Ann Arbor area residents having trouble finding good avenues to help Haiti rescue efforts
For 50 years, Ann Arbor resident Cassie Crippen's husband worked as a physician — even volunteering his time in Haiti at one point.
When he died in November, he left behind boxes and boxes of medical supplies like a cast cutter, arm splints, brand new bandages and an exam table.
Suzanne Puzo, a Canadian Red Cross nurse, removes bandages on Danise Diverge, 10, in Croix Des Prez, Port-Au-Prince, Haiti.
The Associated Press
"I'd say I could fill a small pickup," Crippen said of the amount of supplies she now has stored in her house in northern Michigan.
Crippen, like many other AnnArbor.com readers, has e-mailed asking for different ways to donate to emergency aid being provided in Haiti following last week's catastrophic earthquake. Some have offered their medical expertise, while others have suggested in-kind donations.
While different organizations have different policies, most organizations contacted by AnnArbor.com, including the American Red Cross, say they aren't set up to receive in-kind donations for aiding humanitarian missions in Haiti. They're only accepting monetary donations.
For example, the University of Michigan said last week it's collecting the names of its own physicians, nurses, pharmacists and other clinical staff willing to travel to Haiti to care for victims in an attempt to match volunteers with organizations that need medical assistance.
But the U-M Health System said it is not accepting volunteer names from those not employed by the university.
Both organizations suggested individuals visit the Center for International Disaster Information at www.cidi.org to register their aid offers for Haiti relief efforts.
The FBI has warned individuals to be careful about checking the legitimacy of organizations asking for donations and suggests only donating to organizations with well-established reputations.
Other suggestions of legitimate organizations offered in recent days include the Salvation Army, World Vision, Catholic Relief Services and Doctors without Borders.
Do you know of an organization or efforts that have been well-established at getting aid, such as in-kind donations, into Haiti? Do you have donations and are unsure of where to send them? Do you have a story about the generosity that has been sparked in the wake of the humanitarian calamity sparked by this earthquake. Please share them in the comments below.
Comments
Jane Elgass
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 12:15 p.m.
WDIV-TV in Detroit is spearheading a campaign to solicit funds and in-kind donations. Sometime next week, Dr. Frank McGeorge, an ER physician in metro Detroit who today is on his way to Haiti and who does all the medical stories for the station, will be joined by morning co-anchor Rhonda Walker in personally delivering the supplies to Haiti. One of their partner organizations in this effort has the word "Harvest" in its name.
aatraveler
Wed, Jan 20, 2010 : 10 a.m.
UNICEF has been in Haiti since 1949 and for over 60 years has been responding to disasters to save children. Remind friends and others who want to help that 100% of every dollar donated to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF will go directly to fund relief efforts in Haiti. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is absorbing all administrative fees associated with handling donations.
Tina Reed
Tue, Jan 19, 2010 : 6:58 p.m.
In regards to the question of why this girl is being brought to the U-M: The University of Michigan is working with an international relief organization that has a list of many different children who need to be shuttled to different hospitals because of serious injuries. This girl was a person on that list who happened to be matched with U-M, officials have said. Since this story was posted, U-M learned they will likely be transporting a different patient because the situation is changing very rapidly and, likewise, they have been asked to be flexible as they prepare to head down there. We've put in a question into U-M's press relations department about who is picking up the cost for this and what the cost will be. We will post an update when we get a response. A message earlier in the day from the department did say there were no additional updates to offer about aid for Haiti from U-M. However, the university did post a message from its emergency medicine resident who is there today. Check it out here: http://www.annarbor.com/news/university-of-michigan-resident-writing-about-haiti-after-landing-in-dominican-republic/. The situation in Haiti is very fluid. If you know of any other local groups that have ties to the country or are helping with relief efforts, please let me know.
Tina Reed
Tue, Jan 19, 2010 : 3:16 p.m.
A reader also pointed out the FBI is coordinating a telephone hotline to report suspected Haitian earthquake relief fraud. Those who suspect fraud can call (866) 720-5721 or e-mail information directly to disaster@leo.gov. Here's a link: http://www.fbi.gov/pressrel/pressrel10/haiti011810.htm
stevek
Tue, Jan 19, 2010 : 2:42 p.m.
@TripleVsix--you are exactly right. 100% of the cash that is donated to the American Red Cross-International Relief Fund, goes directly to help with the Haitian earthquake disaster.
TripleVSix
Tue, Jan 19, 2010 : 1:45 p.m.
It's really easy: give the in-kind stuff to some organization locally, and give cash to Red Cross to help with Haiti. It's too inefficient to haul in-kind donations to an off-shore location.
Tina Reed
Tue, Jan 19, 2010 : 1:18 p.m.
Top Cat: There is no reason not to choose an organization that's well-established like the American Red Cross. Millions of dollars of relief have been collected and are being used for aid being sent to Haiti by the organization. However, some residents have volunteer services or in-kind donations they are interested in making and organizations like the Red Cross are really only collecting monetary donations from individuals for the effort at this point. We're inviting folks to talk about legitimate alternatives for those who have other donations they'd like to give.
Top Cat
Tue, Jan 19, 2010 : 1:06 p.m.
Is there any reason not to donate directly to an established and respected organization like The Red Cross?
mcwee
Tue, Jan 19, 2010 : 12:48 p.m.
Grand Rapids-based Rays of Hope for Haiti accepts in-kind donations and has been working in Haiti for at least a decade: http://www.raysofhopeforhaiti.com/
bowser
Tue, Jan 19, 2010 : 12:05 p.m.
Our church (Kaioen Church) is giving through a relief organization called "Convoy of Hope". All money goes purely for the relief effort. The website is www.convoyofhope.com. You can give to Convoy of Hope through the church here in Ann Arbor too - www.kaioen.com
bowser
Tue, Jan 19, 2010 : 12:01 p.m.
Our church is donating through a relief organization called "Convoy of Hope" - www.convoyofhope.com. Residents can donate through them directly or through the church - Kaioen Church - www.kaioen.com. Hope this helps some people.
Tina Reed
Tue, Jan 19, 2010 : 11:08 a.m.
I thought it was helpful to read The New York Times evaluation of different non-profit organizations helping out in Haiti on one of the NYTimes' blogs: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/latest-updates-on-the-crisis-in-haiti-2/?hp