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HAITI RELIEF EFFORT INFORMATION AND RESOURCES

As with any disaster, donors are asked to give money instead of material items.  The Center for International Disaster Information offers the following explanation for why cash donations are the most effective way to help: 

 

Financial contributions allow professional relief organizations to purchase exactly what is most urgently needed by disaster victims and to pay for the transportation necessary to distribute those supplies. Unlike in-kind donations, cash donations entail no transportation cost. In addition, cash donations allow relief supplies to be purchased at locations as near to the disaster site as possible. Supplies, particularly food, can almost always be purchased locally - even in famine situations. This approach has the triple advantage of stimulating local economies (providing employment, generating cash flow), ensuring that supplies arrive as quickly as possible and reducing transport and storage costs. Cash contributions to established legitimate relief agencies are always considerably more beneficial than the donation of commodities.

 
WAYS TO DONATE

 

CASH CONTRIBUTIONS:

MATERIAL GOODS DONATIONS:

Haitian agencies in Connecticut accepting donations:

  • Bethesda Evangelical Mission, Meriden, CT: www.bemhaiti.org: (203) 668-6435 – check website for items needed and drop off locations.
  • Connecticut Haitian American Organization, Wethersfield, CT: www.ctforhaiti.org: (866)244-0798  – check website for items needed and drop off locations.
  • First Cathedral, 1151 Blue Hills Ave., Bloomfield: (860)243-6520 - accepting donations of first aid kits, general clothing, personal care supplies, non-perishable food, bottled water, blankets/pillows, and over-the-counter medications.  Donations accepted: Monday-Friday 7am-8pm and Saturday, Sunday 8am-2pm.
  • Haitian American Catholic Center, 93 Hope St, Stamford, CT.: (203) 406-0343 - accepting personal care supplies, non-perishable food, water, blankets, and over-the-counter medications. Donations accepted Tuesdays from 9:30am-5pm and Fridays from 10:30-5pm.

HAITIAN ADOPTION INFORMATION:

The Haitian government has halted the departure of all orphans until it can guarantee that only legitimate adoptions are being approved at this time. The government believes it is best to care for the children where they are and allow them to find relatives that remain in Haiti. The government will only allow the departure of orphaned children who had been assigned to U.S. families before the January 12th earthquake occured.

For more information and resources on adopting in Haiti and from other countries, see U.S. Dept. of State, Office of Children's Issues: Intercountry Adoption.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE SITUATION, GENERAL DISASTER INFORMATION, LOCATING MISSING PERSONS, AND VOLUNTEER RESOURCES:

FOR INFORMATION ON FRAUD/SCAM ALERTS RELATED TO THE HAITI EARTHQUAKE:

GENERAL INFORMATION LINKS:

TO FIND ADDITIONAL PROVIDERS THAT ASSIST WITH DISASTERS, SEE CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCE DATABASE:

Search by service name: Disaster Related Monetary Fund Management

PREPARED BY: 211/tb

CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: February2010

  




 

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