A Few Words About Haiti

The terrible devastation in Haiti continues. A week after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake reduced Port Au Prince to rubble, aftershocks continue to ripple through that ravaged country, which has the misfortune of sitting on a major fault line.

A Haitian man at my workplace named Patrick lost 14 family members to the quake, including his parents. Still, he comes to work every day because, as he's told others, "What else can I do?" I haven't spoken to Patrick about his loss because, quite frankly, I don't know what to say. I imagine there are only so many times a person can hear "I'm so sorry" without growing weary of it.

I may not know what to say, but I do know what to do--give money, and donate medical supplies and clothing. The world is answering the call for help, and that need will not diminish anytime soon.

As of last weekend, Americans had used their cell phones to text a total of about $10 million in donations to help the Haiti relief effort. Social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook, which normally serve primarily to document the mundane and rather silly happenings of our very comfortable lives, have become vital arteries of communication between aid groups and givers and those trying to reconnect with family and friends unlucky enough to be in Haiti when the Earth shifted its skin.

If you haven't already given, please do so. There are a number of worthy organizations to donate to. But be warned--there are always those willing to profit from human misery, and scammers abound. Although I didn't get scammed, I did give to Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti organization before I learned, much to my chagrin, that there are questions whether Yele Haiti funds will be used for immediate disaster relief.

Charity Navigator provides some sage advice about donating to help the relief effort, along with links to reputable non-profit organizations. In cities across the nation, charitable events and donation drives are taking place, and I'm sure you can easily find one near you.

So please get out your wallets and do what you can. Those in Haiti, and people like Patrick who are locked outside their own country and away from their loved ones, will appreciate it more than you can possibly know.

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