MIAMI — The American Red Cross is committing an additional $9 million in support of the ongoing efforts to help the people of Haiti recover from the devastating magnitude 7 earthquake that devastated the island nation on Tuesday.
To date, this brings the total American Red Cross commitment to Haiti to $10 million.
Also, Red Cross disaster management experts from the United States, Peru and Mexico are arriving in the Dominican Republic and will travel to the disaster zone by land. They will join a 15-person American Red Cross staff already in Port-au-Prince and the thousands of Red Crossers who have been mobilized on the island.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has also made available its Family Links web site to help reconnect separated families by searching for and registering the names of loved ones missing since the earthquake, www.icrc.org/familylinks.
American Red Cross volunteers are also offering grief counseling and have opened a phone bank at our Plantation office to assist members of the Haitian American community. Staff there are available for interviews from 8:30am to 5pm. The office is located at 6710 W. Sunrise Blvd., Plantation.
In South Florida and in the rest of the nation, Americans have responded tremendously to the call for support. Red Cross chapters in Broward and Miami-Dade counties have received hundreds of calls from people who want to donate or become Red Cross volunteers. Nationally, the American Red Cross has received $3 million by text message donations alone. But the need to donate has never been greater, as we are made aware of the true extent of the devastation, the American Red Cross continues asking for donations because it is the most efficient way to get help to the people in Haiti to need it most.
Ways to donate:
Donate by texting: The Red Cross is receiving money through a third party mobile fundraising effort sponsored by Mobile Accord. Mobile donors can text “Haiti” to 90999 to send a $10 donation to the Red Cross. The funds will go to support the Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.
Donate 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.
The American Red Cross is accepting monetary donations to support earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. Potential donors wishing to support this disaster may designate their gift to AP 2885 Haiti Relief and Development.
Donations can be sent to the American Red Cross PO Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013, or made by phone by calling 1-800-REDCROSS OR 1-800-257-7575.
Donations are also accepted online at www.southfloridaredcross.org and www.tucruzroja.org
