[corundogs]

OK...I was just laying in bed watching Larry King and Anderson Cooper - the devestation in Haiti is intense...remarkable...devestating, to reiterate!

I am from 35 miles east of San Francisco...there for the grace of God go I, is how I am feeling right now. That could easily be my family and friends that are all still there. No, there isn't the massive poverty, and houses may be built slightly better - but it could still happen.

I have all of this Oust. I really have no use for it.

Do you think it could be used in Haiti? I don't mean immediately...but someday, down the road?

I don't really know what I can do. I will make a small monetary donation. But I don't have much. That is why I am LOVING this CVS shopping!

Heck, I would donate some vitamins, too...can they use Fish Oil? (ha! I am kind of being silly...but serious at the same time!)

I was thinking of taking it to a day care around the corner. But I would MUCH rather give it to the Red Cross or mail it directly.

Anyone have any ideas on if it would could even be used in this situation?

I also bought the Johnson & Johnson Baby Value Packs to use as fillers. I would send a couple of those too.

If we know it could be used...maybe you could all do the same thing?

Just had to get up and post this...feeling SO HELPLESS!

[rebeccalynne15]

I was thinking the same thing earlier cause they need everything over there but all i could find was where to donate money. Be nice if there was some way we could donate supplies and clothes and whatever else . I fanyone finds out where let us all know with as many of us that are on here i'm sure we could come of with a ton of stuff

[couponmama62]

I too would like to know how to donate items to the Red Cross...what item's they actually except.

[anewbern88]

I read on another post, someone suggesting finding a local church who will be doing missionaries in Hati and dotate what you can to them. The OP suggested dotaing things like medicine, because obviously their hospital is not in working condition. However, I am sure that they will take anything they can get!

[clp8904]

Social Media

Here is the link for the Red Cross, on the right side you can enter your zip and it will give you the name and contact info for your local chapter. You can call or email them to find out how to get involved, they should be able to tell you where you could drop off items.

[bellsandbabies]

Try contacting your local news station. They will either be taking donations or they will know where you can go.

That is a great idea. I am going to gather some stuff togeather today! I have all kinds of stuff stockpiled that would be great for them.

[kathykat49]

I'm not sure about donating medicine. Maybe stuff like Advil, etc...but anything else I doubt any organizations would take because of all the legal ramifications and, heck, even aspirin might not be on the acceptable list ( could be wrong on this, but I plan on checking). I would, however, think that things like shampoo, deodorant, soap, laundry detergent, feminine products, etc., would be more than ok. I've been stockpiling shampoo and toothpaste for awhile now - and will gladly donate all of it to either the Red Cross or a local church. I'm a bit leery of sending money, however, it seems like all the money people donate in good faith ends up in the hands of people who shouldn't have it and the people who desparately need it never see it

[corundogs]

Thanks everyone!

I am going to contact the Red Cross today. As a member of a "Couponing Community" and ask what we, as a community can do. Meaning getting specific items they need right now...what they might need down the road, getting a contact name, or anything else.

If I get some sort of specific response...other than go to your local chapter because that is what you can always do...I will let you all know!

I am feeling so helpless sitting here. I cannot begin to tell you...fell asleep thinking about it. Woke up with my first thought of it. Living in the San Francisco area, it's something you live with from the minute you are able to know your name. Maybe before! Having a plan...Dad worked at the Airport in the City, and it was something that was NEVER far from mind. School Fire Drills were rarely "fire"...they were OFTEN earthquake. The ONE DAY we actually had kind of a big one while I was in school...I was home sick! OF COURSE! Everyone talked about it for weeks...and I wasn't even there! HA! You didn't dwell on it, didn't live in fear...but you knew it. We had a place to meet whenever we could all get there. There was only the 3 of us (M/D/Me) and knowing they might be leaving me alone was a big issue for them (mom worked 20 miles east of home). Thinking back now, it makes me laugh. Our place to meet was one of the ONLY solid brick places in our town. That would SURELY have tumbled into rubble! LOL!!

Earthquakes hit so close to home...in the core of my being.

I need to do something. It's just that simple.

I will let you know if I find out anything. Otherwise, know your local Red Cross chapter is always the right answer!

[crosscountrysoccermom]

I just heard a news story on Good Morning America in regards to donations. They said if you want to donate, cash is the best at the moment. They said that it costs money to ship and store supplies donated. If they purchase the items in the country, it also helps stimulate the economy there. They also suggested donating to organizations that are already established in Haiti, so that they can help immediately.

Originally Posted by corundogs

Thanks everyone!

I am going to contact the Red Cross today. As a member of a "Couponing Community" and ask what we, as a community can do. Meaning getting specific items they need right now...what they might need down the road, getting a contact name, or anything else.

If I get some sort of specific response...other than go to your local chapter because that is what you can always do...I will let you all know!

I am feeling so helpless sitting here. I cannot begin to tell you...fell asleep thinking about it. Woke up with my first thought of it. Living in the San Francisco area, it's something you live with from the minute you are able to know your name. Maybe before! Having a plan...Dad worked at the Airport in the City, and it was something that was NEVER far from mind. School Fire Drills were rarely "fire"...they were OFTEN earthquake. The ONE DAY we actually had kind of a big one while I was in school...I was home sick! OF COURSE! Everyone talked about it for weeks...and I wasn't even there! HA! You didn't dwell on it, didn't live in fear...but you knew it. We had a place to meet whenever we could all get there. There was only the 3 of us (M/D/Me) and knowing they might be leaving me alone was a big issue for them (mom worked 20 miles east of home). Thinking back now, it makes me laugh. Our place to meet was one of the ONLY solid brick places in our town. That would SURELY have tumbled into rubble! LOL!!

Earthquakes hit so close to home...in the core of my being.

I need to do something. It's just that simple.

I will let you know if I find out anything. Otherwise, know your local Red Cross chapter is always the right answer!

[corundogs]

Delete to post on proper thread!

[nilennovy]

Unfortunately my local chapter has this on their site, which I imagine is probably true of all chapters. Maybe some other organizations can use all the Oust/vitamins we got. Let us know if you find out anything!

The Red Cross is unable to accept small, individual donations or collections of items such as clothing, food or cleaning supplies. The cost to sort, package and distribute these types of donations to disaster victims is almost always greater than the cost of purchasing the items locally, and it is logistically impossible to distribute a wide variety of individual items in a meaningful way. While the Red Cross can not accept the donation of an individual item, you can support the Red Cross through the online sale of personal items or support your community by donating these items to an organization that is equipped to put them to the best possible local use.

[shopinmom3]

Originally Posted by crosscountrysoccermom

I just heard a news story on Good Morning America in regards to donations. They said if you want to donate, cash is the best at the moment. They said that it costs money to ship and store supplies donated. If they purchase the items in the country, it also helps stimulate the economy there. They also suggested donating to organizations that are already established in Haiti, so that they can help immediately.

Just saw the same thing. Shipping items to Haiti, they said, will cause only more problems. Also mentioned the cash donations will be used to buy supplies locally for them, stimulating their economy in this terrible time.

[corundogs]

OK, thanks everyone!

I am still going to call. If my call is made as a standpoint from a "community of stockpilers", that might be different than every household going through their homes to find anything and everything they can find to donate.

We could actually SORT the items before donating, for example. Put all like items in a box and mark specifically and noticably.

I don't know. I would even coordinate an effort and maybe have you all send things directly to me...if you would pay for shipping - large Flat Rate boxes might work or even UPS. That could be your monetary donation. Being in Texas, I am of course closer than many of you. Florida of course would be better...but I am here.

And I have the time. I have no life. Most of you have families, etc. My dogs won't mind a bunch of boxes stacking up! HA!

I would of course find a way to make sure you all knew I was in fact donating this stuff...I am not trying to make my own stockpile! HA! And if I can get something together, maybe even find a way to get you all a Tax Credit Receipt.

Anyway, like I said...I am just trying to do something, anything. I will let you know. Need my brain to catch up with my body...my medications will kick in shortly and then I will be able to actually hold the phone! LOL!!

[kathykat49]

Sadly, I'm leery about donating money. I probably will,,,,but in the back of my mind I'm always going to wonder if the right people benefitted from it.
It would be nice if there was no "middleman" to take their cut....but it seems like there always is.

[corundogs]

Originally Posted by kathykat49

Sadly, I'm leery about donating money. I probably will,,,,but in the back of my mind I'm always going to wonder if the right people benefitted from it.
It would be nice if there was no "middleman" to take their cut....but it seems like there always is.

I know EXACTLY what you mean! I know that Administrative and Overhead must be covered...but it seems so many of these places have HUGE % of their donations used for this. There are so many people that think it's OK to pay the "Top Brass" millions and millions of dollars. That money should be used for the purpose of the intended donators.

I don't know what the answer is except to check and double check before sending anything.

I know there is a website to check to see what % of their donations are actually donated to the intended recipients...lemme see if I can find that. It might make some of you feel more comfortable?

[miralys]

Cash might be king, but it has always been my position to donate tangible goods. Many churches have missions in Haiti and make regular trips. You should be able to donate to the church and they can take the items when they visit. I know my local church does this and they are happy to accept goods in lieu of money.

[Omadison]

This really is a heartbreaking event.

I think cash is the best way to go. I know we would all love to clear out our stockpiles and give to these people, but right now, they are even having a hard time getting into the area.

Just from experience, I worked in New Orleans after the Katrina disaster. We went a year and a half after the hurricane, and then again a year after that. Two and a half years after the hurricane, I found storerooms full of boxes of items that had not been distributed. These things ended up being items people had gotten plenty of already. There were boxes and boxes of prepaid phone cards, unusable, because there were no pay phones in service! Even after 2 and a half years, we couldn't find a working pay phone. These people needed building supplies, money to buy perishable grocery items, and gas.
It will be even harder for smaller organizations to get these small items to Haiti.

[iiiicoupon]

Maybe the items could be sold in lots on ebay and then donate the proceeds? Would have to see what kind of stuff would sell though. Just an idea! I was just on ebay and it has a charity set up for the Haiti earthquake victims. If you donate 10%-100% ebay refunds the insertion fee and final value fee back to you if the item sells.