EASY way to help Haiti [merged]

[Zac495]

The news is saying that texting has been the most effective way to collect money - I think they said 1/4 million in an hour - but not sure if I have that fact right.

 

[islandhome]

It was quick and easy...1/4 of a million in an hr? Very impressive. Go technology!

 

[l2trade]

I found this USA today article where Starwood is teaming with the Red Cross to help in the Haiti relief effort. I hope this will prompt us Tuggers to help.

"Starwood is partnering with the Red Cross to collect hotel points to help bankroll relief efforts. Click here for details. Donated Starpoints are not tax deductible. Donations may be made in the following amounts: 4,000 points=$50; 8,000 points=$100; 12,000-$150, and 16,000 points=$200."

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2010-01-14-travel-industry-news-relief-efforts-haiti-quake_N.htm

I wish Starwood would allow me to donate some of my ownership deeds.

 

[DeniseM]

I wish Starwood would allow me to donate some of my ownership deeds.

Good one! :rofl:

 

[scotlass]

AA offering bonus miles for donations to Haiti

250 miles for a $50 donation, 500 miles for a $100 donation to the Red Cross. Must be done through aa.com

 

[barefootnAR]

Way to go AA
Things are really bad in Haiti. Red Cross is a place where your $ goes to work to help.

 

[Stricky]

Way to go AA
Things are really bad in Haiti. Red Cross is a place where your $ goes to work to help.

Every organization has it porblems though: http://socialistworker.org/2005-2/562/562_04_RedCross.shtml

I still give the Red Cross a B+

 

[stugy]

Well, we didn't get any miles for it, but we decided to donate to Samaritan'sPurse.org, a Christian organization led by Billy Graham's son and we designated our donation to go to Haiti
Pat

 

[ricoba]

Here's another easy way to donate.

I just made another donation via ebay/paypal to the relief agency of my choice (Samaritan's Purse). It was through MissionFish, and it allows you to choose (through a drop down menu) to numerous agencies that you may care to support.

A real benefit/blessing of technology is how quickly we can now respond by giving to the charity of our choice. I hardly ever write or mail checks anymore. I am so thankful for online resources such as this that allow a very immediate response.

 

[Carol C]

Doctors Without Borders is an efficient, respected org with low admin overhead costs. They are a Nobel peace prize nominee. https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=197

 

[scotlass]

I had already donated through Church World Service when I saw the offer on AA. We had an email very early yesterday morning from CWS and they are a real reliable organization so I am not disappointed. Just thought I would pass on the info in case anyone wanted to donate through AA.

 

[bhrungo]

American & Spirit Airlines Giving Miles

If you donate to Unicef, Red Cross, or Yele, Spirit Airlines will put 5,000 air miles in your account. We just donated through Yele, then went to Spirit Airlines web-site, filled out a form, it said the 5,000 miles would be in our account in about 6-8 weeks. This offer is for the first 200,000 people to donate at least $5.

Not sure exactly how American Airlines program works, but CNN did report that they are also giving air miles for Red Cross donations.

Please donate

 

[Luanne]

Not sure exactly how American Airlines program works, but CNN did report that they are also giving air miles for Red Cross donations.

Thought I saw somewhere that to get the AA miles you needed to donate through the AA site.

 

[mo1950]

Salvation Army

I went to the Salvation online website and donated. They also have teams on the way to Haiti. I have read many times that this charity contributes a larger percentage of its donations than most others.

I also have a personal reason to always donate to The Salvation Army. During World War II the Red Cross refused to help my father return home on leave - he was broke when he received an unexpected pass to visit his family before shipping out to Saipan. Not good planning on his part, but he really did not think he would need any money, it was so close to payday.

Anyway, The Salvation Army paid for his train ticket, bus ticket, and a little money for food. Our family has never forgotten to give to The Salvation Army ever since.

Off the track here. Just want to add that the Haitians will be in my prayers for many nights, and may the Grace of God be with them and all the wonderful volunteers.

 

[swsc16]

I am usually just a lurker in the Lounge forums (or in TUG forums in general), and just being selective in what I read (like I need info on Caribbean for my Bahamas trip in April).
But coming out of my lurker mode, to thank this Haiti thread. I chanced upon this thread this morning, then donated $10 through text (I love how it easy it was!). Then I posted it in my Facebook (generosity should be contagious, right?)
A few minutes after, I got a call from the Board president of 1 of my timeshares (Tropic Shores at Daytona). He has apparently been calling me since last week, but I rarely return calls who don't leave voicemails (or important voicemails), cause I would think they're just telemarketers. This morning, somehow I ended up picking up his call, and apparently I won a 32inch TV, for Tropic Shores' drawing for those who paid their maintenance dues on time. Wow, I rarely win anything in raffles. My husband and I were so ecstatic winning this 32inch of TV. And even more, I found out about a few minutes after I made a $10 donation, which I did cause what happened to Haiti was really heartbreaking.
I helped in a very small way, and I ended up getting some more. It maybe just a pure coincidence. Either way, I will always continue to just PAY IT FORWARD!
Next, I will be asking around for local organizations here if they will accept used clothing/blanket/etc. donations for Haiti, since I have a lot to dispose.

 

[osman]

I found this USA today article where Starwood is teaming with the Red Cross to help in the Haiti relief effort. I hope this will prompt us Tuggers to help.

"Starwood is partnering with the Red Cross to collect hotel points to help bankroll relief efforts. Click here for details. Donated Starpoints are not tax deductible. Donations may be made in the following amounts: 4,000 points=$50; 8,000 points=$100; 12,000-$150, and 16,000 points=$200."

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2010-01-14-travel-industry-news-relief-efforts-haiti-quake_N.htm

Let me see if I understand. I can go to the Starwood website, buy 8000 points for $280, give the points back to Starwood, they donate $100 to the Red Cross, and they keep the other $180? Sounds more like Starwood relief to me. I'm not normally a cynical type, but it looks like Starwood is taking advantage of people's generosity by using this as an opportunity to buy back Starpoints at below market prices.

I think I'm better off sending money directly to the Red Cross (which I did).

--Osman

 

[Ginny]

AmeriCares is where I donated today. http://www.americares.org

Here's a CNN article with suggested charitable organizations:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/01/13/haiti.earthquake.how.to.help/index.html

 

[applegirl]

Thank you DonSueJ for the link to the Clinton Foundation. I just made my $25 donation that I have been meaning to make all day. Your link made it easier for me!

Their website says that 95.9% of your contribution goes toward the cause. That's a really high percent for a charity!

I saw Bill Clinton talking about how the foundation was moving quickly to bring aid to the peole in Haiti. I was impressed with what he said on TV this morning and that's why I feel good about donating to them.

If all TUGgers donate even a small amount, that would add up to a lot of money!

Janna

 

[Glynda]

Thanks for the info. I did the Red Cross text donation and like Shelter Box so gave to them too.

The company hubby works for has 3,000 employees in Haiti and my hubby travels there often and tells me of the awful condidtions there. Fortunately, his plants were running during the earthquake and everyone was fine as the buildings held up. Had they been in their homes or elsewhere, there's no telling how many might have been hurt or killed. The company helped its employees and their families after the hurricane and now will help again but also now hubby must find production elsewhere until they get the power and water back to the plants.

 

[pwrshift]

I was touched by what Bill Marriott had to say on his blog about Haiti.

Brian

The Earthquake in Haiti

Posted: January 14, 2010 01:55:08 PM

The devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on Tuesday has had aftershocks all over the world. I am currently at our Harbor Beach Marriott in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where more than a third of our associates at this hotel are Haitian and have been directly affected by this terrible disaster.

I talked to several of our associates who are from Haiti. They are struggling with trying to find out what has happened to their families and loved ones. They are very tender and loving people and they are extremely saddened and concerned. They have a group get-together for prayer and song every morning and our hearts go out to them all. Many of these associates and numerous other Haitians on staff at our hotels around the world have suffered heartbreaking losses, and my heart goes out to each and every one of them.

In the days following the quake, there has been a tremendous outpouring of support and volunteers are working around the clock to provide relief to this Caribbean nation. We want to do our part as well, so that’s why today, through The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation named after my parents, we are sending $500,000 to the Red Cross Haiti Relief and Development Fund to aid with immediate relief efforts such as providing water, medical supplies, food and shelter.

We do not currently have any hotels in Haiti but our hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are serving as staging areas for the relief efforts underway in Haiti. Many of our hotels are offering other support as well. Thankfully, none of our hotels in the Caribbean suffered damage due to the earthquake.

This was a very, very tragic situation and the days and weeks ahead will be difficult for those people around the world with roots in Haiti. My thoughts and prayers are with all of those who have been so affected.

http://www.blogs.marriott.com/marriott-on-the-move/2010/01/the-earthquake-in-haiti.html#more

 

[charford]

Canadian CIDA will match Haiti Earthquake Donations

For Canadians, CIDA will match 1:1 any individual donations made to charities that collect funds specifically for Haiti earthquake relief. See here for more details CIDA website

 

[wauhob3]

It's really easy: text HAITI to 90999 on your cell phone, and $10 will be donated automatically (charged to your cell phone bill). It's apparently one of the quickest ways to donate.

I donated this way. It was easy, fast and I trust Redcross more than a new one. Thanks for letting me know. I posted this on Facebook too hopefully just like your post the word will keep spreading.

 

[Mel]

Next, I will be asking around for local organizations here if they will accept used clothing/blanket/etc. donations for Haiti, since I have a lot to dispose.

Please make that donation anyway - whether it is sent to Haiti or used locally. We are all on a high right now, helping the Haitians, but we need to also remember the local people that need help. When there are huge disasters like this, often the local support (money in particular) gets diverted to the large disasters.

 

[Jimster]

haiti

The people of Haiti need your help. Then again they have needed it for the last 50 years! They have been historically one of the poorest nations in the world. Ironically, it may have taken a disaster like this to wake people up to actually try and do something to help them. Despite being so close to the USA we have continued to let them live in poverty and despair. We have invaded them several times and made them a protectorate, but still they lived in squalor. I hope we finally try to improve their standard of life and give generously.

 

[Zac495]

Glad the text idea was helpful to some. Basically I'm bumping this up - we need to keep this on our radar screen for a long time. We can't forget them.

Ask yourself if you donated as much as you can afford. Then text again if you can.

Everyone who is doing something shall be rewarded by the timeshare god.