The American Red Cross is working with the Haitian Red Cross to bring relief to victims and has raised millions-- just from a mobile fundraising campaign, a record in cell phone fundraising.
"Because of new technology, donations are coming in a lot faster through online, texting, social networking sites," Red Cross spokesman Eric Porterfield
Red Cross has set up a website to help family members find each other and sent about 30 more relief workers to Haiti, where they ran out of medical supplies late Wednesday. More supplies are expected soon.
Donations can be made to the general International Response Fund online at American.RedCross.org or by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish).
To designate the donation to a specific disaster, such as the Haitian Earthquake, mail it to: American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter, American Red Cross of Greater Chicago .
The U.S. State Department is also encouraging donations to the Red Cross. Those interested in donating $10 should text "HAITI" to 90999. The donation will be sent to the Red Cross and be charged to your cell phone bill.
CARE
CARE currently has 133 relief workers on the ground in Haiti to distribute food, hygiene kits and water, as well as emergency health services. They plan to start distributing food next. Donations can be made online at care.org
Project Hope Project HOPE, which focuses on healthcare, is sending a team of three to Haiti to work with the U.S. Navy and UN. Donations can be made at projecthope.org
MERLIN Merlin, which specializes in health, saving lives in times of crisis and helping to rebuild health care, is sending four people- including a doctor who specializes in tropical diseases and public health. They have a $500,000 target to cover immediate response. Donate online at merlin.org
Oxfam America
Oxfam America is gathering water and sanitation resources and has 200 relief workers on the ground in Haiti, including a group of highly-experienced emergency specialists. They have already raised $1 million for the effort. Donations can be made online at oxfamamerica.org
Partners in Health
PIH, which partners with poor communities to combat disease and poverty, has two more doctors headed to Port au Prince on Thursday. They said orthopedic surgeons are needed to deal with the crushed bones of the many victims. A truck loaded with supplies arrived to the teams last night and is now being dispersed. To donate, visitdonate.pih.org
AmeriCares Americares has pledged a $5 million relief package of medical and humanitarian aid, including medications, trauma supplies, IV soutions and more. Donations can be made at Americares.org Since the quake, they have raised more than $850,000. A team is headed to Haiti on Thursday and supplies are expected to reach Port au Prince Saturday.
Samaritan's Purse
The Christian relief and evangelism organization is familiar with Haiti and is sending a plane loaded with medication, blankets, water purification systems and relief workers – including doctors and disaster specialists- to Haiti. Donations can be made at samaritanspurse.org
Operation Blessing
The international non profit that works to alleviate poverty already had a team in Haiti when the earthquake struck. Donations can be made online at ob.org. Money will go toward emergency food, water, medicine and more to Haiti's quake victims.
"Our immediate priorities will be providing safe water and shelter material for the people who have lost their homes. Many people have lost their homes and were sleeping out in the open last night. There has been no rain yet, but there was rain earlier in the week and if it comes again it will make the situation much worse for all those made homeless by this quake. It is dangerous at night. Lootings were widespread and some markets were ransacked." said Cedric Perus, Oxfam's humanitarian coordinator in Port au Prince.
The Jewish Federations of North America
The Jewish Federations of North America is partnering with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) to provide urgently needed aid and relief on a nonsectarian basis to victims of the devastating earthquake. Donations can be made online at jewishfederations.org.
World Relief Corporation
World Relief Corporation has 40 people on the ground in Haiti. An assessment team is headed to provide emergency kits, food, and water. Donations can be made at worldrelief.org
Hope For Haiti
The non profit serves about 500,000 Haitians a year through education, nutrition and medicine. Eight staff members are already in Port au Prince and more on the way with relief buckets, including food and chlorine tablets. Donations can be made at hopeforhaiti.com
Feed My Starving Children
The group works with aid organizations around the world- including Haiti- to distribute meals to children and is working to get food transferred to Port au Prince. Donations at fmsc.org
Unicef
In coordination with other UN agencies present on the ground, UNICEF will provide supplies to allow access to adequate sanitation, safe water and basic health care. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF has already released $500,000 to assist in the emergency response.
To donate to the ongoing emergency relief efforts in Haiti and the Caribbean region, please visit: www.unicefusa.org/haitiquake or call 1-800-4UNICEF.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has a crew on its way to Haiti to access damage. Donations designated to the Haitian effort can be made to the Latin America Disaster Fund at salvationarmy.org
Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services has raised $4.1 million toward their goal of $5 million in 48 hours. The organization has more than 300 people in Haiti- 100 of them in Port au Prince- gathering food kits and water that can last a family for days. Donate online at catholicrelief.org
Doctors Without Borders
"Americans are by far the biggest donors so far," said spokeswoman Jennifer Tierney. As of Thursday morning, Doctors without Borders treated over 1,000 patients in four tent facilities. They're expecting 80 additional staff to come in. Donations can be made at doctorswithoutborders.org
'Hope for Haiti' telethon to air January 22
The Hope for Haiti telethon, which will raise money for Haitian relief, will air on several networks including ABC.
The two-hour broadcast will feature musical performances and live reports from Los Angeles, New York and Haiti.
You can watch the telethon right here on ABC7 at 7 o'clock on Friday, January 22.
