There are some very simple ways that the people of Haiti can be helped. There are actions that all of us can take to provide that help. And, sadly, there are a great many ways that our work and our money can be used that will not benefit the Haitians.

Most of us will never see a place with more basic needs than Haiti. Providing for those needs means more than just a shipping container full of old clothes. It means that the work and the money we donate must go to groups that are effective, expert in their field, on the ground in Haiti right now, and will use the resources we provide to aid the Haitians the the ways they need aid. We can see all their needs, but we must assist them through their choices and their involvement in the relief and reconstruction process.

This series has repeatedly pointed to the number of small NGOs that are working in small ways to help the Haitian people. Most of these groups are religious in nature. Some are supported by various denominations while others have been “adopted” by individual churches. Some of these groups are just the efforts of a family and their friends, who are devoting their lives to service in Haiti.

If you attend church, the best way to help the Haitians is to donate to the church’s charitable arm for Haitian relief and reconstruction. Here is a list of some of those NGO’s:

• Caritas – Caritas is the worldwide Roman Catholic assistance charity. There are others, but this is the largest. All of the money raised by Catholic Relief Services in the United States is going to Caritas. This charity is not rated by the website Charity Navigator.

• American Jewish World Service – AJWS is providing grants to 13 small NGO’s on the ground in Haiti. This charity has a 4 star rating by the website Charity Navigator.

• Episcopal Relief & Development - Working with the Diocese of Haiti and the Diocese of the Dominican Republic. This charity has a 4 star rating by the website Charity Navigator.

• Lutheran World Relief –
  

  To help provide immediate relief to rural communities, and set the stage for a long-term response, LWR is working with local Haitian organization Partenariat pour le Développement Local (Partnership for Local Development or PLD). LWR is collaborating with Lutheran World Federation, Catholic Relief Services, International Orthodox Christian Charities, Church World Service, the United Nations Foundation, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Women of the ELCA, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, World Neighbors and Action by Churches Together to deliver relief supplies and expertise where they are needed most.

  Donations to LWR are being matched on a 1:2 basis by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, up to a max of $1 million. This charity has a 3 star rating by the website Charity Navigator.

There are many other religious charities working in Haiti. Some are associated with various sects while others are non-denominational. These include Star of Hope, Joy in Hope, Heartline Ministries and World Wide Village. If you should be looking for a small charity where your dollars will make a big difference, any of these deserve your consideration.

The American Red Cross deserves special mention in this piece. As of March 10, 2010, it has received $354 million in donations for Haiti. It has spent or allocated a total of $106.4 million dollars. Its website talks a great deal about the international Red Cross response and the relief it has provided.

Almost immediately following the earthquake, the American Red Cross provided 3 million pre-packaged meals as well as $30 million to feed 1 million people for a month in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme. Relief workers are also providing 1.5 million liters of water each day in more than 120 locations throughout Port-au-Prince and outlying areas. Red Cross sanitation experts are constructing latrines and developing waste-disposal solutions in support of spontaneous settlements as well.

In addition, during the first two months more than 400,000 people have received basic supplies from the Red Cross, including hygiene kits, cooking tools, buckets, blankets and mosquito nets.

The American Red Cross contributed $374,500 to support the health ministry’s emergency [vaccination] campaign …

It is very unclear from the Red Cross’s site how much money they have actually spent versus “allocated”. The American Red Cross has about 50 disaster specialists in Haiti. This charity has a 3 star rating by the website Charity Navigator. I will not recommend the ARC at this time, until its spending and plans become clearer.

Americares tells us that it has spent $20 million for relief efforts to date. It has raised $12.5 million. It has a 4 star rating from Charity Navigator. It is primarily a relief and not a recovery NGO.

Mercy Corps is a 3 star charity at Charity Navigator. Its website describes their relief efforts and some innovative programs to help jump start the economy. They are operating a cash for work program focused on debris clearance. They are also working with the children in the refugee camps, providing both psychological resources and care for these traumatized victims of the earthquake.

Doctors Without Borders is a 4 star charity. With its international counterpart, Médecins Sans Frontières, it is heavily involved in post-quake medical care. It is operating 26 hospitals and health centers in the country.

Habitat for Humanity has a 4 star rating. Its local office was destroyed by the Haitian earthquake. It has plans for transitional homes that can be added to over time. These will be built with the natural threats in mind. They are also planning to reuse and recycle as much of the debris as possible. They are currently providing emergency shelter kits.

Lions Clubs International Foundation has a 4 star rating. Its disaster and major catastrophe grants are given to smaller NGOs and local Lions Clubs for their projects.

Samaritan’s Purse is the charitable arm of the Bill Graham organization. It has a 4 star rating. They are acting as a relief organization, working through local, Haitian churches. They have teams in the heart of the quake damage, Leogane and its surroundings.

I do not mean to neglect any worthwhile NGO or religion. This is a sample of quality charities that I hope you will consider as you continue to provide support following the devastating earthquake in Haiti. Donations to the charities named here will help in both the relief effort, and most importantly, in the recovery effort.

Over 60 articles about the Haitian earthquake, U.S. military assistance to Haiti after the quake, American giving to earthquake relief and other related topics can be found at the link Haiti Quake 2010.

Tags: Haiti, haiti disaster, Haiti earthquake, Haiti earthquake damage, Haiti relief, situation in Haiti

This entry was posted on Friday, March 19th, 2010 at 9:00 am and is filed under Charity, Disasters, Original writing, Original writing, Reporting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.