Where to Donate When Disaster Strikes?

When horrible destruction and suffering occurrs around the world….most of the world will react in droves to try to help.  Those of us with little will give what little we have…those with a lot will do their part as well.  Unfortunately…dispicably… there are also those who will pray on the humanity of the masses for their own entertainment or profit.  So where do you turn? What do you do?  How do you know what is good and right and beneficial and trustworthy?

My brother is a unique, amazing individual who has traveled the world and spread his own brand of wonderful to everyone that he meets.  He is well researched and educated in virtually every decision he makes and I trust him explicitly when he makes suggestions such as these.

Our family received an email from Matt tonight outlining some thoughts on where to give…who to trust…and I find it simply ridiculous to try to rephrase … so I’m just going to paste the text…Matty…I hope you don’t mind.

Hi folks.

I trust you all are aware of the insane destruction, suffering, and need going on in Haiti.

If you want to help, but are unsure how to get help to people, or unsure about organizations which collect and distribute funds, here is some information which may be of use.

Tim Cunningham, whom some of you have met (he was my roommate in Blue Lake and in Brooklyn), works heavily with Clowns Without Borders (he’s the President of CWB USA right now), and frequently travels with teams of clowns to Haiti to perform and teach workshops.

Recently he completed nursing school in order to have even more to give when he works.

Tim recommends donating money to two organizations: Partners In Health or Doctors Without Borders.  They are truly amazing.

PIH was started by a legend of a man, Dr. Paul Farmer, whose work in Haiti (and eventually around the world as one of the world’s leaders in Global and Community Health) is the subject of the book Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder.

If Tim’s recommendation is not enough, here’s this article from yesterday’s New York Times.  It’s written by Tracy Kidder, and indicates the same thing Tim is suggesting: Partners In Health is a really great place to be donating money.

They are on the ground already, have been for years, and are staffed almost entirely by Haitians.  They have struggled against enormous odds and impossible conditions for a very long time, and have made a huge impact on the people of Haiti.

Due to their rural locations, it’s probably the case that PIH is currently the largest standing medical organization in the country, since the hospitals have been wiped out.

If you want to donate directly, the link is here.

I am less familiar with the history and structure of Doctors Without Borders, but they are well known globally; their website is clear and their reputation is unmistakably shining.

Their donation link for Haiti is here .

Be well, all.