Helping out: How to donate to Haiti earthquake relief efforts

This post has been updated several times since its originally publication on Jan. 13. I have added additional information about giving via text messaging on a mobile phone and through the Apple iTunes Store. There are now more than 65 sites accepting online donations and more than 20 organizations accepting mobile donations to Haitian relief efforts listed below. If you know of others, leave a comment with the information and I will verify and add to the list as necessary. -- Al

The Internet is proving to be a valuable resource for those looking for information about the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti and those wanting to make donations to the relief efforts there.

Anyone wondering just how Facebook and Twitter could serve a real purpose, should look into what's happening on these popular social networking sites since the massive earthquake hit Tuesday. To follow the Twitteratti, go to twitter.com and search for #HAITI. You'll get every message on Twitter that includes that hashtag search. There is plenty, so be ready to scroll for a while.

One of the items I am seeing in many online channels is a message about donating via a text message. The posts on both Facebook and Twitter include this information: "To make a $10 donation to the International Red Cross for Haiti earthquake relief, text HAITI to 90999. This is not a scam. http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/01/13/help-haiti"

The link and blog are legitimate, and lead to a page with additional information on donating to the relief fund.

- You can donate online to the Red Cross here:
(https://american.redcross.org/site/Donation2?4306.donation=form1&idb=1839848626&df_id=4306&JServSessionIdr004=7ughrcr1i4.app196b)

Visit the Red Cross home page:
(http://www.redcross.org/)

- Yele Haiti is an organization founded by musician Wyclef Jean to improve the quality of education, health, environment and community
(http://www.yele.org) or text YELE to 501501 to donate $5.

- The Center for International Disaster Information has a portal with links to several relief options:
(http://www.cidi.org/incident/haiti-10a/)

- Global Giving has information about the disaster on their site, their Twitter feed and Facebook group page:
(http://www.globalgiving.org)
(http://twitter.com/globalgiving)
(http://www.facebook.com/GlobalGiving)

- AmeriCares provides medicine, medical supplies and aid. To donate, call 1-800-486-HELP or visit their site.
(http://www.americares.org)

- Care is a humanitarian organization with a focus on fighting global poverty. You can donate by calling 1-800-521-CARE or visit their site:
(http://www.care.org)

- Doctors Without Borders delivers medical care to people in crisis. This group plans to send 70 additional doctors and medical to Haiti. You can donate by calling 1-888-392-0392 or by visiting their site:
(http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org)

- Direct Relief International provides medical attention. Donations will go towards medical aid, supplies and equipment in Haiti. To donate call 1-805-964-4767 or 1-800-676-1638 or visit their site:
(http://www.directrelief.org)

- The U.S. State Department Operations Center said Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti should call 1-888-407-4747. Due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording. "Our embassy is still in the early stages of contacting American citizens through our Warden Network," the U.S. State Department said in a statement. "Communications are very difficult within Haiti at this time."

- If you have concerns about the legitimacy of an organization soliciting funds, visit this site to learn more about the group:
(http://charitynavigator.org/)

- The Web site of the U.S. State Department has information on how to get assistance in finding U.S. citizens and other information on relief:
(http://www.state.gov/p/wha/ci/ha/earthquake/index.htm)

- Donating via text messaging:

The list of organizations that are responding to this need with mobile*giving efforts, including the following:
- Text the word “Yele” to 501501 to donate $5
- Text the word “Yele10” or “YeleTen” to 501501 to donate $10
On behalf of the Yéle Foundation, the leading contributor to rebuilding Haiti founded by Wyclef Jean
http://www.yele.org

- Text the word “QUAKE” to 20222 to donate $10
On behalf of The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
http://clintonbushhaitifund.org/

- Text the word “Haiti” to 20222 to donate $10
On behalf of the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund
http://www.clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake

- Text the word “Haiti” to 52000 to donate $10
On behalf of the Salvation Army
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

- Text the word “Hope10” or “UNICEF” to 20222 to donate $10
On behalf of UNICEF
http://www.unicef.org/

- Text the word “Haiti” to 40579 to donate $10
On behalf of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB)
http://nrb.org/

- Text the word “Save” or “Safe” to 20222 to donate $10
On behalf of Save the Children Federation, Inc.
http://www.savethechildren.org/

- Text the word “Give” or “World” to 20222 to donate $10
On behalf of World Vision Inc.
http://www.wvi.org/wvi/wviweb.nsf

- Text the word “Haiti” to 85944 to donate $10
On behalf of the International Medical Corps
https://www.imcworldwide.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=878

- Text the word “Haiti” to 25383 to donate $5
On behalf of the International Rescue Committee
http://www.theirc.org/

- Text the word “Oxfam” to 25383 to donate $10
On behalf of Oxfam America, Inc.
http://www.oxfamamerica.org/

- Text the word “PP” to 25383 to donate $10
On behalf of Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere, Inc. (CARE)
http://www.care.org/

- Text the word “Americares” to 25383 to donate $10
On behalf of Americares, Inc.
http://www.americares.org/

- Text the word “Habitat” to 25383 to donate $10
On behalf of Habitat for Humanity
http://www.habitat.org/

- Text the word “Give” to 25383 to donate $10
On behalf of the MTV telethon, scheduled Jan. 22. Hosted by George Clooney.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1629742/20100114/story.jhtml

- Text the word “AJWS” to 25383 to donate $10
On behalf of the American Jewish World Service
http://ajws.org/

- Text the word “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10
On behalf of the American Red Cross in the U.S.
http://www.redcross.org/

- Text the word “Haiti” to 45678 (In Canada Only)
On behalf of the Salvation Army in Canada
http://www.salvationarmy.ca/

- Text the word “Haiti” to 30333 (In Canada Only) to donate $5
On behalf of the Plan Canada
http://plancanada.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=194

- Text the word “Hope” or “Monde” to 45678 (In Canada Only) to donate $5
On behalf of World Vision Canada
http://www.worldvision.ca/Pages/Home.aspx

- Text the word “CAHAITI” to 20222 (In Canada only) to donate $5
On behalf of the Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative
http://www.clintonfoundation.org/what-we-do/clinton-giustra-sustainable-growth-initiative/

For more information on these various campaigns and how mobile giving works, visit the Mobile Giving Foundation site: (www.mobilegiving.com).

- People can also contribute to the Red Cross from the Apple iTunes Store.

A story on the AppleInsider.com Web site says:

With tens of thousands feared dead following a devastating series of earthquakes in Haiti, Apple and the American Red Cross have begun accepting donations for aid and relief through the iTunes Music Store.

Through a link featured on the front page of the store, customers can contribute (iTunes link) as little as $5, or as much as $200. The donations are charged through users' credit cards through iTunes, in the same manner a music or movie purchase would be charged.

The contributions are essentially anonymous, as Apple will not reveal personal information of its users to the American Red Cross through the transactions. Those who give will receive an e-mail confirmation from the iTunes Store, which will be the only evidence of the donation for tax writeoff purposes.

"Your gift to the American Red Cross will support emergency relief efforts to help those affected by this earthquake," the iTunes donation page states. "Assistance provided by the American Red Cross may include sending relief supplies, mobilizing relief workers and providing financial resources."

Complete list of groups providing relief and accepting donations:

- Action Against Hunger, 877-777-1420
http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/where-we-work/haiti

- Agape Flights, 941-584-8078
http://www.agapeflights.com/

- American Red Cross, 800-733-2767
http://www.redcross.org/

- American Refugee Committee, 800-875-7060
http://www.arcrelief.org/site/PageServer

- American Jewish World Service, 212-792-2900
http://ajws.org/

- AmeriCares, 800-486-4357
http://www.americares.org

- Beyond Borders, 866-424-8403
http://www.beyondborders.net/index.php

- B'nai B'rith International, 202-857-6600
http://www.bnaibrith.org/support/disaster_relief.cfm

- CARE, 800-521-2273
http://www.care.org/

- CarmaFoundation
http://www.carmafoundation.org/

- Catholic Relief Services, 800-736-3467
http://www.crs.org