Help for Tsunami Distaster

[Cathleen]

Hi friends, I am having a difficult time coping with the disaster, feeling so helpless and watching the death toll rise beyond comprehension. I have been reading and searching for ways to help, any kind of help. I found a site that was useful to me as it listed organizations and if the organization was exempt from fiscal reporting etc. I've spend some time reviewing the financials given so I can make the best decision of where to send money or goods etc.

I'm posting this only for information not as a political or any kind of message - just as a person that wants to reach out.

http://www.networkforgood.org/topic...quake/tsunami122604.aspx?source=AOL&cmpgn=CRS

 

[SexyChele]

Thank you for posting this, Cathleen. I will be making a donation to UNICEF to start off my New Year. I wonder, though, if there is a way to make periodic donations throughout the year towards this, as I'm sure this part of the world will need continuous healing over the next year.

Anyone know if one can designate specifically where a charity must spend money that is donated?

 

[SweetErika]

Thank you for posting this, Cathleen. I will be making a donation to UNICEF to start off my New Year. I wonder, though, if there is a way to make periodic donations throughout the year towards this, as I'm sure this part of the world will need continuous healing over the next year.

Anyone know if one can designate specifically where a charity must spend money that is donated?

It depends on the charity or organization, and while most encourage you NOT to designate where the money will be spent, you can do so. A lot of people have been designating their donations be spent in a specific place and not on administrative costs after the American Red Cross- 9/11 fiasco. You can do the same with gifts to universities...most contributions go into the General Fund, but if you want your gift to go to academic merit scholarships only or a specific department, you can request it. I'm not quite sure how, but a reputable charity and maybe your bank will know.

This is an excellent article and set of guidelines on giving to the tsunami disaster relief effort: http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/content.view/catid/38/cpid/227.htm

 

[assister49]

Agencies Planning Aid to Tsunami Victims

Wednesday December 29, 11:56 AM

Agencies Planning Aid to Tsunami Victims

The following aid agencies are accepting contributions for assistance that they or their affiliates are providing for those affected by the earthquake and tidal waves in Asia. U.S. organizations are members of InterAction, a coalition of relief, development and refugee assistance agencies.

http://asia.news.yahoo.com/041229/ap/d8792lpg0.html

In case link expires, I found this by searching Google.

 

[assister49]

Indiana, et. al. helping agencies

How to help

Indiana residents are joining groups worldwide in the race to deliver aid to the countries stricken by Sunday's disaster:

• OMS International: Contributions may be mailed to OMS, Box A, Greenwood, IN 46142. The group also was gathering relief supplies at its headquarters, 941 Fry Road, Greenwood.
http://www.omsinternational.org/

• St. Luke's United Methodist Church: The Indianapolis church's national denomination operates an aid organization, the United Methodist Committee on Relief. Donations can be made via its Web site:
www.umc.org

Contributions can be made to the Red Cross, www.redcross.org

Other groups collecting aid include:

• Church World Service: P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515
www.churchworldservice.org

• The Salvation Army: 615 Slaters Lane, P.O. Box 269, Alexandria, VA 22313 or (800) SAL-ARMY
http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/

• Doctors Without Borders: P.O. Box 1856, Merrifield, VA 22116-8056 or (888) 392-0392
www.doctorswithoutborders.org

• Save the Children: 54 Wilton Road, Westport, CT 06880 or (800) 728-3843
www.savethechildren.org

 

[babydoll2u]

WOW, this is wonderful!
thanks to y'all for all these links and info

 

[someplace]

After the United Nations Food for Oil scandal put BILLIONS (with a B) into bribes instead of mouths, I will not be giving them any of my money.

Instead, do your homework for charities with proven track records and low administrative costs.

Heifer International www.heifer.org is one I've been impressed with. Save the Children or several of the direct medical aid organizations are some who will use donations to directly impact this disaster.

 

[Cathleen]

Someplace I love the heifer organization too - just a smart idea.

I was talking with my sister the other day and she was mentioning her kids were wanting to help in some way - in school they are giving up their snack money twice a week and giving that $1. to their growing fund. She also mentioned my nephew wanted to go to his neighbors too...... he is almost 9 years old and is really sad about the disaster.

I thought maybe a 'Hot Chocolate' stand (instead of a lemonade stand, it is winter here), he liked the idea and his buddy is going to help too.

My niece is 13 and they are raising money in school too but she wants to help in another way too. Anyone with some ideas for young teens to get involved?

Now with the mudslides in California they are more aware of need everywhere. I like that they are thinking and don't want to let this opportunity to pass - it is important for them to see how lucky they are and to keep the awareness alive.

 

[SweetErika]

Someplace I love the heifer organization too - just a smart idea.

I was talking with my sister the other day and she was mentioning her kids were wanting to help in some way - in school they are giving up their snack money twice a week and giving that $1. to their growing fund. She also mentioned my nephew wanted to go to his neighbors too...... he is almost 9 years old and is really sad about the disaster.

I thought maybe a 'Hot Chocolate' stand (instead of a lemonade stand, it is winter here), he liked the idea and his buddy is going to help too.

My niece is 13 and they are raising money in school too but she wants to help in another way too. Anyone with some ideas for young teens to get involved?

Now with the mudslides in California they are more aware of need everywhere. I like that they are thinking and don't want to let this opportunity to pass - it is important for them to see how lucky they are and to keep the awareness alive.

Those are great ideas, and as sad as it is, it's a wonderful opportunity to learn and practice compassion and selflessness (traits I feel are becoming rarer in our society). As for teen ideas, how about a bake sale or something? Later on, it might be nice to buy necessities and things that will add a little happiness to the life of child survivors like toys, school supplies, clothes, cosmetics. It's amazing how much joy the little things we take for granted can bring to the lives of others. I think it'd be great for your niece to research the organizations that are helping and to choose one or two she really believes in, instead of just going with the UN or Red Cross and the like. I know there are charities working to make sure children are taken care of and aren't exploited, and there are probably groups of teachers taking donations to get schools set up with what they need.

 

[Cathleen]

Those are great ideas, and as sad as it is, it's a wonderful opportunity to learn and practice compassion and selflessness (traits I feel are becoming rarer in our society). As for teen ideas, how about a bake sale or something? Later on, it might be nice to buy necessities and things that will add a little happiness to the life of child survivors like toys, school supplies, clothes, cosmetics. It's amazing how much joy the little things we take for granted can bring to the lives of others. I think it'd be great for your niece to research the organizations that are helping and to choose one or two she really believes in, instead of just going with the UN or Red Cross and the like. I know there are charities working to make sure children are taken care of and aren't exploited, and there are probably groups of teachers taking donations to get schools set up with what they need.

Thanks Erika, the bake sale is a great idea for that age group as well as gathering some small trinkets to send later.

I started checking out the financials of charities about 10 years ago and was surprised to learn of the abuse, I cannot give to the 'United Way' in any shape or form - so many times the larger a charity becomes the more administrative 'needs' increases unnecessarily - greed in a charity - sounds like an oxymoron but it isn't. I'm glad the American Red Cross got their act together after 9/11, I had been a donor before but when I realized the shape they were in I let it go...... I may consider them now.

I was thinking of talking to my niece about 'consigning' or donating some of her clothes and sending any money to a charity. I agree, out of the tragedy some learning can come.....

Thanks for the suggestion on the bake sale, I just had a thought, since she is in jr. high school, and Valentine's day is coming, it might be neat to make some of those 'big cookies' with messages and they can sell them - maybe even take orders before hand.

Yea, I can see something working there, thanks Erika.