We’ve all seen the horrific devastation that the recent earthquake has caused in Haiti. If you need a reminder, please check out Jezebel’s compilation of the “Most Talked About Videos from Haiti.”
The extent of the damage is unfathomable; it’s hard to believe that anything you or I could possibly do to help. Well, if we all do a little something, together we can make a huge impact. Here are just some of the interesting ways you can give and get involved:
- Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross (the charge shows up on your next phone bill).
- Don’t have $10? That’s okay. Text “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5 to Yéle Haiti.
- You’re not going to use them anyway, so why not donate your frequent flyer miles and/or travel points (here’s how)?
- Shop! Support one of these awesome Etsy sellers who are donating a portion of their proceeds to the rescue and relief effort in Haiti. Are you in the New York area? Fabulous Brooklyn boutique Eponymy is donating 20% of proceeds from full-priced items (clothing, accessories, cosmetics, and the like) to Doctors Without Borders.
- Does sending your money to a big organization make you feel like you can’t possibly be making a difference? Then send a donation to one person who is making a difference on his own. OMFGstyle contributor Laura Miller’s friend is in Haiti helping with his own hands. Any contribution you can send him (via PayPal to dan.a.ramirez@gmail.com) will no doubt be appreciated and help put food and supplies in the hands of people who need them. More about his trip here.
- Have your own fundraiser: invite some friends over for a movie, popcorn, and beer and ask them for $10 each. Donate it to your favorite charity.
Fantastic organizations that are helping right now and need your support:
After you’ve made your gift, what more can you do to encourage people to give? Get creative. One of my friends is a librarian; he is forgiving late fees for anyone that can prove they’ve donated to Haitian relief. A musician I know asked his Facebook friends to let him know if they’ve donated and they’d get a link to a free download of his latest album. What can you give away in exchange for donations to Haitian relief efforts? Whatever you do, so something.
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I’d add Partners in Health to the list of fantastic organizations that are helping right now and need our support — and that’s NOT because Meryl Streep mentioned them during her Golden Globes acceptance speech.
PIH has had doctors, nurses and other volunteers on the ground in Haiti for 20 years tackling major public health issues like HIV and TB.
I was lucky enough to get to work with the organization’s founder, Dr. Paul Farmer, and he’s one of the smartest, kindest, most compassionate people I’ve ever been lucky enough to interact with.
Contributions sent to PIH will go to very good use.