The Bigger Picture

[Black wallnut]

Folks as we go on about our lives there are real problems and heartbreak just to the South of most of us. I hope we are all keeping those in Haiti in our prayers. What an absolutely terrible disaster they have.

If any of you are members of any organization that is working to provide relief please let us know how we can help!

[ironhat]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church (Mormons) has a Humanitarian Emergency Response arm. You can donate online, here. The entire amount of your donation goes to the disaster relief which you specify in the second box. I believe the church absorbs all administrative via member contribution.

Prayers up for the poor people of Haiti!

[Uncle Cracker]

One of the quickest ways to help is to text "Haiti" to 90999. It docks your phone bill $10 and it all goes right to the Red Cross specifically for Haiti relief. I saw this this morning on Today, and confirmed it on the ARC website. These poor people need our best right now. Dig deep...

[Richard in Smithville]

It makes you realize that ours are generally little problems.

[crokett]

I have been following on the news and it is indeed a tragic terrible story. In addition to the disaster, it is shocking to learn of the poverty that grips that country.

[master53yoda]

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Church (Mormons) has a Humanitarian Emergency Response arm. You can donate online, here. The entire amount of your donation goes to the disaster relief which you specify in the second box. I believe the church absorbs all administrative via member contribution.

Prayers up for the poor people of Haiti!

Most interesting is the LDS church's response is faster then almost any other organizations in times of emergency. Mostly because the needed items are setting on pallets in warehouses around the world . and the 747 transports are available 24 hours per day. They typically are in with the basics as noted below within 24 hours and they have local organisation for distribution and in most cases have local assessment of needs within 72 hrs. their response to emergency is not limited to their membership in the least.

this is an excerpt from the site below.

"In the wake of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is mobilizing resources to address the most pressing needs of the people in the Caribbean nation. Images of collapsed buildings and devastated families tell the story of the widespread destruction.
Two planes, one departing from Denver as early as Thursday and another leaving from Miami later this week will each include over 80,000 pounds of food and emergency resources such as tents, tarps, water filtration bottles and medical supplies donated by the Church. Transportation is being provided by Airline Ambassadors and Food for the Poor will aid with distribution in Haiti.
“We are constantly assessing needs to determine how our resources can directly help the people of Haiti,” said Nate Leishman, manager of the Church’s humanitarian emergency response efforts. “We are fully committed to this ongoing process and doing our best to help wherever we can.”
These new shipments are in addition to emergency supplies being sent by truck from the Dominican Republic including personal hygiene kits and supplies for newborns announced early Wednesday by the Church.
“We express our sympathy and prayers on behalf of the citizens of Haiti following the recent devastating earthquake,” said Kim Farah, Church spokesperson."

http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/hum...iti-2010a.html

[OpaDC]

This is a group who did a lot of work in Texas after hurricane Ike. www.portlight.org They also have a blog on weatherunderground.com

Portlight's focus in this is going to be on people with disabilities in Haiti...providing medical equipment, shelter, and food for them...

We have a "Go" container in Atlanta which will ship out in a few days...and an ongoing relationship with a community of Catholic sisters in Port au Prince who will be opening shelters....

Any funds we raise will be used to defray shipping costs of medical and clinical equipment...and for the purchase of food and other shelter supplies...Haiti is our neighbor...and Haitians are certainly forgotten people...people with disabilities in Haiti are frequently barely seen as human...

Anyone interested in going to Haiti to help staff one or more shelters for Haitians with disabilities please email us..at paul@portlight.org

edit - added: Portlights goals

There is no pretty way to put this: the earthquake in Haiti will make all recent disasters in this part of the world pale by comparison, especially in the human toll. We've all seen the initial video and photos; the destruction is unimagninable. We at Portlight provide relief for ignored or under-served victims of disasters of all kinds and the Haitian earthquake will be no exception. Our goal is to provide relief for the disabled survivors of the disaster, though we will turn no one away.

To accomplish our goals we will need all the help we can get from volunteers here and in Haiti and through donations made to Portlight, be they food, medical supplies, clothing or money.

We plan to address this disaster with a three-pronged attack, starting with the most essential needs first:

1. Water Supplies

The earthquake has destroyed what infrastructure was in place before; we have 6 self-contained water treatment/filtration systems that can provide water for 3500 people each daily.

Self-contained water treatment/filtration systems

It costs $1200 each to ship them; we have the funds currently to ship 2 with more donations coming in all the time. We need your help; keep the PayPal button firing at Portlight so that we can get all of these systems shipped and in operation as soon as possible. Our goal is to have these systems operational within a few days so your help is crucial!

2.Durable and Emergency Medical Supplies and Equipment

We have received numerous donations of medical supplies and we have a great deal warehoused; we are currently getting our warehoused goods assembled for transport to Haiti. The first push of this part of the relief will be medical supplies and mechanical goods for the disabled there, wheelchairs, crutches, walkers and many other items too numerous to mention here. Again, the goal is to get these materials on the ground and in place within a few days so we will need your help!

3.Establishing, Staffing and Maintaining Shelters/Clinics

Paul Timmons has been in contact with the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur to get some idea as to the extent of the damage and to gauge the need; with most of Port Au Prince in ruins, the need for shelter is paramount. While we have received donations of medical equipment and offers from the Sisters to help in staffing these shelters, we are asking for volunteers to help staff the shelters. This is a long term commitment by Portlight and we ask that only people serious about helping in the shelters volunteer.

Please remember that any donation, no matter how small will help in this time of great need; you can make donations to Portlight at our website:

www.portlight.org

Or by check (made payable to Portlight Strategies) sent by post to

Portlight Strategies, Inc.
2043 Maybank Hwy
Charleston, SC 29412

[Alex Franke]

...also ELCA Disaster Response fronted a lot of cash almost immediately to Lutheran World Relief (already have offices and staff in Haiti) in anticipation of donations. They're focusing on water safety, shelter, and triage.

They note also that skilled workers will probably be needed in the coming months.

edit: Also "100% of your gift will be used in full to bring life sustaining support to this crisis."

[leehljp]

For those who are a member of a church, check with your pastor and your denomination or organization and give through that.

Our organization has language and logistic personnel already in place and even retired ones who speak the language - are either going back in, or - are already back there. Other organizations like ours have a preparedness plans in place in and for almost every country - for just such situations. You don't read about these in the news much and most organizations don't do it for the publicity but for the very purpose of getting the jobs done.


Forgot to mention, most church organizations have direct or indirect connections to Habitat For Humanity which provides relief two and three months down the road. HFH is a well know organization that uses volunteers in addition to being recognized by major companies and receives from these companies - donations of material, gifts and skilled personnel time for aid. Doctors without Borders are also organizations that help in specific situations.