Earthquake help- send direct, do not text

[Irulan]

More on hoaxes/valid donations...

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/charity/haiti.asp

Snopes has a really good list of what is fact, what is not regarding UPS, texting, facebook etc.

The latest is a cut-and-paste Facebook update that says FB will give a dollar for every person that pastes a certain phrase into their updates.
Between google and snopes, this is absolutely unverified.

[KnottedYet]

I was reading comments about aid to Haiti here and there on the interwebs, and was stunned by the number of commentors who assumed that MAIL would be delivered even if AID is unable to to reach Haiti due to the airport being damaged and out of jet fuel and the shipping port being damaged and unusable.

Why, yes, the postmen are parachuting onto the island and floating over in inner tubes! Mail can magically go to Haiti without airplanes or boats! As one person said "we are a microwave society" and expect things to work and work instantly.

The concept that infrastructure can be broken just can't squeeze itself our societal mindset.

[Trek420]

In which a Haitian doctor opens up his home to be a makeshift hospital doing all he can without even the most basic supplies.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/cb_haiti_one_man_hospital

One source of medical supplies is a local group (well local to me) http://www.medshare.org

They take surplus but unexpired of course medical supplies and get them to places that need them. Haiti and others of course. I'm considering volunteering.

[Trek420]

Going on right now on my fave local radio station they are running a marathon indoors on trainers for Haiti relief

http://www.kfog.com/PROGRAMMING/kfog...9/Default.aspx

I just noticed the play list

TRAIN IN VAIN by CLASH
I'LL GO CRAZY IF I DON'T by U2
RUN LIKE HELL by PINK FLOYD
BORN TO RUN by BRUUUUUCE
Song: LET'S DANCE
CHASING PIRATES by NORAH JONES ......

[Irulan]

More on hoaxes/valid donations...

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/charity/haiti.asp

Snopes has a really good list of what is fact, what is not regarding UPS, texting, facebook etc.

The latest is a cut-and-paste Facebook update that says FB will give a dollar for every person that pastes a certain phrase into their updates.
Between google and snopes, this is absolutely unverified.

the FB cut/paste is now a confirmed hoax. I smelled a rat....

http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/2010...iti-relief.htm

[OakLeaf]

Before I give money to any organization, I check it out on Guidestar, Charity Watch and Charity Navigator. Take a look at the IRS 990s if you feel the websites' ratings don't give enough information.

Easy way to avoid not only pure scams, but also sending money to charities that aren't going to send it where you want it to go.

[papaver]

My cycling buddies husband is there right now with the Belgian B-Fast team (rescue team). She hasn't heard from him yet, but I hope he can save some lives there (he's a nurse).

[evangundy]

So many worthy groups to donate to for helping. Here are a couple more.

My riding partner's father is leaving tomorrow to fly to Haiti with Medical Teams International - he is going as the pediatric specialist of an orthopedic surgery team. His family is recommending donations go to MTI http://www.medicalteams.org/sf/Home.aspx or to Stand With Haiti / Partners In Health http://www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti (which is a company that has been in Haiti for 20 years).

Prayers and good thoughts going out to all in Haiti.
Edna

[Trek420]

Prayers and good thoughts going out to all in Haiti

Thoughts and prayers also to all those who are speeding to give help.

[e.e.cummings]

Went to Mountain Equipment Co-op on the weekend, one of the things on my list was Gatorade powder - they were totally cleaned out (I was told that volunteers flying to Haiti bought out their entire stock). Puts things in perspective, doesn't it...

I donated to Unicef's Haiti Earthquake fund today. I see that Air Canada is sending planes full of goods, and bringing people back. There is quite a Haiti-Montreal connection, a lot because of the language (Haiti is French, Montreal also). So many sad stories, each flight back brings bittersweet stories...