An Easy Way You Can Help Haiti

We give regularly to Doctors without Borders, and to Unicef, and the Red Cross. We give all the time, to all kinds of causes. But Haiti seems different to us. It's a catastrophe that almost defies understanding. These were people who had very little to begin with, and now have nothing. The magnitude of the casualties is also beyond comprehension - maybe 200,000. This on an island nation just a few hundred mils off our shores.
There are many ways that generous Americans have been giving, and here is one more. Shopkeepers at Zazzle have joined forces to create a shop selling beautiful stickers and refrigerator magnets, with all the designer profits going to Hope for Haiti, a 501 non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for the Haitian people, particularly children, through education, nutrition, and healthcare.

Here are a few samples of the beautiful stickers and magnets you can purchase, with the knowledge that you are making a difference. Click any design or click HEREto go to the shop and buy, buy, buy! If you can't afford to buy, then at least spread the word about this great shop via facebook, twitter or other means.

(Update: Zazzle, the company that prints the stickers, has committed to matching the profits from sales, and that is great news!)


Haiti Relief Valentine Stickers by Hearts4Haiti

Haiti Relief Valentine Stickers by Hearts4Haiti

Haiti Relief Valentine Stickers by Hearts4Haiti

Haiti Relief Valentine Stickers by Hearts4Haiti

Haiti Relief Valentine Fridge Magnets by Hearts4Haiti

Haiti Relief Valentine Fridge Magnets by Hearts4Haiti

Haiti Relief Valentine Stickers by Hearts4Haiti

Haiti Earthquake Help T - shirts

I've gotten a number of requests from people asking if there is someplace they can buy t-shirts that will help in the relief effort for Haiti, following that horrible Haiti earthquake. The answer is yes. We are only mentioning the ones we have checked out and know for a fact are legit. While buying a t-shirt isn't the quickest way to get money to Haiti, it can serve a couple of functions -- spreading the word, and showing that you're philanthropic.

Blink 182 Haiti T-Shirt $15 (shipping not included) with all proceeds going to The Red Cross. This item will start shipping on January 22nd.

Special-edition t-shirt designed by Studio Number One (founded Shepard Fairey) for Cafepress. $15 (shipping not included). 100% of the retail price for this shirt will be donated to the U.S. Fund for Unicef.


Help Haiti T shirt and Apparel by Scarebaby
Help Haiti T-shirt from $16.65 at Zazzle. Shopkeeper has already donated to Doctors Without Borders, because she didn't want to wait until sales cleared (30-45 days), and will donate more if sales are made.

Don't Let AT & T Make a Profit on Your Text Donation!

Please donate via the internet. I know it's easier to text a word to a number but
if you do this, AT & T and Sprint may make a profit on your donation, as standard text messaging rates "may apply". (Verizon and T-Mobile say they won't charge, by the way.)

From the website www.itsjustlight.com, here is a partial list of legitimate charities you can donate to via the web:


American Red Cross International Relief Fund

Canadian Red Cross

International Committee of the Red Cross

MercyCorps

Oxfam America

Oxfam UK

International Medical Corps

AmeriCares Help For Haiti

Islamic Relief USA

Doctors Without Borders

UNICEF

Catholic Relief Services:

Yéle Haiti

Haiti Earthquake Relief and Avoiding Scams

If you're seeing the same devastating pictures coming out of Haiti that I am, then you want to help in whatever ways you can. Unfortunately, there are always going to be unscrupulous individuals out there who want to scam you out of your money, in times of disaster. Please, everyone, do not donate to organizations or individuals who are unknown to you! These "pleas" may come in phone calls (to cell phones as well as land lines) or emails. Politely turn them down.

The most important thing you can do right now is donate CASH. Why cash? Because governments and private corporations often donate food, clothing, and medicine, but cash is always needed, to pay for getting the goods to where they need to go. Here are direct links to some 100% safe places you can donate, and remember, NO amount is too small.




Doctors Without Borders

UNICEF

Salvation Army

International Red Cross

OR you can text the word HAITI to 90999 to automatically donate $10 to the Red Cross. You'll see the charge on your next bill.