Haiti Relief Organizations (Updated 1/16)

There has been lots of chatter on the neighborhood listservs about collecting clothes and canned goods for Haiti, but what Haiti really needs right now is money.

I generally avoid donating to huge multinational charities myself, but lacking a familiarity with grassroots Haitian aid groups, here are the best options I could find:

Partners in Health
A Boston-based nonprofit focused on health care for the poor. This group has been recommended by a number of neighbors "in the know."

Doctors Without Borders
Reputable international org; a welcome alternative to other large charities

Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti
A Haitian health care organization that lost three hospitals in the earthquake.

UPDATE (1/16/2010): We can no longer in good conscience suggest Yéle Haiti as a reputable charitable organization in light of The Smoking Gun's disclosure of their self-dealing and dodgy tax filing history. Even if they are currently working for good, they have not shown the sense of fiscal or organizational responsibility to demonstrate that their efforts will be effective.

For more options, see the New York Times, WNYC, and Huffington Post lists.

Comments

[nicoretta9]

Also, Vox Pop on Cortelyou is a drop off location for donated goods to Action Now for Project Salvation for Haiti. They have arranged for a container to be sent directly to Haiti and have infrastructure in place for dissemination.

ITEMS NEEDED:
MEN, WOMEN & CHILDREN:
(new or clean, used clothing)
Pants
Shirts
T-shirts
Skirts
Shorts
Shoes
Sneakers
Socks
Underwear (new only)

SCHOOL
SUPPLIES:
Pens
Pencils
Erasers
Notebooks
Crayons
Rulers
Book bags

BABIES:
Disposable diapers
Baby clothing
Blankets

LINENS/OTHER: (very important)
Washcloths
Towels
Sanitary napkins
Flashlights w/batteries
Travel-sized items:
Toothbrush/paste
Soap
Shampoo
Comb/brush

MEDICAL SUPPLIES:
Aspirin
Alcohol pads
Band-aids
All first-aid items
Latex gloves
Empty plastic pill bottles

FOOD:
Powdered milk
Canned goods
Rice
Beans
Cornmeal
Sugar
Chocolate milk - Quick/Ovaltine

[Charles Star]

1) Aid organizations with substantial structure need money more than they need supplies. Sifting through disparate collections of random goods is much harder for relief workers than buying specific goods in bulk for distribution.

2) I have very little faith that a container collected at Vox Pop will be able to make it to Port au Prince. The current situation in Haiti is going to make regular container shipments erratic at best and totally useless at worst.

[Ceelledee]

I hear you Charles. The Smoking Gun story caught me by surprise and disturbd me greatly when I ran across it as well. I also admit that my first reaction was to assume that Smoking Gun's allegations were pretty much that -- a smoking gun placed in the hands of Wyclef Jean and the Yele Haiti Foundation. Then, I had to stop and remember what I know about Wyclef Jean. That, as a native son of Haiti, he's been a consistent, high profile advocate and supporter of his country who is deeply loved and respected by the Haitian people. Then I began to think about what I know of Smoking Gun. Absolutely nothing! Then, I also began to remember old news stories about some other bigger, better known and even more established charitable and relief organizations whose financial records and practices have also come into serious question. . . . like the Red Cross!

Next came the need to know what Wyclef and, his supporters, might have to say in defense. So, here it is:

http://www.yele.org/

http://allhiphop.com/stories/news/archive/2010/01/16/22098509.aspx

http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10451/title.wyclefs-yele-called-in-to-question-set-to-host-hope-for-haiti-telethon-with-george-clooney

Look, at this point, I've already given support to Yele Haiti, Unicef and Docs without Borders. So, with the deed already done, my prayer can only be that my few dollars, along with the millions of other few dollars that have been/will be given by countless others will actually get to the Haitian people and make a difference!

In closing, please know that while I cheered silently when HS recommended Yele Haiti as an alternative relief organization, I can't fault you now for withdrawing that same rec in light of the Smoking Gun piece. In fact, I think HS is to be commended for speaking out on principle and for trying to give us all some navigational guidance when it comes to getting through the humongous maze of relief organizations that are out here. At the same time and within that same spirit, that I hope to now add a bit of grist to the mill of this Wyclef Jean/Yele Haiti side story. Please, everyone -- do with it what you will.

[AC]

While the goods collected may not provide immediate relief, there is no doubt that now and in the future, these items will be needed by the people in Haiti, not to mention those there as relief workers will need them as well.
It is also true that many people and organizations were sending these items to Haiti before the earthquake as they were very much needed then and will continue to be needed.
While money is obviously needed for more immediate relief, I would also encourage people to gather and send these items as well.

[Seth]

An excellent organization to donate money to help Haiti earthquake survivors is the William J. Clinton Foundation. Haiti was already one of their focuses and they have already been on the ground in Haiti for awhile.

This is not a political organization, but obviously its namesake is former President Clinton who is the UN's Special Envoy to Haiti.

http://www.clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake/

I know everyone wants to send their money to organizations that will put it to the best use. This is a good one if you want to help Haiti in this desperate time.

[Pox on Vox Pop]

Folks, Vox Pop can barely run their business and now some genius want people to fill up a random cargo container with crayons and sneakers? Get real. Don't contribute items but contribute money. Let the pros deal with purchasing needed materials.

Lord help anyone who ties up the barely existent infrastructure in decimated Haiti with a cargo container filled with crap. Get perspective on what's really needed.