![800px Flag of Haiti.svg 300x180 How to Help Haiti [When You're Unemployed]](http://punkrockhr.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/800px-Flag_of_Haiti.svg_-300x180.png "800px-Flag_of_Haiti.svg")
You want to help out in Haiti but you don’t have any money? I hear you.
Off the top of my head, here are some ideas.
- Get to know the history of Haiti so you can speak intelligently about the country. It’s not an island. It’s a country that shares a border with the Dominican Republic, and it sits on the island of Hispanola.
- Haiti is a mess, but it has a proud history and gained independence after a slave rebellion. Honestly, the earthquake just adds to the present-day misery of this island. When you know something about the history, and you share your knowledge, you can encourage people (with money) to donate.
- Give blood. It won’t go to Haiti, but it will go to someone in need.
- If you have a friend or neighbor with ties to Haiti, go spend time with that person. They’ll need your support over the next few weeks & months & maybe forever.
- Volunteer at an animal rescue. Haiti has many problems, including animal overpopulation. Many poor and impoverished countries can’t afford spay and neuter programs. Help locally and be part of a bigger movement to change the way animals are treated on a global scale.
Any other ideas? For those with a little cash, here’s a list of NGOs who are on the ground and can help.
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I heard a news report on NPR where a Haitian said that he didn’t beleive for a second that anyone, including the US, is going to help thier cause in any significant way. I quote “So far, in our past, it’s been all words– and nothing happens.” It spells out how these “relief organizations” pad thier pockets LONG before the “relief” gets to the intended recipient. Beware who you’re donating money to– it’s probably better to badger your local congressman to make sure the promised aid gets to Haiti– and not held up in some committee somewhere in Washington.
I like your ideas alot– but the real resolve will be to see how the Haitian people’s bounce back from disaster on this one– what doesn’t kill them will make them stronger? hmmmm…..
This is a great post Laurie. I’ve been talking to lots of good people who really want to help but they just don’t have the money.
You don’t have to feel helpless. If you can’t do something big, do something small. If everyone just did something we can all make a difference together.
Volunteer to support the US side of the Red Cross.
Really great ideas Laurie.
Other options are to donate unused clothing or possibly tools that aren’t being used. The local Red-Cross and other relief organizations have lists of what they need. You may also be able to donate time to a relief organization – packing donations, answering phones or anything else they need. And the relief organizations might need some things too, such as office supplies (I know I’ve got a pile of pens from exhibitors at the HR Florida Conference in my desk drawer). Do you have a second (or third) sealed bottle of tylenol or some such thing from Costco/Sams/BJs? Maybe you can donate one of those. And drag your teenagers along to help out too.
Great post! It doesn’t take much to help make a difference and I can’t think of a better time to get involved.
That’s an awesome list.
This is an awesome list – I’m totally going to link to it today.
Another idea: Play Freerice. It’s an ad-supported trivia game (define words, find countries on the map, learn Spanish vocabulary) that for every answer you get right, ten grains of rice are donated to the UN World Food Program, which is coordinating the food relief effort in Haiti. Your donations probably won’t reach the WFP in time for Haiti but it’ll keep them well-stocked for the next time.
Kudos, Laurie.
Oh yeah and F@#k Pat Robertson.
Love this post, especially the get educated part. It is a good time to remind ourselves to learn about the world.
I know we need to be aware of who we donate to but I heard this idea from Operations USA today at their warehouse in Los Angeles. They were showing the goods that were going to be shipped. He said that if a company is willing, employees could donate the a PTO/vacation day and then the company could donate the money to a worthwhile organization.
I’d like to recommend we all make the rest of January #ShutUpForHaiti month. No more complaining about our jobs because when you look at Haiti we have absolutely nothing to complain about. Let’s get some perspective here. http://bit.ly/4YU8be
support our armed forces anyway you can, right letters, send books, volunteer…My nephew is a naval officer who was deployed there last night…there are thousands of service men and woman who will be going there over the next few days…support our troops who are supporting the relief effort there!!!
M
@MattyMat That poor country. Optimism is hard to find on a good day.
@Fran Thanks!
@PhilosopherP Good idea!
@Glen Amen re: the teenagers. Get them involved EARLY.
@HR Minion Thanks.
@Kerry Thanks.
@Rachel I’ve never heard of this game. I’m totally all over it NOW.
@HRPuter Word.
@Diane Thanks & exactly.
@Ginger Whoa, creative idea!
@Charlie That hashtag is brilliant.
@MarkF Whoa, you are so right. Good point.
Thank you for writing this post and trying to share correct information about the country. Unfortunately, the gods have not smiled nicely on Hispanola. We have a large population of Haitian-Americans here in Miami and I’ve seen some of my friends and co-workers in full on panic mode for the past few days.
Ironically, my cab driver when we went to Louisville was from Haiti. We spend the cab ride sharing stories about our kids, our dreams and the struggle…. Somehow, my thoughts and prayers seem woefully inadequate right now.
Great ideas! I work in social services, providing job placement for adults who typically are unemployed or can’t find work. This is a great resource post for them so they can help the Haiti people while they look for jobs themselves! Thanks for posting!
It’s tragic to know about that. And when I heard about the news, I was shocked because even their Presidents palace shrinks. And to know that where will their president have it’s office. No one there is affected. And all we can do is to help and there’s a lot of ways and those are just few to help the Haitians to get back. Hope they can recover as soon as possible.
Is it an island or not – #1 and #2 contradict. Honestly, I thot it was an island, too….
Mom always said… when you are in the service of others, the universe will mysterioulsy work toward you favor “eventually”…..
EnJOY your weekend’s…. GO CHARGERS!
Brian-
Of all the needs Haiti currently has, search and rescue is primary.
But those injured and without food and shelter need immediate care and water and food. I don’t know how to provide this and I don’t have the means to.
I do know though that the US provides many grain foods which can be readily eaten without cooking them such as cereals. I would like someone that has the capability to contact cereal companies and have them donate as many as small cereal boxes as they can to Haiti.
This could easily be dropped and do not weigh a lot.
This would provide them with immediate meals that are both health and filling.
Hugo
Just to add,
My local grocer has the small cereal boxes at 10 for $10.00.
That’s $1.00 a box retail. That’s 1 million people fed 1 meal for 1 million dollars. That’s retail and good money spent.
I’m not affiliated with any cereal companies nor do I care about their profits. I’m just trying to help Haiti.
Hugo
Laurie,
This is an awesome list and makes so much sense. We always think that money is going to solve all the problems and that’s the first place our minds go, but there are so many other things that can help. I agree with Hugo about the Haitian’s immediate needs. I would love to be able to provide help in that area. I saw an 11 year old girl on the news the other day, who was elated to have been found after her leg being crushed in the rubble. They gave her water and food and then later that day, she died, because she didn’t get any medical attention. I wish I was capable to perform medical services.
It is just so sad. Thank you for posting this, Laurie and making people aware of what they can do.
I heard that you can take clothes and things to red cross in a box under 50lbs and they will ship it to Haiti for free. So clean out your closets–we all have clothes that don’t fit but are in good condition;
I was in Haiti in 1994 with the US Army. It is a very poor country. But, I do feel that most of what we are hearing is the result of US PR instead of true humanitarian efforts. At quake +48hrs, most agencies said that volunteers were not wanted, but “please send money”. If you were buried under a building, would you rather have someone send money or send a 200 pound man willing to heave bricks and debris to find you? Just sayin’… http://voodoomanager.com/when-the-rubber-meets-the-road
http://voodoomanager.com/menage-et-tois
High Priest
http://voodoomanager.com/
I have a few friends who are unemployed and are excited about using their current situation to serve over in Haiti. The problem is, that they don’t have an avenue to do this. They don’t just want to hop on a plane and arrive there. Any ideas?
Haiti is going to need help for a long time to come. Ask for a show of hands among the extended unemployed of those willing to give time (the one thing we find in abundance in our life without full-time jobs). Use our skills, continue to pay our unemployment insurance (I’ve not found any work in over 1 year), cover our costs to travel and throw in health coverage while in Haiti thus letting us and the American people feel good about what we can offer. This would not only help our wounded self esteem but be of a greater help to the devastated souls of Haiti.
Talk about a win/win not to mention second hand effect of good P.R. that would be received well both nationally and internationally.
B. Day