As everyone surely knows, at 5:14 p.m. on Jan. 12, 2009 - a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck southern Haiti, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake affected roughly one in three Haitians - about 3 million people, the Red Cross estimated. It was so strong that it was felt in Cuba, more than 200 miles away. Precise casualty estimates have been impossible to determine. Haitian President Rene Preval said Wednesday he had heard estimates of up to 50,000 dead, but that it was too early to know for sure. The Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive said he worries that several hundred thousand people were killed. Devastated, Haiti is in dire need of global assistance.In true Girl Scout form, there are already reports of Troops pitching in time and energy to the relief efforts. In Illinois, The Fox Valley Villages Sun is reporting on a Girl Scout troop that packed a mix of rice, soy, dried vegetables and chicken flavoring Wednesday to send to the young victims of the devastating earthquake.
Elsewhere across The United States, hundreds of thousands of people have already donated money using Text-based fundraising - which is all about immediacy. Time is reporting that as of 3pm Wednesday afternoon, An American Red Cross Text Donation system had raised over $800,000. The system is extremely convenient whereas you don't even need to plug in your credit card info - the donation amount is simply added to your next phone bill. It's quick and convenient, so you can give in the moment. There's no chance of you forgetting to do it later.
For those individuals looking for more ways to help, I've compiled a list of resources below:
- Yele Haiti
- American Red Cross
- Mercy Corps
- National Nurses United
- Unicef
- AmeriCares
- Doctors Without Borders
- United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund
- CARE
10 comments:
Our troop was going to help make friendship bracelets to sell and give the money to Doctors without Borders, we are not allowed to. I think that the Girl Scouts should be able to work on a project that raises money for those in Haiti. All of the groups say send money and not items. Please ask the Girl Scouts to waive this rule for this disaster. Thanks-
I think you should delete the yele haiti link since there is some controversy over whether it is a charity that benefits its founder, Wyclef Jean more than it should.
And why is a "Girl Scout" Blog written by a man? Is there no woman in the US who could do this?
Nice post and this fill someone in on helped me alot in my college assignement. Thanks you on your information.
Hello everyone - Thanks for the feedback.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the National Board suspended the policy that prohibits Girl Scouts from raising money for other organizations. We are working with the Executive Committee of the board to suspend this policy once again. We will keep you informed of any action. In the meantime, all Girl Scouts councils should work though their local community groups to assist in relief efforts.
Our girls are recycling cans and bottles and donating the proceeds to UNICEF.
If it's not allowed in the GS rules, then we'll just do it as a school project. They really want to help!
Megan
Elk Grove CA
A Haitian Solidarity Fund has been set up through which you can make an emergency donation to the Haitian Scout Association. See more information here: http://scout.org/solidarite-haiti
As a past leader I am aware of Cadette and Senior troops looking for service hours, so here is a great opportunity for helping hands. Trenton and Whitehorse/Yardville service units and more can pitch in helping sort thru mountains of donations coming in daily. An easy task for older girls. Contact info Magda Dorleans #609-588-8808 x103 or the Haitian Center @ St Anthonys, 530 S. Olden Ave Hamilton NJ open 9to9 pm. Please spare some time to help for a great cause.
We are from Texas. This past Saturday our 4th grade Junior Girl Scout Troop held a garage sale to raise money for Unicef.. Our girls named the cause "Help for Haiti". Our girls cleaned out their closet and collected tons of items for this event. They braved the cold, organized and worked the Garage Sale.. They raised over $200.00 and we as a community could not be prouder!!!! This tragedy has touched our Troop in a special and heartfelt way. Many Blessings!!!
One of the badge requirements says we as girl scouts can not raise money for other organizations. so give the money you have earned as private citizens. this is from the world neighbors,in the junior badge book page 29, activity number 9 say this, so give the money as a private citizen or put it in your juliet low fund on world thinking day. some portions of this fund will be given to haiti,but not exclusivly. from margaret in guantanamo bay, cuba. assistant junior leader.
http://www.wagggsworld.org/en/take_action/activities/wtd
Are you sisters aware that WAGGGS' theme for Thinking Day this year is Poverty & Hunger and five countries, one of which is Haiti, were chosen months ago as the focus of the badge program for 2010?
See above for the link to the badge program--the girls do 6 activities (opens as a pdf) at least one of them some kind of fundraiser, for the country chosen. Use the link to click to the page for purchasing the patches.
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