American Red Cross Haiti Relief Effort 

How You Can Help

For an international response, a monetary gift is the best way to help those in need.  Certain in-kind donations may not be appropriate for cultural, political, economic or administrative reasons. You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation. 

• 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)
• 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish)
• Online at redcross.org
• Mail: American Red Cross P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013
• “Haiti” to 90999 to send a ten dollar donation to the Red Cross.

You may also make a donation directly through the Southeast Louisiana Chapter at:

• Mail: American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter, 2640 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA  70119
• Online at www.arcno.org

Can I Volunteer to go to Haiti?

• We appreciate these heartfelt offers, but we are only deploying Red Cross volunteers specially trained to manage international emergency operations. 
• For future reference, if you would like to become a volunteer for the American Red Cross for domestic disasters, please contact your local Red Cross chapter.
• Visit www.cidi.org for a list of organizations that are accepting volunteers.
   

How Can I Find out if Someone I know in Haiti is ok?

• For inquiries about relatives living and who have citizenship in Haiti, please be patient and call repeatedly until the lines clear or contact other family members who live nearby. Telephone, Internet and other communication lines are often disrupted in times of disaster.
• ICRC is helping reconnect separated families in Haiti through a special web site which enables people in Haiti and outside the country to search for and register the names of relatives missing since the earthquake
• People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Haiti should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or (202) 647-5225.
  

Is the Red Cross Collecting Goods to be distributed in Haiti?

• At this time, what we need the most are financial contributions – whether by check, online or by phone. There is nowhere to store or sort items like clothing, or a way to ship them to Haiti at this time.
• Visit www.cidi.org for a list of organizations that are accepting personal and household goods.

What is the Red Cross currently doing in the Relief Effort?

• The best way to keep up with the relief effort is to keep an eye on the Haiti page at redcross.org, the "Chapter News" section of our website - or to check the Online Disaster Newsroom, which is updated by the American Red Cross daily.
• You can also become a fan on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for updates.
• Winnie Romeril, an American Red Cross volunteer on the ground in Haiti, has filed podcasts to update us on the efforts.  You can listen to her second podcast here.
• Read the American Red Cross One-Month Summary Report of the response to the Haiti Earthquake.
• Read the American Red Cross Two-Month Progress Report of the response to the Haiti Earthquake.
• Read the American Red Cross Three-Month Progress Report of the response to the Haiti Earthquake.
• Read the American Red Cross Six-Month Progress Report to learn more about our work in Haiti.

 QUICK FACTS:

The global Red Cross network is providing:

• Emergency shelter materials for 625,000 people
• Semi-permanent shelters to house 165,000 people
• Cash grants and microloans to help nearly 210,000 people
• Water for 280,000 people each day
• Disaster preparedness activities to protect 500,000 people
• Medical care and/or health education for 435,000 people
• Latrines for 238,000 people
• Emergency supplies for 125,000 people for use during hurricane season
• Food for 1.3 million people for one month

If you have any additional questions, please contact the Southeast Louisiana Chapter at 504-620-3105.