Haiti.

[shireen]

Devastating.

For those who can afford it, please try to donate. This country has been struggling for so long; the earthquake is a horrific blow to an already bad situation.

There are several organizations providing relief. I'm helping the Lambi Fund, http://www.lambifund.org/ . Updates are being posted at their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/LambiFund

Other organizations are listed at Rachel Maddow's site:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34834553/ns/msnbc_tv-rachel_maddow_show

If you know of other good relief organizations that have rapid response groups, like Doctors Without Borders, please post.
Doctors has a statement posted at http://doctorswithoutborders.org/news/article.cfm?id=4147&cat=field-news

[ORDagnabbit]

1. see I'm torn in situations like this...... if you have the extra dough why not help out here with

your neighbors first?

instead of 5 bucks to Haiti how bout 5 bucks down the street to the local homeless shelter or battered womens shelter?

[Jennicut]

2. I have helped out in my local community. I say try 5 bucks for Haiti this month

and 5 next month (or week, whatever you can do) for the local community? Haiti is so incredibly poor to begin with.

[shireen]

that's your decision.

people are hurting everywhere. we can't help everyone. That's why i said, "if you can afford it ...."

[Lex]

6. It's not an either/or proposition. I donate time and hands-on locally

more often than not. Donate money for things further away.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. If you can afford both do so

if you can do only local that's cool too.

We give locally every what month? Local organization that feeds those who are home bound and with medical needs.

But in cases like this we give because it makes a difference even for you. If people can stay home, they will, instead of come here...

But this is up to each person and what they believe in doing.

[iamjoy]

3. Partners In Health

they are a smallish charity that provides health services to people in developing nations. I like their philosophy that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. I like that they don't waste money sending me stupid crap or sob stories to try to guilt me into donating. I like that they spend over 95% of their revenue on program expenses. They seem like a liberal organization, although it's hard to be sure.

http://www.pih.org/home.html

highly rated by Charity Navigator, too!

[shireen]

7. thanks, never heard of them. good to know. nt

[Lex]

4. We donated to Doctors Without Borders after the tsunami and . . .

they just now got some more of my money for Haiti. A good group.

[shireen]

5. i really like them, here's the link

http://doctorswithoutborders.org/

[Lex]

10. and their ranking on Charity Navigator is excellent. (nt)

[ChicagoSuz219]

8. Easy way to donate...

For those interested in helping immediately, simply text "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill. Please copy & paste to your facebook page. Thank you.