EASY way to help Haiti [merged]

[Carta]

PLEASE HELP in anyway u can

[Zac495]

It's really easy: text HAITI to 90999 on your cell phone, and $10 will be donated automatically (charged to your cell phone bill). It's apparently one of the quickest ways to donate.

[DeniseM]

What organization does the money go to? What percentage do they keep?

*I googled it - It's the American Red Cross - MORE INFO.

[laura1957]

According to Snopes.com this is true and the organization is the Red Cross.

[Zac495]

Originally Posted by laura1957

According to Snopes.com this is true and the organization is the Red Cross.

Yes - Red Cross. I did it - I got a text back from Red Cross stating they received - but first it made me text YES if I wanted to donate - so it was quite clear I was donating 10 dollars and it would be charged on my phone bill.

I, too, checked snopes before posting here.

[gpurtz]

Give some thought to Shelter Box USA...http://www.shelterboxusa.org/
Their site is down as I write this...probably because of traffic. I would give to them before RedX.

[djs]

I don't know if it is THIS number, but I did hear a number one could text to today and $0.90 of every $1.00 would go to Haiti. Not sure of the industry standard, but 90% doesn't seem so bad to me.

ETA:

Just saw the number on the News, it's 501501. Apparently you text the word "yele" to that number to donate $5.00 where 90% goes to Haiti and (presumably) 10% for administrative costs. Simple enough, but if anyone is concerned about what percentage of money goes to help people they should look into the Red Cross, United Way or any other number of "known" charities.

[Zac495]

Originally Posted by gpurtz

Give some thought to Shelter Box USA...http://www.shelterboxusa.org/
Their site is down as I write this...probably because of traffic. I would give to them before RedX.

I would donate wherever you feel is best - I liked the cell phone idea only because people can be lazy (not because they are uncaring) and need a super easy way to donate - we need to help fast. Absolutely look into ways to donate that are best in your opinion.

[DeniseM]

Originally Posted by djs

Just saw the number on the News, it's 501501. Apparently you text the word "yele" to that number to donate $5.00 where 90% goes to Haiti and (presumably) 10% for administrative costs. Simple enough, but if anyone is concerned about what percentage of money goes to help people they should look into the Red Cross, United Way or any other number of "known" charities.

Call me jaded, but I would hesitate to send money without knowing who I am sending the money to, and what they will do with it. I know that after Katrina, there were scammers who collected money from people who thought they were donating to a good cause.

The 501501 number is for the Yele Foundation and their website is brand new. The donation is $5. Yele Foundation - more info. It seems to be sponsored by Wycleff Jean who seems to be a rapper or singer from Haiti.

[falmouth3]

Or you can go to redcross.org to donate. This is from their website.

International Response Fund

You can help the victims of countless crises, like the recent earthquake in Haiti, around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation by mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.

[SallyMagoo]

I liked this organization:

http://www.haitichildren.com/

Check our their website, and they say 100% of your donation goes to help the children of Haiti.

[SueDonJ]

We chose to send our donation through former President Clinton's clintonfoundation.org website because it's been closely allied with the UN relief efforts in Haiti following the four hurricanes last year (which means they have an ongoing support structure already in place there.)

This Haiti disaster appears to be worse than any most of us have ever seen, and that means that there will be more than enough legitimate organizations willing to take any and all donations. That's a more important question - is an org legitimate? - than which org is more worthy than another. One way to be sure that you're not giving good money to a bad org is to go through the http://charitynavigator.org/ website to check a certain charity, or look for the logo on any charity homepage.

I'm glued to the tv and can't imagine what those poor people are facing. It's all so sad.

[ricoba]

Most if not all charities now accept online donations.

Once I heard the news of this terrible tragedy, I sent a donation to one of my favorite aid agencies on their website.

I hope we can all be as generous as possible. This as we know is a terrible tragedy that has happened to many of the poorest of the poor.

[SueDonJ]

Ellen, your post here was the first I'd heard about the instant $10 donation through texting. I mean first EVER, not just for this disaster. Technology really is an amazing thing, isn't it? What a brilliant idea this particular tech feature is; every time I think of it I'm amazed even more.

Add to that, that practically all of the info coming out of Haiti is through social networking sites and digital imaging ... it's mind-boggling.

My kids think I'm a dinosaur but I'm still on this side of 50 (barely!), yet the world is light years ahead of where it was when I was a kid. It makes me a little dizzy.

[KarenLK]

I plan to donate to Lutheran World Relief.

[pjrose]

Doctors without Borders is probably my choice. DH likes American Jewish World Service

Lots of suggestions here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/201...uffpost/421014

[LisaH]

Originally Posted by Zac495

Yes - Red Cross. I did it - I got a text back from Red Cross stating they received - but first it made me text YES if I wanted to donate - so it was quite clear I was donating 10 dollars and it would be charged on my phone bill.

How long did it take to get a text back to you? It's been 10 min and I have not received anything back from Red Cross...

Never mind...Just got it...

[TerriJ]

Thanks for the info, I heard right back.

[Passepartout]

I sent a bit more through Clinton Foundation and when we get back to the USA I'll send some to Red Cross and Drs w/out Borders. I support them anyway, but with this, they- and the Haitians- need more, a lot more.

Jim Ricks

[itchyfeet]

Warning from the FBI - donate only to recognized chariities. Apparently there are many "twitter" sites that are collecting donations.

[easyrider]

Originally Posted by Zac495

It's really easy: text HAITI to 90999 on your cell phone, and $10 will be donated automatically (charged to your cell phone bill). It's apparently one of the quickest ways to donate.

Ellen, thanks for making this so quick and easy to help out. I sent the text and will click yes.

[Mimi39]

You can donate $10.00 to the Red Cross by texting haiti to 90999 on your cell phone.

[Stricky]

Unfortunatly there is not much to do other then give money right now.

Besides the RedCross I am also supporting Shelter Box. They are a great organization based out of the UK. They are affiliated with Rotary and they provide shelter food and water all in one box.
http://www.shelterboxusa.org/

[itchyfeet]

Saw on the news last night that Doctors Without Borders was already established in Hati, but the hospital buildings are no longer safe (maybe even standing). They have set up temporary shelter and are literally treating people "on the street". They got my donation.

[RLOGO]

I found this USA today article where Starwood is teaming with the Red Cross to help in the Haiti relief effort. I hope this will prompt us Tuggers to help.

"Starwood is partnering with the Red Cross to collect hotel points to help bankroll relief efforts. Click here for details. Donated Starpoints are not tax deductible. Donations may be made in the following amounts: 4,000 points=$50; 8,000 points=$100; 12,000-$150, and 16,000 points=$200."

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...ti-quake_N.htm