Helping Haiti

The video and pictures from Haiti’s earthquake this week have been devastating. I can’t begin to imagine what it’s like to go through something like that, and my heart reaches out to them.

We regularly contribute to the American Red Cross, and I love the new idea of texting donations!  You can donate $10 to the American Red Cross by texting HAITI to 90999.  You’ll receive a confirmation text, and the $10 donation will be added to your next cell phone bill.  All major carriers will waive SMS fees for the texts to American Red Cross.  Your donation will not be given to the American Red Cross until you have paid your cell phone bill.

You can also donate your spare change to UNICEF‘s efforts in Haiti by using your local Coinstar machine.  Any amount can be donated!  Use the special code 5556 and your donation will be given to UNICEF within 48 hours!

Of course, you can always donate directly to established disaster relief charities. Cash is most useful for these organizations, as they can often purchase needed goods at a good price and don’t have to worry about transporting donated goods.

It’s overwhelming to think about the devastation there, and I can only hope the small amounts we can afford to send for help will add up to enough!

There are six charities that allow you to donate to Haitian relief efforts via SMS. They are: Yele Haiti ($5 donation), Clinton Foundation Haitian Relief Fund ($10 donation), International Medical Corps ($10 donation), International Rescue Committee ($5 donation), American Red Cross ($10 donation) and the Salvation Army of Upper Wisconsin ($10 donation).

Melanie Rogers is a wife and homeschooling mom of 3 children. She enjoys helping other busy moms find great products to delight their families and make their lives easier. She's always on the lookout for a great bargain, too! You can also find Melanie blogging frequently at My Little Patch of Sunshine.