Haiti needs our help

In the wake of one of the worst natural disasters in the Western Hemisphere, our thoughts and prayers are with the good people of Haiti. We offer our sincerest condolences to the families of all those who lost their lives and to those who are grieving their loss.

The scope of this event is perhaps too large to grasp. Many are trying to make sense of the loss and destruction, wondering whether any hope remains.

The tragic loss of life and extensive damage caused by the earthquake that hit Haiti has left impoverished children, families and communities to suffer, while proper support is entirely out of their hands. It is up to us to help.

So close to home

The images of Wednesday’s horrific earthquake on the news channels seemed all too familiar to those watching in New Orleans. When hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, thousands of people were displaced including those from New Orleans based upickstorage.com, a self storage search application.

“The world immediately reacted with aid and well wishes for those of us affected by hurricane Katrina; giving back is the least we can do”, expressed Michelle Gallagher, Owner of upickstorage.com.

“When tragedy struck Louisiana, many residents had friends and family in other states that could house us and feed us until we were able to put our lives back together. I cannot imagine the helplessness and hopelessness the Haitians must be experiencing at this time.” Gallagher continued.

As a website with an entire database of business owners, upickstorage.com has the unique opportunity to contact their clients to assist in relief efforts.

“We immediately knew we should act, and our donation alone is not enough.” Gallagher said, “We will contact our clients in self storage with an appeal to help in any way they can.”

In addition upickstorage.com has posted a link on their website that can be used to donate to the Red Cross International Relief fund.

Popular apparel company Timberland is also rushing to aid victims and survivors, making a sizable donation to the Yele Haiti organization – a grassroots movement that builds global awareness for Haiti while transforming the country through educational, cultural and environmental programs – for every pair of Earthkeepers™ Yele Haiti boots and every Yele Haiti t-shirt that it sells.

“Many communities in the island nation have been reduced to rubble … and instead of focusing on ways to positively transform those communities, Yele Haiti today is mobilizing medical and emergency supplies to provide them critical relief,” said Jeff Swartz, Timberland President & CEO. “While the original intent for that donation was to support Haiti’s reforestation, we’re now rededicating our efforts – and our donation – to the country’s earthquake relief.”

Screw Pat Robertson and Rush Limbaugh. Americans want to help.

In the aftermath of this terrible disaster, the coming the challenge is to alleviate the suffering and lend the proper support to those in such dire need. With the support of friends around the world, the strength and resolve of the Haitians themselves will prevail.

President Barak Obama issued an email appeal yesterday concerning Haiti, and is using the White House Blog, Help for Haiti, to communicate ways in which you may assist Haitian relief efforts.

As a nation, we are forced to anxiously wait for news of both damage and survivors, while we pray for those whose lives and families have been devastated. But even more, we must UNITE as a nation in concern and compassion and with a desire to do whatever we can to contribute to the relief and recovery Haiti and its community desperately and urgently need.

Our nation’s unity, in hope, in prayer and in action, is perhaps our greatest strength in the face of such an event.

What you can do

The survivors of the quake and its aftershocks are now grappling with loss on an enormous scale, grieving for friends and family and exposed to the elements without clean water or shelter. Take a moment to pray that these people will find comfort and hope. Take a moment to donate more than you may be comfortable giving.

Making a difference can be just a text message away. Text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross relief efforts, or text Yele to 501501 to donate $5.

Some other ways to help:

• Make a donation through the American Red Cross’ International Response Fund, and it will be allocated specifically for Haiti relief efforts.
• Operation Blessing International also has disaster relief teams on the way.
• The Salvation Army is also sending personnel and supplies to assist in the relief effort, and is in need of donations.
• Yele, musician Wyclef Jean’s ongoing Haitian charity is taking donations. He is a native Haitian, and assists Haitians regularly.
• American Jewish World Service is collecting donations for their “Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund,” which will help “their network of grantees in Haiti to meet the urgent needs of the population based on real-time, on-the-ground assessments.”
• Compassion International, the world’s largest Christian child development program, serves 64,000 sponsored children in Haiti…most near the earthquake zone. Their website allows donors to earmark contributions for Haiti.
• Samaritan’s Purse, the international aid and development group headed by Rev. Franklin Graham, landed a medical supplies flight with teams of emergency medical workers Wednesday morning, and will begin pouring in additional aid as needs become clear.

In addition, the following organizations provide financial and/or in-kind assistance to those in need:

• World Vision: www.worldvision.org or 888.511.6548
• AmeriCares: www.americares.org or 800.486.4357
• Doctors Without Borders: www.doctorswithoutborders.org or 888.392.0392
• Mercy Corps: www.mercycorps.org or 888.256.1900
• Oxfam of the U.K.: www.oxfam.co.uk or 011.44.870.333.2700
• Save the Children Federation: www.savethechildren.org or 800.728.3843