Relief organizations internationally and in Orange County have begun raising funds to help the victims of this week’s earthquake in Haiti. Here are places seeking donations:
Orange County United Way: United Way Worldwide has set up a disaster fund to support long-term recovery efforts in Haiti. Go to www.ocuw.org.
American Red Cross: The Red Cross has contributed an initial $1 million from its International Response Fund. Send a $10 donation by texting “Haiti” to 90999. Call 800-REDCROSS or go to www.redcross.org to make a donation.
Giving Children Hope: The group, based in Buena Park, is collecting donations to buy relief supplies for earthquake victims. Donations can be sent to 8332 Commonwealth Ave., Buena Park, 90621, or can be made online at gchope.org.
Free The Kids: A nonprofit group affiliated with an orphanage in southern Haiti started by a former chaplain from El Toro Marine Corp Air Station. Go to www.freethekids.org for more information.
International Eben-Ezer Church of God Inc.: The Fullerton church is the headquarters of Eglise de Dieu Eben-Ezer Haiti. It is collecting donations, in particular to help churches in the southern part of Haiti. Call 714-526-4191 for more information.
UNICEF: The international aid organization already has emergency teams on the ground and is collecting money to provide safe water, temporary shelter, medical supplies and other relief. Go to www.unicefusa.org/haitiquake or call 1-800-4UNICEF.
Catholic Relief Services: The aid organization has staff in Haiti and is preparing food deliveries from the Dominican Republic. You can donate at crs.org or call 1-800-736-3467. Checks can be mailed to Catholic Relief Services P.O. Box 17090 Baltimore, MD 21203-7090
• Catholic Relief Services: www.catholicrelief.org
• LDS Church’s Humanitarian Services fund: give.lds.org/emergencyresponse or mail a check to Humanitarian Services, 50 E. North Temple St., Floor 7, Salt Lake City, UT 84150-6890.
• International Rescue Committee: www.theirc.org/donate/donate-now-haiti or call 1-877-REFUGEE.
• Church World Service: (Relief ministry of 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican denominations of the National Council of Churches.) www.churchworldservice.org
• Doctors Without Borders: (Has 800 medical staffers in Haiti and is working to re-establish an operating surgical center.) donate.doctorswithoutborders.org
• Partners in Health: (A medical relief organization headquartered in the U.S. that has nine hospitals/clinics in Haiti.) www.pih.org/home.html
• InterAction has a list of agencies responding and how to donate to them. Find it here: www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti
• To donate $5 to Wyclef Jean’s Haitian Yele charity, text 501501. The money will be added to your next phone bill.
• To find out how to help the International Rescue Committee, visit www.theIRC.org or call toll free, 1-877-REFUGEE.
