers of rice, canned food and medical supplies. Another shipment of 189 tons of goods went out Sunday.
Americares has been delivering medical supplies to local partners in Haiti since 1984. Their first airlift arrived on the ground Sunday night with $6 million in medical aid for survivors including antibiotics, pain relievers, bandages and trauma supplies.
Convoy of Hope has been in Haiti for three years partnering with local schools and has about 15 employees on the ground. Since the earthquake, they have distributed 160,000 meals. Convoy of Hope was able to deliver food immediately following the disaster because their warehouse 19 miles north of Port-au-Prince had been fully stocked just days before the earthquake hit.
Doctors Without Borders has given primary care to an estimated 3,000 people in Port-au-Prince and performed more than 400 surgeries. They have also begun building an inflatable hospital with two operating theaters and 100-bed capacity in an open field not far from the airport. The group has been active in Haiti since 1991 has nearly 750 international and Haitian employees in the country now.
COMMENTS (4 - Responses)
1
Carolyn Jones 1/19/2010 12:39:49 PM
Great to know about these credible organizations who have a hisotry of working effectively and quickly when the need is so great. I have also seen good ratings on World Vision and Samaritans Purse.Thanks Richard [Richard Brooke] Thank you Carolyn. And it should have been made more clear in this post that this article was written and posted by Ross Bishop. I am must passing it on
2
Sheatina Sparks 1/19/2010 12:55:04 PM
Thanks for this helpful information. I am glad to see a list of reputable organizations. As Carolyn said, I have seen and heard good things with Samaritan's purse. Also, if you know of local missionaries in Haiti, it is a good time to give extra to them. We have five Haitian missionaries that we give to through our local church. In this way, we are sure that the money goes as needed. The red cross is also a dependable organization. Thanks to all who will just give $10. It can make a huge difference. Sheatina
3
Hilary Blackburn 1/19/2010 5:12:45 PM
Thank you Richard for showing your compassion and care in passing along this great information from Ross! It's wonderful to see so many organizations working effectively together to bring humanitarian aid to the suffering people of Haiti. Another charity that is a personal favourite of mine and currently working on the ground level in the disaster area is ADRA (The Adventist Development and Relief Agency). Established in 1956, ADRA has a sterling 50+ year track record of efficiency, integrity and transparency. It is internationally recognized as one of the leading non-governmental relief organizations in the world working in more than 120 countries. In 1997 the agency was granted General Consultative Status by the United Nations, a unique opportunity giving ADRA added voice in the international community. In 2004 it assisted nearly 24 million people with more than US$159 million in aid. Anyone can go check out their website here: www.adra.org
4
Joan Kenney Fitzgerald 1/20/2010 2:03:15 PM
Thank you Richard for your leadership and forwarding this valuable information from Ross Bishop. Your blog also serves to stimulate and encourage advice from other strong leaders.
Your action during the Indonesian tsunami disaster and your direction here for the Haitian disaster shows your deep level of compassion for humanity and commitment to doing the right thing.
