From a email I received .

As you all have seen on the news this week, Haiti was hit Tuesday by what
could be considered the worst natural disaster for the region in the last
200 years. An earthquake with an estimated magnitude of 7.0, shocked the
country, collapsing buildings and cutting water and electricity services in
Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.

I am Haitian and my many family members in Haiti are
all–miraculously–healthy and safe. I have also heard of positive reports
from many, many friends and more distant relatives family friends. But
along with the estimated 3 million affected Haitians, they are now in need
of basics, clean water, food and shelter, etc.

For those of you interested in donating at this initial, critical phase,
please consider organizations that target medical and food (and water)
needs, since those are, at this moment, the most pressing areas of concern.

This weekend there is a NYC drop-off point at Charity: Water
http://charitywater.tumblr.com/ (address below) for the following items that
are most needed in Haiti right now:

Blankets*

Tents*

Soap

Feminine hygiene products

Sleeping bags*

Medical gloves

Bandages/gauze

Cases of bottled water

*These items can be gently used.

They are accepting donation in person Friday TODAY 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

These supplies will be transported next Tuesday, Jan 19, by Partners in
Health to where they are needed most. (More on Partners in Heath below)

IF YOU CAN CARRY THE DONATIONS BY HAND IN ONE LOAD: Please enter through the
front door at 200 Varick St. You will need a photo ID to enter the building.
We are located on the 2nd floor, Suite 201.

If you have a business wanting to make a larger donation please go to the
website http://charitywater.tumblr.com/, they have info about accessing
their loading dock.

For monetary donations
Medical organizations with a solid record of experience in Haiti:

* www.pih.org (Partners in Health–one of the
founders of the organization, Paul Farmer, is known and respected as a man
of integrity who has worked in Haiti for almost 30 years; this is an
organization based in Haiti, and it’s smaller, so funds move more
efficiently and flexibly)
* www.msf.org (Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors
Without Borders–many many years of experience in Haiti; international
organization)

Food relief organizations:

* www.foodforthepoor.org (serves 17
countries in Latin America and the Caribbean; close to 30 years in the
region; they don’t only focus on food, but it is their primary agenda)
* www.ffl.org (Food for Life provides
vegetarian and vegan food relief. They have a site in the Dominican Republic
and are putting together efforts to go to Haiti)

Haitian organizations with a solid history of transparency and integrity:

* www.lambifund.org (focus on economics,
democracy, and sustainable development)
* www.fonkoze.org (economic focus)

Youth Organization: (My cousin is the Assistant Director for this group)

* http://www.ruralhaitiproject.org/ (The Rural Haiti Project is a 501
(c) (3) youth leadership organization that aims to empower children to
become leaders and builders of their communities by conducting programs for
low-income at-risk children in rural areas of Haiti. The project fosters
children’s civic, social and intellectual development and promotes community
engagement and development.)

And finally, please beware of hoaxes that have surfaced and will surface in
terms of providing help for Haiti. You can go to
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10434237-36.htmlWe for an article called
“In urgent times, avoiding online charity scams”

Also there’s a MSNBC’s article here
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34835478/ns/world_news-haiti_earthquake/ that
lists legitimate organizations.