12 Ways to Help Haiti From a Distance

In the past couple of weeks, the staggering images from the demolishing earthquake in Haiti have melted our hearts. And as Americans, we quickly search for ways to help, even from a distance of over 2000 miles. However, in order to fully grasp the challenges that lie ahead, it is important to better understand the Haitian culture and demographics of the region.

Haiti is a tiny country, about the size of the state of Maryland, which borders the Dominican Republic, falling between the Atlantic and Caribbean Seas.  With a population of eight million, most areas lie in extreme poverty and already suffered from overcrowded conditions. The capital city of Port-au-Prince, which is the area hardest hit by the earthquake, had an estimated population of two million.  Many homes and structures were poorly built, more closely resembling huts than buildings, but with a quake of this magnitude, even the strongest of buildings were damaged or collapsed completely. With the tremors that continue to follow the initial quake, survivors and rescue workers have literally gone to the streets in an order to seek refuge.

One of the most telling statistics from Haiti reveals that 41% of their population are children, falling between the ages of 0 – 14.  With the AIDS epidemic that is prevalent in many third world countries, combined with a life expectancy for adults of about 49 years, many of these children are without parents.  And with a death toll expected to top 200,000, the number of children who were orphaned by this earthquake alone may reach as many as 500,000 children.

If there is any good news in this situation, it is that Haiti has long been considered a mission field.  Because of this, many faith-based agencies already had a presence in this region running orphanages with outreach to the Haitian children.  These groups now find themselves at Ground Zero, in the very center of despair, but are active and able to make an immediate difference.

So, how can we help?

The first, and likely the most difficult response, would be to volunteer to serve in the region for a period of time that ranges from 1 week to six months.  There is a current need for medical personnel for this purpose, and many organizations are putting together  rebuilding teams for future relief efforts. For a list of organizations seeking volunteers, go to www.idealist.org and fun a search for “Earthquake Relief Haiti.”

Because of the distance to Haiti and cost in shipping items, it is best to focus on organizations that are already present in the region and have an immediate need for funding in order to buy supplies from nearby locations.  It would be wise to find organizations that have been in operation in Haiti prior to this incident, also promising a commitment to stay in the area and serve long-term.

• The Hands and Feet Project, and orphanage started in 2005 by Mark Stewart, the lead singer from the group Audio Adrenaline, is headquartered in Jacmel, Haiti, about 25 miles from Port-au-Prince.  With over 100 volunteers in the area, including Mark Stewart himself, they are coordinating the use of local streets as runways for private planes and pilots that arrive daily with goods and medical supplies. A company called Green to Grow has partnered with Hands and Feet to donate $30,000 in baby bottles for that region, since they had formula to provide for babies but no bottles. Any donations are appreciated through their website.
• World Vision has been serving in Haiti for over 30 years and currently has over 800 volunteers working in the area. They are distributing food kits and shipping truckloads of new and prepackaged goods to the area. To donate, go here.
• Compassion International runs 225 child development centers in poverty stricken areas, providing an education, food, clothing and as well as ministering to their spiritual needs.  50 of their centers are believed to be damaged, and they have yet to be able to contact over 20 of them. Their staff is currently operating out of the parking lot of their office building, coordinating the arrival and distribution of emergency kits.  Compassion deals with sponsorship of children with caregivers, but who cannot provide adequately for the child. For those children who have been orphaned as a result of this tragedy, they pledge to build villages to house and support them. Go here to donate.
• Healing Hands International has made a commitment to drilling 30 – 50 new water wells in Haiti later this year.  For now, however, they are accepting donations for water filters, which can provide clean drinking water for 100 people per day.  Each filter costs $50, and donations can be made here.
• We are all aware of the well-publicized partnerships between cell phone companies and organizations such as the Red Cross, allowing us to text the word “Haiti” to 90999, donating $10 through the cell phone bills. This method is easy and the funds add up quickly.  Other organizations are following suit, so if you are interested in donating to another group not listed here, check out their group websites to seek donation or text instructions.

Here in America, there are many current drives across the country to collect goods that will be shipped to this region as soon as possible.  Many churches and local businesses are getting involved across the country.  The best ways to seek opportunities in your particular area are to check the websites for local news stations, newspapers, and churches.

• The Finish Line, a shoe company based in Nashville, Tennessee, is hosting a “gently used” shoe drive through their Soles4Souls program.  Check out their website for additional information.
• Many elementary through high schools across the country are hosting a “Rice and Beans” drive, asking students to bring in the prepackaged items to be shipped and distributed when possible.
• Several organizations are hosting “Water drives” accepting cases of bottled water that will be sent with working teams to the region.
• Clothing drives, including requests for sheets and blankets, are being sponsored by private companies, churches and universities all across the nation.
• The Student Government Associations from private Christian Universities such as Lipscomb, Pepperdine, Abilene, Harding, Oklahoma Christian and Lubbock Christian have joined hands to sell “Join Together for Haiti” shirts for $10, with all proceeds going to relief efforts.  They are also holding donations of unused gift cards to purchase items needed by workers already on the ground in Haiti.
• Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital is accepting donations of crutches only until January 29^th at the Rubenstein Child Health Building in Baltimore, Maryland. They have a Medical Mission Team ready to transport these items after that date.
• Throughout the state of Nevada, they are hosting drives for “Infant Relief” requesting donations for everything from diapers, wipes and children’s cold medicines.  For more information, see their link.

Perhaps the most important thing we, as remote observers, can do is to pray and promise ourselves not to forget.  All indications are that it will take a generation for the country to recover.   The survivors must now be aware of those taking advantage of the situation.   The orphaned and injured children must be protected from human traffickers and others who are sources of evil.

The world is stunned by what it witnesses through their television screen on a nightly basis, but God is not.  May He be the God of this situation.