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drewkittyThe people of Haiti desperately need blankets, tents, medical supplies, water purification equipment, and all the complex trappings of the infrastructure necessary to sustain millions of lives and save the lives of thousands of injured. Red Cross status update from Friday.
So why shouldn't you send blankets or food? Because in-kind donations need to be processed. Canned food needs to be packaged; blankets need to be sanitized; and then these items shipped.
It is both cheaper and more effective to purchase exactly the supplies that are needed, and to spend the savings on the logistics costs to push these items to Haiti through damaged seaports and airports.
So it is exactly correct that the best way to save lives today is to send money.
"You can make a donation to the American Red Cross International Response Fund at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. Donors can designate their gifts to Haiti relief. You can also donate $10 to Haiti relief by texting “HAITI” to 90999."
http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org/
"Our immediate priority is to save lives. The critical needs in Haiti are great, but they are also simple: food, water, shelter, and first-aid supplies. The best way concerned citizens can help is to donate funds that will go directly to supplying these material needs."
So why shouldn't you send blankets or food? Because in-kind donations need to be processed. Canned food needs to be packaged; blankets need to be sanitized; and then these items shipped.
It is both cheaper and more effective to purchase exactly the supplies that are needed, and to spend the savings on the logistics costs to push these items to Haiti through damaged seaports and airports.
So it is exactly correct that the best way to save lives today is to send money.
"You can make a donation to the American Red Cross International Response Fund at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. Donors can designate their gifts to Haiti relief. You can also donate $10 to Haiti relief by texting “HAITI” to 90999."
http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org/
"Our immediate priority is to save lives. The critical needs in Haiti are great, but they are also simple: food, water, shelter, and first-aid supplies. The best way concerned citizens can help is to donate funds that will go directly to supplying these material needs."
