Both national and local organizations are raising funds to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. When calling organizations, be sure to request your donation be designated for Haiti earthquake relief.

If your organization is planning a fundraiser, send information to news@herald-dispatch.com.

If you receive a donation solicitation from an organization, check the organization’s legitimacy before donating. To research an organization's record, the Better Business Bureau has a Web site at www.give.org, which also has lists of bona fide organizations.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security directs those interested in donating to www.interaction.org. There they can find a complete list of organizations.


Here are some of the places where you can help:

CLINTON BUSH HAITI FUND: President Obama called on former Presidents Clinton and Bush to raise money for victims of the Haiti earthquake. To donate to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, go to www.clintonbushhaitifund.org.

AMERICAN RED CROSS: The American Red Cross has been raising funds for earthquake relief efforts. To donate, go to www.redcross.org or call 800-REDCROSS. The Red Cross has a minimum donation of $15 online but people can donate $10 automatically by texting “HAITI” to 90999 to American Red Cross relief for Haiti. Text message donations must be confirmed.

SALVATION ARMY: The Salvation Army, which has 700 officers permanently stationed in Haiti, is collecting donations to provide supplies for the disaster. Donations are accepted through PayPal at www.salvationarmyusa.org, or by phone at 800-SAL-ARMY, or by mail at the Salvation Army World Service Office, International Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 630728, Baltimore, MD 21263-0728 (Note that your donation is for Haiti Earthquake relief). Donors also can text the word “HAITI” to 52000 to donate $10 to the Salvation Army’s relief efforts via their phone bill. Text message donations must be confirmed.

UNICEF: The United Nations agency that supports efforts to help children throughout the world is raising money for the earthquake victims. To donate, go to www.unicef.org or call 800-4-UNICEF.

PARTNERS IN HEALTH: Partners in Health, which has been in Haiti for 25 years, is heading up the medical relief effort outside of the Port au Prince. Its site is www.pih.org.

DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS: Doctors without Borders is giving medical assistance to earthquake victims. The Web site is doctorswithoutborders.org.

COMMUNITY OF GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: The church at 28th Street and 3rd Avenue is collecting items for health kits. Items needed are: hand towels, wash clothes, combs, nail files or clippers, bath size soap, toothbrush, adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages (like Band-Aids), $1 for toothpaste (which is purchased in bulk). One of each of these items can be placed into a one gallon sealed plastic bag and brought to the church. For information, call the church at 304-525-3581 or LInda Beaver at 304-633-3842.

HUNTINGTON BENEFIT: A Huntington Benefit for Haiti will start at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at the V Club. Doors open at 6 p.m. with some free appetizers for those in attendance. Admission will be a suggested donation of $10. One hundred percent of all door proceeds and any money raised in the raffle will go to relief efforts in Haiti. Performers include: Scrap Iron Pickers at 7 followed by Ladybird, Mountain Blues Revue (Chris Sutton and Blues Crossing), 40-Lb Snapper, Bud Carroll & The Southern Souls, Genuine Junk Band and Deadbeats & Barkers.  If any person or business would like to donate items or money to the cause, call Casto at 304-544-1332 after 3 p.m. on weekdays or e-mail pcasto_2000@yahoo.com.
 

MEDEXPRESS: MedExpress Urgent Care is accepting donations for the American Red Cross at is locations, including the one on U.S. 60 in Gabriel’s Plaza in Huntington.

HOOPS FOR HAITI: Ginny Dunfee, the physical education teacher at St. Joe Grade School, is organizing a Hoops for Haiti event Feb. 8, in which students will get pledges for a day of basketball, with the proceeds going to help the earthquake victims.

ROTARY CLUB OF HUNTINGTON: Members are collecting funds to send one or more shelter boxes to Haiti. They cost about $1,000 and are large, according to Rotary Member Ted Kleumper II, and are industrial tents that can house 10 people with food for six months, a water purification system and other supplies. Checks can be made out to the Rotary Foundation with “shelter box” written in the memo line. They can be mailed to Linda Pleasants, P.O. Box 607, Ceredo, WV 25507.

HAT FUNDRAISER: Linda Goldenberg, manager of The Red Caboose at the Visitors Center in Heritage Station, has crocheted and knitted hats that will be sold in The Red Caboose for $10 each. All funds raised from the hat sales will be given to the Red Cross for their Haitian effort. The Red Caboose is located inside the Visitors Center at Heritage Station, 210 11th Street. For information, call 304-525-7333.

DONATING SUPPLIES: New Life Church is collecting construction materials, medical supplies and food to help in the rescue and rebuilding efforts in Haiti. The church is located at 1101 Cedar Crest Road in Huntington, and will accept donations between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday.

Here’s a list of what’s needed:

CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS: generators; heavy duty extension cords; jack hammers; hammers; saws — electric and regular hand saws; ladder extension and step (38-foot extension ladder ); step ladders 8 to 10 feet; nails #12, #16; wood screws 2 1/2-inch to 4-inch; carriage bolts (with bolts and washers); cement mixer; block machine; block – 8” and 6 “; light fixtures – porcelain base light fixtures; light bulbs 75 volt — energy savers; metal fence post and barbed wire; batteries — deep cycle 6 v.; Cpvc pipe – 3/4-, 1/2-inch; Couplings for pipe, L’s, caps, Ts; 3-inch pvc and fittings, Ls, caps, Ts, Ys; PVC cleaner and adhesive; 1 1/4 pipe, Ls, caps, Ts, Ys and male and female adapters; 3-inch to 1 1/4 reducer; work gloves; work boots; masonry tools; measuring tapes; crowbars, big and small; shovels; picks; wheel barrels — solid tires if possible; extra tires; locks, wiring #12 roll; plastic conduit 3/4-inch, Ls and couplings.; black tape; wiring nuts; water pumps — 3/4 horse power (shallow well); welding rods — 1/8-inch; torches; army cots; tents; gas stoves; hand soap; detergent; bleach; brooms; mops; mop buckets; small battery radios; flashlights; batteries (all sizes); beds and mattresses; sheets, pillow cases; bed pillows; blankets; sleeping bags.

LUMBER: 2x4x16; 2x6x16; 2x8x16; 2x10x16; Plywood 1/2-inch and 3/4-inch; 12-foot metal tin for roofing; Cement.

MEDICAL SUPPLIES: Triple antibiotic ointment; burn ointment – silver dene or generic; 4x4 dressings; gauze rolls — 2 1/2-inch — 4-inch; peroxide; antiseptic wipes; pain medicines: Ibuprofen and Tylenol, aspirin.

FOOD: Dry foods, rice and beans; canned meat and fish; cooking oil; canned vegetables (mixed veggies, beans, corn, peas, baked beans); canned meats; bottled water; Gatorade; powered milk; cooking pots — 3 quart; sugar; salt; powered juice; powered milk; protein drinks; pasta; tomato paste; nutritional bars; peanut butter; paper plates; paper cups (hot and cold); plastic utensils; metal drinking cups and plates.

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