Continuing Relief in Haiti Needed

My heart is just breaking with all the images of the devastation in Haiti.  Times are tight and we aren't able to donate much right now.  I feel like I am doing the best I can by spreading the word about ways to help.  I have copied a previous post below and have added in some new ideas.  I receive no compensation from any of these links.  Please pray and carefully consider how you can help.  Also, if you are only able to donate time or supplies to a local organization/branch, you are still helping Haiti.  Those local organizations/branches will be able to be freed up locally to help in Haiti.

What are we doing to help?  I am blogging to get the word out.  I am donating many stockpile items to our local charities and branches.  I want to relieve some of the local burden so more can go to Haiti.  I am saving up for a donation to one or several charities I have listed on these blog posts.  I am praying and waiting for direction on this one.  With the tsunami relief effort, Hubby and I waited a few weeks to donate when all the media hype had gone down.  There was continued need but not as many people were donating anymore.

I'd love to hear what you are doing - leave a comment and let me know.

• Cell Phone Companies.  Many organizations have partnered with cell phone companies.  Simply by sending a text, you are able to donate (usually $10) right from your phone.  Charges will appear on your next phone bill.  Call your cell company to see if they are participating.
• Swagbucks.  I love Swagbucks.  Click here to see a post about what Swagbucks is.  Click here to learn how Swagbucks is donating to the relief effort for Haiti.
  
• Compassion International.  This organization is well known for child sponsorship programs.  They do so much good around the globe. Below is a copy of an email sent out to request aid:

Haitian Children and Families Devastated by Massive Earthquake

Dear xxxx,

The catastrophic earthquake that hit Haiti yesterday has resulted in unfathomable chaos and devastation for hundreds of thousands of children and families.

Compassion sponsors and donors serve more than 65,000 children in Haiti. At least a third of them live in the areas that were hardest hit.I am asking you to please send a generous gift today to help these precious children and their families.

We are working rapidly to assess the situation and determine the full extent of damage:

• Sadly, we anticipate there will be many deaths.
• We anticipate thousands of children and families will have lost everything.
• We anticipate many of our church-based child development centers will have been destroyed.

Without a doubt, the children we serve in Haiti are in shock and face immediate needs for food, water, medical care, shelter and counseling. We have teams prepared to respond, and we are deeply committed to helping each child.

We need your donation today. Please reach out in the name of Jesus to bring relief, comfort, love and restoration to precious children and families whose lives have been devastated by this crisis.

Thank you for caring,

Dr. Wess Stafford
President, USA

P.S. If you would like to give by phone, please call us at (800) 336-7676. Check donations can be mailed to: Compassion International, Colorado Springs, CO 80997.

• Blog.  Get the word out.  Tell others what you are doing to help.  Spur people on to think outside the box.  Visit Money Saving Mom and link your blog post there.  For every qualifying link, she will donate $10 to Compassion International.

_______Below is a previous post________________________________________

There are so many generous people out there so willing to help and to share ideas for helping.  I wanted to share a few more that I have come across since yesterday.  Check the post from earlier to see my initial ideas.

• Sovereign Grace Ministries.  Hubby and I love this ministry.  We were members of churches affiliated with them for years.  They have opened a disaster relief fund that will work with contacts on the island to distribute relief.  Here is a link to create an account and consider donating.  Here is the email I received from them detailing their fund:

Friends,

In response to the devastating earthquake that occurred in Haiti on Tuesday, Sovereign Grace Ministries has opened a Disaster Relief fund to help deliver food, medicine, and other needed aid there. We will distribute the funds we raise primarily through existing ministry contacts we have on the island—both in Haiti and the Dominican Republic—who are already involved in relief efforts.

If you want to join us in our support of these efforts, you can donate to the Disaster Relief fund on our website or by calling 800.736.2202. On behalf of our friends in Haiti, thank you for considering this opportunity to give.

Regardless of your ability to make a donation, please join us in praying that those affected by the earthquake would receive aid quickly, and that despite these hardships the gospel would continue to go forward in that nation.

With appreciation,

Patrick Ennis
Executive Director
Sovereign Grace Ministries

• Samaritans Purse.  This is another organization that I love.  They are most known for their Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.  Samaritans Purse is offering aid to Haiti.  Click this link to go to their main page.  You can view a video plea by Franklin Graham plus see updates via news feeds plus click through to donate.  Click this link to read about their immediate response plus ongoing needs.
• Salvation Army.  The Salvation Army has a huge disaster relief effort going right now.  Click here to learn more and donate.
  
• Bargain Shopping.  I hadn't thought of this way to help.  You will need to check with your local Red Cross or Salvation Army to see if they are accepting non-monetary donations for Haiti.  If you are an avid bargain shopper, you may have some items that could be used for disaster relief in your stockpile.  Most groups that are accepting non-monetary donations will not accept liquid items.  Do you have extra toothbrushes?  Bars of soap?  Diabetes meters?  All these things and more may be helpful.  If your area is not currently accepting things like these, consider donating them either at a later time or at another agency that just provides local aid.  Many times during times of disaster, the local agencies fall by the wayside.  Let's not forget those in need in our own backyards.
• Small businesses.  Many small businesses are donating a portion of their profits to relief aid.  Check with your local Pampered Chef, Mary Kay, Southern Living, etc business owners to see if they are participating.
  

Most importantly, PRAY.   Seek God about how He wants you to bless others.