Volunteer Global

If you are going to Haiti, please make sure to register with the State Department beforehand. Americans with family members and friends in Haiti are asked to contact the State Department at 888.407.4747, as most communication within the country is extremely limited.

Ways to help:

• Many want to help on the ground with relief efforts. At the moment, trained medical professionals and trained disaster response volunteers are in the most need. If you fit either of these qualifications, consult one of the groups below (unless otherwise indicated) or a group you may have worked with before. All others, please hold off for the time being. The organizations on the ground need your help primarily through monetary donations.
   
• Matador is attempting to organize an on-the-ground placement for trained medical and disaster response volunteers. More information.
   
• Organizations generally are NOT taking shipments of small items (canned food, blankets, etc.) at this time. Red Cross is NOT currently in need of more blood supply. Update: Please read this article via the Global Post - Help with Money, Not Stuff.
   
• Washington, D.C. individuals: CrisisCamp Haiti is holding an event this Saturday, 01/16 9:00am-5:00pm to "bring together volunteers to collaborate on technology projects which aim to assist in Haiti's relief efforts by providing data, information, maps and technical assistance to NGOs, relief agencies and the public." More information. (Thank you for the alert, Jared!)
   
• The Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in Washington, D.C. (2311 Massachusetts Ave., NW) will be collecting donated goods this Sunday, 01/17 11:00am-4:00pm.
   
• The Haitian Consulate of New York is accepting monetary donations through Chase Manhattan Bank, account number 761-549-039. More information.
   
• Red Cross is accepting monetary donations for ongoing relief efforts worldwide. More information: www.redcross.org or 800.REDCROSS. You can text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts. 
   
• Reports that Doctors Without Borders is mobilizing current volunteers at this time. The organization has set up mobile clinics to assist those in need. More information.
   
• Small Dog Electronics will match monetary donations up to $200 for Doctors Without Borders. UPDATE: They've reached their limit and matched as much as they could -- I understand in total $20,000 was donated to DWB/MSF through this route.
   
• UNICEF is accepting monetary donations. More information. Other UN programs as well are accepting monetary donations. United Nations workers are on the ground.
   
• Partners in Health is accepting monetary donations and accepting trained medical personnel; current volunteers and workers are mobilized. PiH has been working with healthcare efforts in Haiti for some time, and have very little funding at the moment. More information. To help, email volunteer@pih.org.
   
• Oxfam is accepting monetary donations. More information.
   
• Direct Relief International is responding on the ground with current workers and accepting monetary donations. More information. (Thanks for the link, Brent!)
   
• American Jewish World Service (AJWS) is accepting monetary donations. More information.
   
• William J. Clinton Foundation is accepting monetary donations. More information.
   
• Mercy Corps is accepting monetary donations and has mobilized its current volunteers. More information.
   
• International Medical Corps is accepting monetary donations and has responded on the ground with current workers. More information.
   
• The Disasters Emergency Committee has been mobilized with current responders. More information.
   

News:

• USNS Comfort (hospital ship) is in Haiti.
   
• View President Obama's speech here. Governments worldwide have responded and are assisting with relief efforts. The Wikipedia link below gives more country-by-country information. Update: View the speech on the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund here (part 1) and here (part 2).
   
• Video: Canada's response thus far to the crisis. (Thank you for sending, Jason!)
   
• Read the Wikipedia note here on the international response thus far.

For more information on how to help, Got Passport has been keeping a fantastic ongoing list of relief effort information: http://su.pr/2tmyQO

Updates will be posted as they become available.

Thank you to my Twitter friends, SA goon friends, and others for the information and updates. And thank you for all the help you're giving to those in need. You are wonderful. Photo provided courtesy of the Red Cross.