How to help

I love that our country is showing an outpouring of support for the people of Haiti. If you haven’t made a donation yet, please consider doing so to the American Red Cross International Response Fund. It’s quick and easy and it helps so much.

There’s something else I’d like you to consider. Match your Haiti donation by contributing also to a local non-profit. As a former Red Cross employee (and future volunteer, now that I’m out of school), I can tell you that when fundraising efforts are full-throttle for major national and international relief efforts, local chapters suffer. Donors contribute for the “big stuff” and consider their good deeds done. Meanwhile, local agencies are still working around the clock, every day of the year, providing services right here in our communities. These small disasters don’t garner the media’s attention and so fundraising for them is difficult.

Better yet, make a donation to the Red Cross and don’t designate it for anything. Trust me, that organization knows best how to use your contribution. There are thousands of fine people working for Red Cross around the world, and they are careful stewards of donations. Remember that providing aid when a disaster (natural or man-made) means that the Red Cross must have reserves and supplies on-hand, ready to go. They can’t afford to wait for donations to roll in. So, right now, the organization is tapping into its reserves to provide immediate help to the people of Haiti. Aren’t we lucky to have that kind of resource? Help the Red Cross continue to be ready…donate.