Comments on: Habitat for Haiti

By: Molly Bell

Molly Bell — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:31:46 +0000

Hi Jenny, I thought you’d like an update about what Habitat for Humanity is doing in Haiti. Yesterday we announced a plan to provide 50,000 housing solutions in Haiti! There’s no misplaced decimal there, we really mean 50,000 families with a new or repaired home, that is safe and is constructed to withstand future disasters. It’s an ambitious goal, but we think we can do it, with the support of people like you and your fans. You can learn more about our approach at : http://www.habitat.org/ Thanks for getting the word out – it is appreciated! Molly

By: Terrio

Terrio — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:02:18 +0000

I didn’t know about this so thanks for the heads up.

By: Carol Anne

Carol Anne — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:19:12 +0000

An update – good news to my earlier post. Pascal & Michel spoke to their mother last night, mother and siblings are safe. At the time of the quake, they were in the orphanage where Pascal & Michel’s adoption was handled ten years ago. All physically unharmed, but in desparate need. Canadian Govt is matching donations as well as the money, drs, rns, water, workers, etc already there and more on the way. Habitat is on the list. Stay warm and safe.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:40:48 +0000

You know, they’re going to need that aid for a long, long time. And most of it will come in now, while the disaster is still up front in the press. DEC sounds like an excellent choice.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:39:29 +0000

Heifer International is my global charity. (One global, one national, one local.) It does excellent, excellent work because it gives people the means to make a living by providing them with livestock. It’s not a handout, it’s a start-up. I can’t recommend them enough.

By: AgTigress

AgTigress — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 18:59:39 +0000

Anyone in the UK probably knows by now that the best donation option here is the umbrella organization DEC (Disasters Emergency Committee). It’s very easy to donate to them online (I did so a couple of days ago), or by phone, text, post or in any bank. They had received £12 million in donations from the British public by yesterday.
The worrying thing seems to be the difficulty of getting the aid which is now flooding in to where it is needed.

By: marly

marly — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:41:50 +0000

I love everything Heifer, International does to end hunger. Giving those goats and ducks and llamas is a lot of fun, too. But right now, groups like Habitat and Unicef can work immediate miracles. Thought I’d mention, if anyone sells on Ebay, that you can donate up to 100% of your sale to Haiti relief and also donate if you make a purchase. All gifts are administered by Mission Fish, the charitable partner of ebay. It’s not as immediate, as gifts are held in escrow until a refund period is over, but if you’re buying or selling anyway (uncluttering) it’s a good way to go.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:06:35 +0000

I think they have tax problems, mostly.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 05:05:10 +0000

Yele Haiti is evidently not a disaster relief organization, and there are reports out there (Gawker, for example) that they may not be the best way to go. Huff Post has http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/12/haiti-earthquake-relief-h_n_421014.html for other choices. Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres is another proven one. I like giving to organizations who have a track record with disasters, and you can’t get much better than Habitat, Doctors Without Borders, and Unicef, but the Huff Post article has a long, long list.

By: Sari

Sari — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:10:57 +0000

I don’t pretend to know either way, but just to let you know, The Smoking Gun is questioning how Wyclef’s charity is spending its money or at least how it has spent its money in the past. I know that it’s possible for facts to be misrepresented, and I don’t follow that website, so I can’t speak to its accuracy. Just that it’s out there.

Obviously, the important thing is to do whatever you can for Haiti through whichever organizations you trust.

By: Joleesa

Joleesa — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 17:16:50 +0000

Thank you, Jenny. My friend Pooja Bhatia lives in Haiti, and she wrote an amazing piece for the New York Times about the disaster. Check it out if you have a second.

By: TerriO

TerriO — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:36:41 +0000

I didn’t even know HforH operated in Haiti so thanks for the link. Everytime I read or see another news story about this, I wish I could help. This morning a friend sent me the link to Wyclef Jean’s charity organization at http://www.yele.org (also mentioned by Bonnie) which gives 100% of donations so I’d recommending giving there as well.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:04:07 +0000

I would like to mention goodsearch.com which donates a penny for every search you do. There is also a percentage given to your selected charity if you shop through the website.
I did several searches for Doctors without Borders and Yele Haiti yesterday.

By: Carol Anne

Carol Anne — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:37:00 +0000

We are still waiting to hear if our friend’s adopted son’s mother is alive. No-one has heard anything. The situation is so grim and expected to get worse before it gets better. A safe, dry and warm house, the basics, all the rest is cream.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:22:05 +0000

I checked with Jill and she said to go ahead, Bethany. Thank you!

By: sheagal

sheagal — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:10:02 +0000

Thanks, Jenny. That was a great idea. Habitat for Humanity is a great organization. It’s the best use I’ve made of my credit card all week.

By: Micki

Micki — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:10:00 +0000

Absolute Cherry, your link worked for me . . . (-: and they take credit cards! I live in an age and world of ease!

By: Micki

Micki — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 23:02:06 +0000

Thank you for posting this. I just found out that a classmate of my sister’s has been a missionary in Haiti for years. Several “Huh? WTF?” moments with that, because I never would have dreamed . . . she’d end up in Haiti, nor that Haiti would have missionaries (but I guess they have missionaries in Appalachia, so that’s just my narrow world view).

I’d been asking mutual friends for a way to help, but not getting any responses, so I’m glad you posted this. I’m really impressed by Habitats for Humanity, and although I can only give a little bit, I hope all those drops make a big bucket.

By: Absolute Cherry

Absolute Cherry — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 22:50:55 +0000

I’m not sure if I’m doing this right – link to donate:

https://www.habitat.org/cd/giving/donate.aspx?link=227

By: Bethany

Bethany — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:47:14 +0000

Also, although I imagine most of the Cherry emailers read your blog, would you mind if I sent an email to the listserv with a link to this post?