by Katrina Hertzberg
Rockland After School Programs (RASP) has MANY families, now and in the past, who have relatives and friends living in Haiti. This week’s earthquake has directly affected so many of ours and so many in East Ramapo. Please consider sending a cash contribution to aid in this desperate tragedy.
According to the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI), those who wish to best help the victims in Haiti are asked to donate cash as an alternative to in-kind donations such as clothing and canned goods. Cash donations are widely recognized as the most efficient and effective means of relief.
Haiti is the western hemisphere’s poorest nation and 80 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. This disaster will increase the already difficult situation for the people of Haiti. Many aid organizations are already on the ground in Haiti and will be able to put Americans’ generosity to use to best help the victims of the earthquake. Cash donations can be used to buy the supplies, clothing and emergency items needed on the ground, without the delay of collecting, packing, shipping and distributing in-kind items, which may be inappropriate for the victims.
By Text: By texting a keyword to a designated short code via a mobile phone, a micro-donation of $5 or $10 can be made to aid the millions of people affected by this tragedy. 100% of your donation goes to the recipient charity, and the donation appears as a charge on your carrier bill, standard rates may apply. These are among the charities accepting text donations:
- Text the word “Haiti” to 85944 to donate $5 on behalf of the Rescue Union Mission and MedCorp International.
- Text the word “Haiti” to 25383 to donate $5 on behalf of the Internal Rescue Committee.
- Text the word “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 on behalf of the Red Cross in the U.S.
Online: Those interested in making contributions to help the victims in Haiti can get more information from the Center for International Disaster Information at www.cidi.org. Additionally, interested donors can visit www.interaction.org to obtain a list of credible responding agencies for international emergencies and www.give.org to get valuable information on making informed decisions when supporting charities. In addition, donors can visit www.globalgiving.org.
Thank you, thank you and Kenbe Fèm ‘€œKeep the Faith’€. Triny
