Donating Money To The Right Organizations For Haiti

An FBI offiical told ABC News that less than 24 hours after the Haiti earthquake the FBI had already received a handful of complaints about web sites that have been set up that could be a fraudulent. The FBI issued a statement Wednesday urging Internet users to be careful about giving on-line.

Given the difficulties of operating in a country where the central government and infrastructure had limited capabilities even before the devastation visited by Tuesday afternoon's quake, there are bound to be enormous problems distributing aid in Haiti. While modern technology makes it easy to give "impulse" donations – via the Internet, cell phones and other methods -- donors may actually want to wait and donate later, said Borochoff. Better relief channels will have been set up and aid groups will still need the help, since much of the immediate impulse giving will have evaporated.

Borochoff also warns those who want to help to watch out for Internet scammers. As in past disasters, they will try to play on the emotions of the public by sending out what appear to be personal e-mail appeals from individuals in Haiti. The messages may ask for the recipient's "personal" help or direct would-be donors to a Web site that is really just a front for a phony charity. Borochoff stressed that he had not yet seen examples, but is certain they will start popping up.

Source: HAITI EARTHQUAKE: Be Careful About Those 'Impulse' Donations

For the note people. It's my understanding that now they are most in need of money, food and medical supplies. All the sources I've looked at encourage folks to continue to collect clothing and household items for donation later. They don't have anywhere to put them now. I'll share info as I receive it. Both Wyclef and his sister Melky have foundations that I believe are worthy of support and are good sources of info. Here are some links you can check out:

yele.org

pih.org

doctorswithoutborders.org

LT, our cousin Zen and I don't typically support "org's" like Red Cross, Salvation Army ...esp. after the fiasco with Hurricane Katrina. We prefer more grassroots organizations that have provided ongoing support to the people of Haiti. I provided a link underneath that I took the links from, if you don't won't to donate to those links. There are more links on the site below:

Ways To Help Out Haiti