Yele Haiti & Relief Efforts

As most of you are aware, on Tuesday, January 12th shortly before 5 p.m. Haiti was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.  It was estimated today by the Prime Minister of Haiti that hundreds of thousands of individuals were killed in this catastrophic event.  In addition, Haiti was already suffering from poverty, civil unrest, and was still recovering from hurricanes in 2008 which devastated the tiny island.  News reports are still pouring in with images of devastation and destruction.  Countries across the world are scrambling to send search and rescue and humanitarian assistance teams.  I personally donated to Wyclef Jean's long established organization, Yele Haiti, which donates 100% of your donations to the designated fund.  Right now the website is being flooded with well meaning individuals, so please be patient.  The American Red Cross is also assisting and accepting donations to contribute to the Relief Effort in Haiti.  Unfortunately at this time, they are not accepting volunteers, but if you can spare a monetary donation during these difficult times please do, every penny helps, and we have to keep in mind how far American money goes in the Caribbean.

If you'd like to donate to Yele Haiti, you can visit their website here.  If you'd like to donate to the Red Cross, please visit this link and be sure to click "International Response Fund", and notate that you wish to designate it specifically to the Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief.  You can also call 1-800-REDCROSS or send monetary donations via mail to: American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC, 20013 - and be sure to write Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief in the memo line of your check.

For full coverage of the news from Haiti, visit CNN's Disaster in Haiti Coverage.