Local nonprofits and companies provide relief in Haiti
The Greater Seattle Chamber wants to recognize and thank all of the local nonprofits and companies supporting relief efforts in Haiti.
Let us know how your nonprofit or business is helping so we can add you to this article.
LOCAL NON-PROFITS ON THE GROUND IN HAITI
Crista Ministries
World Concern and Christian Veterinary Mission, two of the seven ministries for the Seattle-based Christian nonprofit CRISTA Ministries, quickly responded to the staggering needs in Haiti.
World Concern has worked in Haiti for 31 years and had a staff of 100+ at the time of the earthquake. Staff is on the front lines of the disaster, supplying clean water, food, bedding and shelter from the weather. Efforts also focus on reuniting children with families.
As of January 25, World Concern reported how they have organized food and water distributions through churches and neighborhood groups, similar to “block watches.” This technique helps reach the most vulnerable while minimizing risk to staff from riots.
See more updates from the field, video clips and interviews, and make a contribution at http://www.worldconcern.org/haiti-earthquake/. To read about Christian Veterinary Mission’s work in Haiti, see latest updates and donate, visit www.cvmusa.org.
World Vision in Haiti
World Vision, a Christian relief and development organization based in Federal Way, has been in Haiti for 30 years and had about 370 workers in the country at the time of the earthquake.
Staff began assessing damage and preparing relief responses in the immediate wake of the earthquake. Last week, World Vision President Richard Stearns left for Haiti on a flight carrying emergency supplies. In addition to that flight, World Vision has sent two flights of relief supplies to the quake-affected area, with more on the way.
As of January 19, World Vision has raised a total of $15.8 million for Haiti relief in the U.S. alone, which includes $2.6 million in product donations from corporate donors and $10.2 million via the web.
Most recently, World Vision staff have expressed concerns that children—especially those separated from families–are at risk. Two children’s centers have been opened to provide children with a safe and structured place to go during a crisis.
Learn more, watch video, join the conversation and see how you can help at www.worldvision.org.
Medical Teams International
Medical Teams International, a nonprofit Christian global health organization, now has 31 volunteers in Haiti and have delivered more than $1.5 million in supplies – enough to help 45,000 people. Volunteers are working at hospitals and clinics throughout the area. Team members have committed to raising more than $560,000 in cash and medicines to help Medical Teams International respond to the crisis in Haiti.
Several volunteers and staff have started blogs to share their daily experiences. You can read more and learn how you can donate at http://www.medicalteams.org/sf/home.aspx.
Friends of the Orphans
Friends of the Orphans is an organization focused on supporting abandoned and neglected children and those living in poverty in 9 countries across Latin America and the Carribean.
In Haiti, this organization runs an orphanage as well as the only free pediatric hospital in Haiti that serves over 30,000 kids a year. Even more now, Friends of Orphans resources are needed in Haiti, but their buildings have been damaged and volunteers have been injured or killed. To regain traction in Haiti, Friends of Orphans is now collecting and sending monetary donations, medical supplies, and volunteers as needed to Haiti. To learn more about Friends of Orphans and how to get involved, visit www.friendsoftheorphans.org or contact Katie Hultquist at khultquist@friendsus.org.
American Red Cross
In an operation that has involved more emergency response teams than any other single-country disaster in global Red Cross history, the American Red Cross has so far spent or committed more than $67 million to meet the most urgent needs of earthquake survivors in Haiti. The American Red Cross is currently focusing on three areas through its emergency responders and partners:
- Sending food to those in need, including 3 million pre-packaged meals and funding for World Food Program efforts that will enable them to feed up to 1 million people for a month.
- Providing clean drinking water, including 3.5 million liters distributed to date in 68 settlements. Each day, the Red Cross is distributing enough water for 100,000 people.
- Distributing shelter items, such as blankets, tarps, sleeping mats and tents, to families who have been left homeless.
The Red Cross is also meeting the health needs of Haitian survivors and providing support to Haitian families in Haiti and the US. This includes providing relief supplies, shipment of blood products, family linking services and providing Red Cross volunteers to the USNS Comfort, which have been in Haiti for one week. For more up to date information regarding Red Cross efforts in Haiti, local events happening around King and Kitsap Counties to raise money for Haiti and other ways to give and get involved visit their Haiti Earthquake page.
St. Vincent de Paul
St. Vincent de Paul is helping Haiti victims with relief and long-term aid. St. Vincent de Paul, which has a permanent presence in Haiti, works long-term to help victims of national disaster. Donations can be sent to St. Vincent de Paul Society of Seattle/King Co., Haiti Relief & Rebuilding, 5950 4th Ave., Seattle WA 98108 or www.seattle.org. More information call 206-957-7241.
(NEW!) Seattle Northwest
Seattle Northwest (seattlenorthwest.com)has made a $5,000 contribution to Partners in Health, the organization founded by Paul Farmer that does health care work in Haiti and other parts of the developing world.
(NEW!) Seattle University
In response to the dire need in Haiti and inspired by his experience as an MBA student at Seattle University’s Albers School of Business and Economics, Jordan McCall recently launched the Web site C2 (Compassion 2), www.c2fund.org, to raise money for microfinance as part of Grameen Foundation’s Ingenuity Fund Challenge.
For more information, visit: seattleu.edu
LOCAL COMPANIES SUPPORT RELIEF
(NEW!) Qwest
Qwest-wide effort: Created a portal through which employees across the country could make electronic donations to non-profit organizations involved in the relief effort. At last report, contributions from employees all over Qwest, including Washington, totalled $140,000. Washington employees wished to do more, so, read on.
Qwest Washington state effort: Held “Haiti Week – Jan 25 to Jan 29″. Different employee groups took ownership of each day of the week and sold Krispy Kreme doughnuts, Dominos pizza, homemade baked goods, hot lunch plates and heart-shaped Valentine candles for the funds to go to World Vision, a Washington-based non-profit providing direct relief in Haiti. Monies are still being received from fundraisers held in various parts of the state, with $9,000 in hand. Additionally, employees are conducting a kid’s shoes shoe drive for the orphanage at which Washington resident Molly Hightower, 22, lost her life. Shoes are being delivered to Haiti by Hightower’s family in February.
Bank of America
Bank of America made $1 million commitment on Jan. 13 to aid the victims of the earthquake in Haiti. The commitment includes a $500,000 grant to the American Red Cross for the Haitian Relief and Development Fund. As relief efforts evolve, the remaining $500,000 contribution will be directed towards the long-term recovery efforts to restore basic medical services and fund the rebuilding of homes, schools and other structures critical to the affected communities. In addition, Bank of America will match associate pledges through the bank’s Matching Gifts program and will not limit its overall relief donation.
KeyBank
Key will give $5,000 to Haiti earthquake relief efforts in each of Key’s 22 Key Community Bank districts from Maine to Alaska and in selected cities where Key National Bank has a presence. The gift will total $135,000. The donations will be made through a local chapter of the American Red Cross in each location.
Locally, KeyBank is partnering with Q13 Fox to collect donated funds for Friends of the Orphans in honor of Molly Hightower, the Washington woman who was killed in the Haiti earthquake while volunteering there with the Friends organization. We are accepting cash gifts at all 159 KeyBank branches in Washington state. More information is available at Q13.com.
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft is providing monetary donations, supporting nonprofit partners and contributing to the development of technology solutions and tools. Along with an initial commitment of $1.25 million in cash and in-kind contributions, Microsoft is matching US employee donations (up to $12,000). Already, more than 3,700 employees have donated over $1.3 million (with corporate match) to 175 organizations providing disaster relief.
Read more about Microsoft’s Community Involvement.
Starbucks Coffee Company
Customers at participating Starbucks stores in the U.S. and Canada can make monetary donations at store registers, with no purchase necessary, to benefit the American and Canadian Red Cross organization. The Starbucks Foundation will also donate $1 million (U.S.) from The Starbucks Foundation to the American Red Cross efforts to help Haiti. Haitian-American musician Wyclef Jean has collaborated with Starbucks to make an appeal to the Global Community about the crucial needs of the Haitian community.
Learn more at http://news.starbucks.com/ or see Jean’s message at www.starbucks.com.
InterConnection
InterConnection in Seattle’s Wallingford district is collecting laptops for Haiti. The organization’s core mission is to provide computers to underserved people and communities around the world. For more information, visit http://www.interconnection.org/
Additional Information can be found at:
The Seattle Times: Update on Haiti donations and events
