For those of you who wish to donate, there are four ways you can make your donation to the American Red Cross:
1) By check: write your check to "The American Red Cross" and in the memo line specify "Haiti relief." That way you can be assured that your donation will be directed as you wish. You will receive a receipt and a thank you card from the Red Cross confirming your donation. Mail your check either to your local chapter, which can be found on the ARC's website. You can go here and print off a sheet to mail in with it toDue to the overwhelming support of the American people, the ARC has partnered with some retailers to be official donation sites, such as Walgreen's, Costco, Walmart, Riteway, Lowe's, and Bank of America. (Click here for details on these and other official donation sites.)American Red Cross
PO Box 4002018
Des Moines, IA 50340-2018
2) By phone: 1-800-RED-CROSS (You can also phone in your donation to your local chapter.)
3) Online using the ARC's secure site (click here).
4) By text message: you can text "HAITI" to 90999. Your cellphone company will add $10 to your bill, text messaging fees apply. You can send several texts. I tried it today, and each time I promptly received a message back asking me to confirm the donation by replying "yes" or "no." When I replied "yes," I promptly got a message that thanked me, but also offered me the chance to still cancel. Seemed rather fail-proof. (Click here for texting details.)
If you choose not to donate to the Red Cross, I would caution you to choose your charity of choice carefully. Be sure you donate to an organization that is reputable and highly respected. Many con artists crawl out of the woodwork in sad times such as these. Be aware, too, that corruption runs rampant in Haiti. Avoid those groups that will just give the money to Haiti without accounting for it.
I have a friend who works closely with an orphanage just outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She makes several trips a year and is involved in improving the orphanage and school. There are also plans in the works for a clinic to be built. The mission is called "House of Hope" and, if you're looking for perhaps a more direct, more personal, and hands-on relief effort, such a venture might be what you're looking for.
I will add a personal touch to this posting ... one that touched my heart and motivated me to be more generous ...
I took a call this morning from an elderly lady who told me she was on disability, but wanted to give what few dollars she had. As she gave me her credit card number, she apologized for talking slowly and needing to pause to take a sip of water. She explained that she was on oxygen. When I asked her for the amount she was donating, she replied "$10. I wish I could give more." Her voice cracked with emotion, and she began to cry as she shared how sad it was to watch the devastation on TV. She felt bad that she couldn't give more. I assured her that we give in proportion to what we have, and that we knew that these $10 was a huge sacrifice for her. I tried to comfort her in telling her that 91 cents of every dollar that goes to the Red Cross will go to the relief efforts, and that in Haiti, $10 would go very far.
That's when I decided to give the donating via texting a spin ... The conversation reminded me of how much I have and that I don't even blink when I spend $10. I am truly blessed ... and may God bless the generous donations and efforts being poured out by those wishing to help our Haitian brothers and sisters.