Disaster Relief for Haiti: Take 5 Seconds for 5 Dollars

Inspired by my good friend Judy at No Fear Entertaining (and a fellow South Floridian, albeit on the left coast), I’m adding my voice to others around the world through Bloggers Unite for Haiti, in asking that you take a few seconds of your time to make a quick donation to your favorite charity to assist Haiti in recovering from the disaster of this week’s earthquake.

Recovery? I take that back. Recovery is a very long way off for the island nation of Haiti – the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The need has always been there, but the urgency this week is overwhelming. Hospitals, schools, and even the National Palace, are nothing more than piles of rubble right now. Thousands of people may still be trapped and hoping for rescue. People are being turned away from the few medical aid stations running because there is no space for them and no supplies to treat them. Bodies are piling up like cordwood because there is currently no way to organize and control the crowds hoping to find and claim their loved ones’ bodies, much less identify them.

Right now the horror is unimaginable to those of us on the outside, and honestly, I don’t want to imagine it.

From mobilegivinginsider.com:

A bunch of great organizations have launched mobile fundraising campaigns today to provide disaster relief in Haiti. Here’s how you can help:

Text HAITI to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross

Text FRIENDS to 90999 to donate $5 to the U.N. World Food Programme

Text HAITI to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton Foundation

Text HAITI to 25383 to donate $5 to International Rescue Committee

Text HAITI to 45678 to donate $5 to the Salvation Army in Canada

Text YELE to 501501 to donation $5 to Yele

Text HAITI to 864833 to donate $5 to The United Way

Text CERF to 90999 to donate $5 to The United Nations Foundation

Text DISASTER to 90999 to donate $10 to Compassion International

For those of you who are wondering, yes, text donations are a completely legitimate way to donate to 501(c)3 organizations, and no, the carriers do not take a percentage. All contributions are tax deductible, just like any other donation.

Also, if you’re located in the southern end of Miami-Dade County, Fellowship Church located at 6767 Sunset Drive (305) 661-4289 is also accepting donations of over-the-counter first-aid products, rice, beans, and clothing on behalf of the Red Cross. A plane to Haiti is apparently scheduled for early next week.

And if you’re going to donate goods, use your common sense, people. Bring these people only SEALED, NEW products and food. Only gently used and clean clothing. This is not the time to get rid of your stinky old stained and ripped t-shirts or your old prom formal.

As long as you’re sitting there in traffic and before you make your Happy Hour plans, send one text message first – to one of the numbers listed above.