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Download a PDF Version of the NJ 2-1-1 Relief and Recovery Assistance Guide
Help People in Haiti by Working Through Established Organizations
At this time NJVOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters) members are not collecting or accepting in-kind donations. Monetary donations allow Voluntary Organizations to respond quickly to the recovery efforts and provide direct financial assistance to disaster survivors.
The best way for individuals to assist the people of Haiti or Chile is to make a financial donation to one of the Voluntary Organizations currently working in those countries. There are many organizations that have come forward to assist the people of Haiti and Chile in their time of need. Below you will find a listing of some that have come to the attention of NJ 2-1-1, but this is by no means an exhaustive list. You can help the people of these earthquake stricken countries by working through these organizations or others you may know of:
Here are some organizations to choose from:
Adventist Community Services - ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency International) is already on the ground in Haiti. Money is the best thing you can send. They are receiving shipments of food, water and medicine which are the most urgent items needed at this point. Should anyone want to send money, please send it to The New Jersey Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 2160 Brunswick Ave. Trenton, NJ 08648-4489. Questions can be directed to their office Monday - Thursday at 609-392-7131.
.American Red Cross - You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Donations to the International Response Fund can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online. For specific information on the organizsation's relief efforts in Chile and Haiti, visit their Web site.
At this time the American Red Cross is not accepting in-kind donations. Learn why here. The organization is not accepting volunteers to travel to either country at this time. If you would like to volunteer for the American Red Cross, please contact your local chapter.
AmeriCares has been providing humanitarian aid to Haiti since 1984, partnering with local health care organizations throughout the country. They are actively involved in relief efforts in Haiti and are sending a rapid response team to help provide disaster relief in Chile as well. To learn more about this organization or make a donation click here.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) - Currently has a compound on the ground in Port-au-Prince with over 300 staff. CRS is involved in providing food and water (to over 500,000 people so far), operating primary health centers in and around the capital, distributing hygiene and emergency shelter kits, staffing three operating rooms in a hospital in the capital, offering counseling for staff who are both victims of the earthquake and service providers, providing assistance with other NGO's to prevent human trafficking and for the safety of women. In response to the earthquake in Chile, CRS will be supporting the relief efforts of the local Catholic Church through Caritas Chile, the social service arm of the Catholic Church in Chile, which is responding with food and other assistance. To get regular updates or to make a donation click here.
The Center for International Disaster Information, operated under a grant from the United States Agency for International Development's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance and initial support from IBM, has become a valuable resource to the public, as well as US government agencies, foreign embassies and international corporations. CIDI has established a dedicated page to coordinate Haiti support. Access it here.
Church World Service will only accept financial donations and they can be made online; or by mailing your contribution to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515 (please indicate that it is for Earthquake Relief Efforts). CWS is in need of Hygiene & Baby Kits. To learn how you and/or your service organization can help CWS with the creation of these kits click here or call 973-375-1531.
Clinton Bush Haiti Fund - Contribute to this effort online, or text QUAKE to 20222 to charge a $10 donation to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Learn about the William J. Clinton Foundation's Haiti earthquake relief efforts here.
Christian Reformed World Relief Committee's Response to the Earthquake in Haiti -
CRWRC has staff, partners, and community networks on the ground in Port-au-Prince who are coordinating an immediate response that will include items such as food, water, and shelter.
Gifts marked "Haiti Earthquake 2010" can be given online, by phone at 1-800-55-CRWRC (U.S.) or sent by mail to CRWRC at 2850 Kalamazoo Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49560-0600.
Because CRWRC does not have a presence in Chile to carry out its relief operations, funds will instead be channeled through Actions by Churches Together (ACT) to another Christian organization. ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies who work to save lives and restore communities following disaster. CRWRC is a member of this organization. In the case of the Chile earthquake, ACT members have established an Inter-Church Emergency Committee to create a response that is coordinated and reaches the worst affected communities. CRWRC's donations will likely be used by ACT members, the Evangelical Lutheran Church and Church World Service, for emergency supplies such as food and hygiene kits. Online donations may be made here.
Direct Relief International has offered assistance to Chilean authorities, emergency relief organizations, and U.S.-based partners working in Chile. In Haiti they are committing $1.2 million in cash for disability programs to be used to support prosthetics, orthotics, and mobility devices for quake survivors. To support this organization call 1-800-676-1638 or make an online donation. Learn more.
Doctors Without Borders is another organization with an already-established track record in Haiti. They are assessing needs in Chile as well.
Doctors Without Borders, USA (DWB-USA) was founded in 1990 in New York City to raise funds, create awareness, recruit field staff, and advocate with the United Nations and US government on humanitarian concerns. Doctors Without Borders/Mèdecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is an international medical humanitarian organization that provides aid in nearly 60 countries to people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe, primarily due to armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, exclusion from health care, or natural disasters. In 2007, MSF-USA raised $152.1 million and sent 200 aid workers to work overseas. Learn more here.
ELCA Disaster Response in Haiti - While many humanitarian organizations are unable to get aid into Haiti, ELCA Disaster Response partners are already on the ground assisting survivors. Your help is needed now to bring immediate relief and continued hope for our sisters and brothers in Haiti. One hundred percent of your gifts designated to Haiti will be used in this vital response effort. Donate online by mail to ELCA Disaster Response, 39330 Treasury Center, Chicago, IL 60694-9300, (write "Haiti Earthquake Relief" on your check's memo line); or by phone at 800-638-3522.
Episcopal Relief & Development is a humanitarian agency that helps communities rebuild after disasters and empowers people by offering lasting solutions that fight poverty and disease worldwide. Contributions to Episcopal Relief & Development's "Haiti Fund" will provide assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. Episcopal Relief & Development is working with partners in Port-au-Prince and other affected areas in the country to meet immediate needs such as food, water, shelter and medical care. The agency is assessing needs and developing plans for a long-term recovery program.They are currently assessing needs in Chile to determine how they might best assist with relief efforts in that country.
To make a contribution, visit their Web site or call 1.800.334.7626, ext. 5129. Checks can be mailed to Episcopal Relief & Development, PO Box 7058 Merrifield, VA 22116-7058. To learn more about current relief and recovery activities, click here.
Habitat for Humanity has worked in Haiti for 26 years and is aiding the recovery process by providing emergency shelter kits, helping with debris removal from home sites and providing transitional shelter, new home construction and home repairs. Habitat is increasing its program in Haiti to also help people learn construction skills, which provide on-the-job house construction training that creates additional employment opportunities for those in need of work. Habitat for Humanity Chile has provided more than 3,500 families with adequate housing since 1998 and has extensive training in working in disaster recovery. To support their efforts and learn more visit their Web site.
Operation USA helps communities alleviate the effects of disasters, disease and endemic poverty throughout the world by providing privately-funded relief, reconstruction and development aid. They provide material and financial assistance to grassroots organizations and are actively involved in relief efforts in Haiti and Chile. To support their ongoing efforts make a donation by phone at 1.800.678.7255 or, by check made out to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave, Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232 or online. Corporate donations of bulk quantities of disaster-appropriate supplies are also being requested. Learn more about Operation USA.
OXFAM America has an established worldwide network of partners and is working with them to provide emergency assistance in Haiti and Chile. Learn more or donate to this organization here.
The Salvation Army -The best way to help is to donate money. Give Online; by phone by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769); or by mail to: The Salvation Army World Service Office International Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728 (Designate checks and money orders to "Haiti Earthquake" or "Chile Earthquake").
For the latest updates on The Salvation Army's response to these disasters, please visit their blog.
Tzu Chi Foundation is focused on responding to the Haiti earthquake as they simultaneously assess the situation in Chile. All of their related relief efforts may be found on their Web site.
UMCOR (United Methodist Church) is responding to the earthquakes in Haiti and Chile. Learn more about their initiatives and make a donation here.
UNICEF staff are ready to deliver disaster relief to the children and families affected by the earthquakes in Chile and Haiti. Online donations are being accepted here. If you prefer to donate by phone, call 1.800.FOR.KIDS (1.800.367.5437).
United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund - Articles of clothing, food, etc. are not being requested at this time, but money is. Make a financial donation to
the United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund. Gifts to the Fund support long-term recovery efforts to rebuild lives and infrastructure devastated by disaster and to address educational, financial and health-related challenges. You can also text HAITI or CHILE to 864833 (UNITED) to make a $10 donation to this Fund.
Texting Donations
You can text donations for relief from your cell phone. Listed below are some of the organizations that have established this fundraising effort. This is not an exhaustive list. In addition to your donation amount, standard text messaging fees will apply.
| Charity |
Text/Mobile Number |
Amount Charged to your Cell Phone |
| Clinton Bush Haiti Fund |
Text QUAKE to 20222 |
$10 donation |
| Direct Relief International |
Text GIVE10 to 20222 |
$10 donation |
| Habitat for Humanity |
Text CHILE to 25383 |
$10 donation |
| Int'l Medical Corps |
Text HAITI to 85944 |
$10 donation |
| Red Cross |
Text HAITI or CHILE to 90999 |
$10 donation |
| Salvation Army |
Text HAITI or CHILE to 52000 |
$10 donation |
| Shelter Boxes USA |
Text SUPPORT SHELTER to 20222 |
$5 donation |
| Unicef |
Text YOUTH to 20222 |
$10 donation |
| United Way |
Text HAITI or CHILE to 864833 |
$10 donation |
| Yele Haiti |
Text YELE to 501501 |
$5 donation |
Donating Reward Points
A number of hotels are also making it possible for people to donate their rewards points to the Red Cross.
Hilton Honors has partnered with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. For every 10,000 Honors points, they'll donate $25.
With Starwood Hotels, donating 4,000 points is the equivalent to a $50 donation, 8,000 points is $100, 12,000 points is $150, and 16,000 points is $200.
With Marriott Hotels, giving 18,000 points is the same as a $50 donation, 33,000 points is $100, 60,000 points is $250, and 180,000 points is $1,000.
Choice Hotels loyalty program members can donate their points to a variety of charities, including the Red Cross.
For more information
From FEMA - For those interested in learning more about how best to donate or provide assistance, click here.
From the American Red Cross - The American Red Cross Online Disaster Newsroom is a good resource for current information on the organization's activities. Access it here. View a status update from the organization here.
Verifying the credibility of an organization
To verify the legitimacy of any organization you can check Charitable Registration Section of the NJ Attorney General's Web site, or call 973-504-6215. Because the Web site is only updated monthly, any new charity set up for Haiti or Chile Relief and Recovery may not be posted yet. With this in mind, it is probably best to call for the most current listing.
The FBI and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) have established a telephone hotline to report suspected earthquake relief fraud. The number is (866) 720-5721.
The phone line is staffed by a live operator 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You can also e-mail information directly to disaster@leo.gov. More information.
The FBI released recommendations on how consumers can protect themselves against fraudulent earthquake relief appeals. Internet users who receive appeals to donate money are urged to apply a critical eye and do their due diligence before responding to those requests. Past tragedies and natural disasters have prompted individuals with criminal intent to solicit contributions purportedly for a charitable organization and/or a good cause. Read the FBI recommended guidelines here.
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.
When Disaster Strikes... How to Donate or Volunteer Successfully! (pdf) by DHS/FEMA
Need Help? – Dial 2-1-1
You are encouraged to dial “2-1-1” 24 hours a day, seven days a week if you need help in understanding and finding available assistance services. Language translation and TTY services are offered to any caller. You can also search our database for services in your local community or Chat Live with an experienced community resource specialist. 2-1-1 will help identify with you the best local resources to fit your individual needs during times of distress or for life’s everyday situations.
If you know of additional resources that would be appropriate to include in this section, please let us know by contacting us via e-mail at info@nj211.org.
Sources include:
http://www.petergreenberg.com/2010/01/13/how-to-help-haiti-volunteer-opportunities-and-global-relief-efforts/
http://www.redcross.org
www.crs.org
http://www.cidi.org
http://www.churchworldservice.org
http://www.clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake
http://www.crwrc.org
http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org
https://community.elca.org
https://www.er-d.org
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org
http://www.us.tzuchi.org
http://www.umcor.org
https://www.unicefusa.org
https://volunteer.united-e-way.org/uwwwdisaster/donate/
http://www.fema.gov/rebuild/recover/howtohelp.shtm
http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp/charities.htm
http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel10/haiti011810.htm
http://www.interaction.org
http://www.globalgiving.org
Page last modified on 3.30.10
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