Donating to Haiti

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:38pm

Text 90999 with the message HAITI to immediately donate $10 from your cell-phone bill to the Red Cross for Haiti after this devastating earthquake. It will be billed to your cell phone.

You can see the US State Department's website for official details:

http://www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/ha/

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:44pm

did it. It's hard to believe there are no standing buildings. And that the US building inspectors can't even go there to help until a structure is built for them to stay in.

[Calvin]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:49pm

Me too -- thanks for the info, PJ.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 1:50pm

This CNN page lists other ways you can help:

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact/

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 2:02pm

Done as well. Also sending money to Doctors Without Borders.

This is just breathtaking in scope.

Looking at the Presidential Palace before and after literally took my breath away and left me numb.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 3:11pm

A lot of these are the same as the charities in the link PalJoey posted, but there are a few more.


The scary thing is, though, the control tower at the airport and the port facilities have collapsed. That's really going to hinder the relief effort.
MSNBC's list of charities to aid in Haitian earthquake relief

[Q]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 3:21pm

Link to video. Updated On: 1/13/10 at 03:21 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 3:31pm

I wonder how Phelps is going to blame this on the gays since Pat was unable to do so.

[Craww]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 4:01pm

I think I donated as much as I can (very little), but I'm going to be sure to press my mom to donate (probably to Doctors Without Borders) later tonight.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/13/10 at 5:28pm

These are difficult times for many who wish to give. You can text "YELE" to 501501 and donate $5 to Yele Haiti's efforts.

Yéle Haiti is a grassroots movement that builds global awareness for Haiti while helping to transform the country through programs in education, sports, the arts and environment. Yéle’s community service programs include food distribution and mobilizing emergency relief. Grammy-Award winning musician, humanitarian and Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti Wyclef Jean founded Yéle Haiti in 2005.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 10:40am

Two tweets from Audra McDonald:

AudraEqualityMc: Wyclef call 4 Help n Haiti txt "Yele" to 501501 donate $5 Earthquake Fund. $5 will be charged to your cell phone bill.

AudraEqualityMc: Also...What the hell is Pat Robertson's prob?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 11:12am

Perhaps Kristin Chenoweth has some insight on the Robertson issue? I happened to flip by 700 Club this morning and who should be being interviewed (not by Pat and apparently previously recorded), but none other than Anne Rice. She might have a take on the Robertson issue too.

[Calvin]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 11:18am

Does Pat still do that long squinty prayer at the end of a program with the bobbleheaded cohost, where they call out all the ailments he's curing, like chronic sinus pressure or an unsightly hammertoe?

It used to always be on before the Batman reruns when I was a kiddo.
Updated On: 1/14/10 at 11:18 AM

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 11:25am

"The scary thing is, though, the control tower at the airport and the port facilities have collapsed. That's really going to hinder the relief effort."

While I don't understand the technical aspects, I heard on the news this morning that the US Air Force landed a plane there, and that plane is functioning as the control tower, so it looks like relief supplies and personnel can get there now.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 11:25am

Well, he was squinting after the Rice segment and saying that if "you" just surrender to God you would know that God loves "you" just as "Anne" did, because, once a celeb aligns with his issue he refers to them by first name. Last time I flipped past his show he was saying how excited he was about "Mel's" movie being such a success.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 11:41am

I'm so glad to see lists of charities being published. I'm sure it's 100% legit but I always get a little skeeved when I see those "text to" things. I'd rather just send the money right to the Red Cross or a similar organization.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 12:26pm

These two "text-to things" are completely legit.

The geeks at techpresident.com verified that "SMS donations to the Red Cross, she reports, are being passed through without any carrier fees or processing fees, with the Mobile Giving Foundation and MGive (operated by Mobile Accord, a company working with the State Department on its mobile program) are handling the transaction (and declining to take a cut). Texting HAITI to 90999 sends ten U.S. dollars to the Red Cross."
Mobile Donations to Haiti Relief, Without Mobile Fees

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 12:31pm

I didn't mean to suggest they weren't. They just make me personally uncomfortable and I'd rather donate in other ways. I'm sure I'm not alone in that.

[bdwaygirl]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 12:35pm

Yep, I work for a major telecommunications company and notice went out mid morning yesterday, that we would be participating.

[Craww]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 1:01pm

I'm sure it's 100% legit but I always get a little skeeved when I see those "text to" things.

If you're sure it's legit, and you're not saying this to suggest otherwise, why say anything at all? You're essentially saying you're skeeved by something that could be groundbreaking in collecting donations from people who wouldn't normally donate at all.

It's fine to be wary. But geez. (Sorry, I'm not even sure why I'm irritated by this.)

Anyway. I actually haven't done the text thing, but it's a great idea. However, for me personally, money is tightest around the time my phone bill comes due so it makes more sense for me to donate directly now than to have something show up on my phone bill.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 1:22pm

I think you should be more irritated if I said I wasn't going to donate at all rather than not do it through my phone.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 1:32pm

There's a link here and an 800 number if you want to donate cash directly to Doctors without Borders:


Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 1:48pm

Giving to Doctors Without Borders is one of the best ways to give direct help.

The MSNBC link that givesmevoice posted has 800 and 888 numbers for several dozen organizations that are providing direct relief. It also has some information on how to avoid scams.

It's amazing that technology has enabled us to reach out and help so easily. The Red Cross is not my favorite of charities, but texting 90999 raised $1.5 million in less than 24 hours, all from people giving $10 each.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 2:04pm

I've been cautious ever since I donated money to Lucy and Ethel's Ladies Overseas Aid.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/14/10 at 2:41pm

I've worked with a guy at Mobile Commons (see link) and these text things ARE legit. I can think of about 3 pretty big orgs that have done this and done quite well with it. It just tacks the $ on to your phone bill.

http://www.mobilecommons.com/

This American Life also promoted it most recent fundraising this way.

But anyway. If you don't want to text (or do!), here's a list of non-profits via the NYT: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/13/haiti-disaster-relief-how-to-contribute/