The past couple days have been difficult. I'm not going to lie. The weight of a tragedy like the earthquake in Haiti is heavy on my heart. I've had a hard time processing the seriousness of it all and holding that up against the extreme wealth I sit amongst. Not just the wealth, but the indifference. I know people care, I know they do, but I'm tired of hearing "oh that is sad" and watching people move on. Move on from really feeling the weight and magnitude of the suffering in Haiti. And I truly think suffering is a mild word for what is and will be going on there.
I think you have to know the history of Haiti to fully understand how horrific this disaster truly is. It has often been said that Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere but I don't think many people know why it is so poor. If you are one of the people who DO care, then by all means take a few minutes to find out why the Haitians are so poor and what has led them to eat dirt as a main staple.
Now, on to the rest of my inner conflict. There is this problem that most of us feel after a tragedy out of our reach. What to do? How to help? Should we send clothes or money or hop on the next boat hoping to find a way into shore? Should we run out and get a home study to take all the orphans into our home as our own? I'm sure the answer lies somewhere in "yes." Sure, there are reasons why you should definitely not try to go there right now, and there are reasons why you shouldn't send your shoes or try to adopt all the kids. But you can definitely do something to enable the Haitians' needs to be met.
There are organizations on the ground, right now, that need our help. Organizations that are tried and true and need help rebuilding their organizations on the ground so they can continue doing their good work. Organizations that have the capacity and now need the money to do their good work. Good organizations. Not all organizations are good. But you know that. So, do you research and stay away from the scams. Check out organizations on Charity Navigator before donating.
I personally recommend a couple organizations that are already doing great work in Haiti.
HOW DONATIONS WILL BE USED: All funds raised in response to the Haiti earthquake will be used immediately to provide for Compassion-assisted children and families affected by this crisis. Any funds raised in excess will be stewarded by Compassion for additional and future disaster relief efforts.
You can provide immediate relief today.
• $35 helps provide a relief pack filled with enough food and water to sustain a family for one week.
• $70 gift helps care for their needs for two weeks.
• $105 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain two families for two weeks.
• $210 gift helps care for two families' needs.
• $525 helps provide relief packs filled with enough food and water to sustain 10 families for two weeks.
• $1,050 gift helps care for 10 families' needs.
• $1,500 helps rebuild a home.
• $2,100 helps supply 20 families with the basics for three weeks.
Due to the high number of responses it may take longer than normal to process your transaction.All funds raised in response to the Haiti earthquake will be used immediately to provide for Compassion-assisted children and families affected by this crisis. Any funds raised in excess will be stewarded by Compassion for additional and future disaster relief efforts.
World Vision is another great organization that is already on the ground doing great work in Haiti. is another great organization that is already on the ground doing great work in Haiti.
Your gift now will help distribute life-saving relief supplies – including food, clean water, blankets, and tents — to children and families devastated by the earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti.
“We would be very concerned about a quake of this magnitude anywhere in the world, but it is especially devastating in Haiti, where people are acutely vulnerable because of poor infrastructure and extreme poverty,” said Edward Brown, World Vision’s relief director in the United States.
World Vision has worked in Haiti for 30 years and has some 370 staff in country. Please join us in praying for the children and families devastated by the earthquake in Haiti. And please send a generous gift to help them today.
Medical Teams International is a favorite of ours. They already have their first medical team on their way to Haiti. Their first team includes veteran volunteer doctors and nurses who have served in Haiti as medical missionaries for many years. They took with them supplies to help 12,000 people for one week.
The second team will be leaving this Sunday and will be led by an orthopedic surgeon and other orthopedic specialists who have led many training sessions for Haitian orthopedic surgeons and know the community well.
MTI asks that you pray for their teams and also send donations.
Doctors Without Borders also does wonderful work. They go where other organizations will not. These doctors put their safety at risk in order to treat and help the poorest of the poor and the oppressed people of the world.
Many of you are connected to smaller organizations and orphanages that need our prayers and support. Please let us know a bit about the organization and a link so we can all pray and support them.
