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SAFE DONATIONS TO
DISASTER RELIEF
As we watch the devastation
from the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti---we are moved to help in some way.
It is good to be reminded, however, that it is
important to also do that in a way that is safe and effective. There are
scammers who come to life during a time of disaster and who will try to trick us
into giving money to them instead of worthy relief organizations and who will,
as well, try to get our personal financial information for identity theft.
Here are some important things
to keep in mind:
1. Do not respond to any email
appeals for funds no matter who they appear to be from. If
you get an email that seems to be from the Red Cross, for example, don't assume
that it really is. The scammers are able to put a link into the email that
appears to be going to the Red Cross but in reality is linking to one of their
own sites. Other appeals will appear to be from particular individuals who are
claiming to be victims of the disaster and asking for direct donations but who,
in reality, are not.
2. Do not respond to any phone
solicitations for the same reason. You do not
know whether the people calling are really giving the funds to the organizations
they claim to represent or whether your credit card information is being given
to a trusted source.
3. The way to make a donation
is to go directly to the official web site of any organizations you trust or to
call them on the phone directly. If there are
relief organizlations that you know and trust, just do a web search such as
through
www.google.com and find that group's official web site to make your
contribution.
4. Avoid responding to
requests for donations of clothing, tents, diapers, medicine, water, or food
that are being collected to be sent to Haiti.
Even if the effort is sincere, the chances of the goods getting there are very
small. It is better to donate to relief organizations that are already there
and buying and shipping such goods in bulk. Well meaning campaigns to collect
goods to be sent to a disasater area usually result in warehouses full of things
that never get there. Getting transportation of the goods is very difficult and
then ensuring that even if they arrive that they won't fall into the hands of
corrupt government officials, black marketers, or thieves is very difficult.
There are numerous good relief
organizations, but here are some examples if you would like to make donations
that you know will be helping the people of Haiti:
The American Red Cross:
http://www.redcross.org/
World Vision:
http://www.worldvision.org/
Mercy Corps has teams on the
ground in Haiti:
http://www.mercycorps.org/
Mission Aviation Fellowship has
operated in Haiti for decades and provides air transportation for relief teams
and supplies:
http://www.maf.org
Samaritan's Purse has
operations in Haiti:
http://www.samaritanspurse.org/
UNICEF is focused on relief
activities for children in Haiti:
http://www.unicefusa.org/
Catholic Charities:
http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/
Salvation Army:
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/ |
