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Okay, this doesn't relate to the hobby, but not sure where else to put it. Mods, please move if necessary.
The 7.0 quake has brought utter Hell to Haiti, already the poorest country in the western hemisphere. I was in a 7.0 quake near the California-Mexico border when I was a teen, and let me tell you, you never forget anything as scary as having the earth move beneath you, and not in the FUN way we all joke about. Structures collapsed and people died in that shake, too, but thank God most buildings and the government infrastructure were not in already deplorable shape like Haiti's.
Those people really need help. Ex-President Bill Clinton has a foundation you can donate to: Haiti Earthquake Relief, but if you want quick and easy, test HAITI (all caps) to 20222, and $10 will be added to your cell phone bill. You'll get a message asking for confirmation, and just text YES (again all caps) back, and you're done. If everybody on this site does that, we can substantially alleviate a lot of suffering.
Having been in a bad quake, I just can't tell you how devastating it is emotionally, physically, financially. Not having even the most basic of services, or clean water, food, clothes, medicine, can make you hopeless when you're already miserable. In my case we were talking a day or two at most, but the people of Haiti are facing WEEKS of deprivation. Many will die without immediate help, and to have that going on as well as being in fear of deadly aftershocks, the world crumbling around you.....It's 10 bucks, people. Buy less beer (or whiskey, in my case) for one lousy day. Thanks.
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Oops, I mean TEXT, not "test" to the relief fund. Duh. I was in an emotionally unspellchecked state when typing.
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From http://newsroom.redcross.org/2010/01/12/di...quake-in-haiti/
"12:30am (1/13/2010) You can text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross relief for Haiti."
Or go to redcross.org.
A note from personal experience from GneissGuy about the American Red Cross. (ARC)
The Red Cross pisses a lot of people off including me. They are infuriating at times. They're a big organization that has problems.
However, if you're in a disaster area, the Red Cross is the organization that gets there firstest with the mostest. They save lives more quickly than almost any other organization. They're a loaded gun ready to help in an instant. They have the resources, contacts and organization that no one else has to send massive amounts of aid rapidly. I believe they are good about most of your money going into actual relief, not further advertising and fundraising.
If you want to donate to help quickly, donate to the ARC.
I'm not attacking the other fund. I just know the ARC is a good way to donate.
I believe the 20222 number IS also a legitimate organization. I followed a link from the whitehouse web site that led to it.
Be very careful about any OTHER links soliciting Haiti relief funds. There are a lot of slick scammers out there who have no qualms about profiting from others' misery. That's yet another reason the ARC is good. You know your money is going to a legit organization.
By the way, I can tell you from experience that the way to help is CASH!!! Food, clothing, etc. feels good and may help long term, but CASH gets there first. Collecting small donations of food, clothing, etc. takes time and resources that could be used elsewhere. Cash lets organization purchase and deliver supplies efficiently in large quantities.
Even last minute volunteers can be a hindrance, unless they're specifically asked for. It takes resources to organize and train the new volunteers. Don't clog the phone lines volunteering unless they ask for volunteers.
Especially never go to any kind of disaster situation on your own. You endanger yourself, get in the way, and may even endanger the emergency services people when they have to help you out.
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Bump 'n grind. Haiti still needs help.
Irish-Haiti Shake-My-Booty Fund: From now through 3/1/10 I'm donating $10-$40 per appointment (depending upon session length) to relief efforts in Haiti. Shakin' my pale & plump behind for charity!