As many of you know, on January 12, 2010, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the country of Haiti, just 10 miles from the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince. There have been at least 13 aftershocks with magnitudes above 5.0, according to the USGS. At least one major hospital was destroyed, and the city of Port-au-Prince is particularly vulnerable to damage due to its high population density.
Haiti ranks as one of the least developed countries in the world, and has an approximate population of 10 million,with most citizens living below $2 per day. According to the World Food Program, more than half live on less than $1 per day – in extreme global poverty. A series of major hurricanes in 2008 left the country with soaring food prices and major flood damage.
We don’t have much, but millions of people in Haiti have far, far less — so we have been trying to find ways that we can help.
You can text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 via the Red Cross, and text “YELE” to 501501 to donate $5 to Yele Haiti’s efforts.
If you want to help with larger donations, there are several organizations that are currently trying to send relief to Haiti. The organization of our choice was One Day’s Wages.
For most of us, a typical workday is just 8 hours. For the people of Haiti, their lives drastically changed in just one moment. How can we use our 8 hours of work – our One Day’s Wage – to offer compassion and support to Haiti that will far outlast our workday today?
My friend Diesa has been in Haiti for a few weeks, and we’ve been able to determine that she is safe and unharmed, but she has not been able to receive or send out any calls. She said that countries are sending way too many reporters with cameras and not enough relief. Please donate (either through One Day’s Wages or another organization of your choice) to help send Haiti what it needs most, which is more rescue workers and medical supplies.
To them, every little bit counts.