Strike a Chord: Haiti

Take a moment to find out how you can help.

More Information:

Spring, 2010: Tell us about your organization's work with Affordable Housing in the Tri-State area.

WFUV is supported by a community of smart, curious, caring people. At the same time, at WFUV we're committed to supporting community organizations doing good work in the New York metropolitan area.

As a way to bring important issues into focus, we spotlight a particular issue every quarter. It might be health care, the homeless, or veterans affairs. You'll hear Cityscape programs and news features that address those issues. You'll hear public service announcements for local organizations dealing with them. You may even hear about events or forums that WFUV will be co-sponsoring. By focusing our time and resources on a theme, we hope we can help make a difference.

WFUV's volunteer Community Advisory Board is contributing their ideas and contacts to our public service campaigns. If you have any suggestions for themes or would like your community organization to be considered, please contact cab@wfuv.org.

We'd love your input!

Special Focus: Haiti

Everyone here at FUV has been moved by the news coming from Haiti and we know our listeners are too. Donations are being collected by various organizations in the New York area and nationally, and there are benefit concerts going on in NYC as well.

The following is a sample list of charities that are offering help in Haiti. If you are uncertain about any organization's legitimacy or goals, you can do research on them at Guidestar and/or Charity Navigator.

Online Resources

Links will open in a new browser window.

Faith-based Organizations:

Jesuit Refugee Services: [Info/Donate]
Catholic Relief Services: [Info/Donate]
MercyCorps: MercyCorps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. [Info/Donate]
American Jewish World Service: [Info/Donate]

General/International:

American Red Cross: [Info/Donate]
Yéle Haiti: Wyclef Jean founded the organization to increase awareness of Haiti; they have pulled together a Haiti Earthquake Alliance to help. [Info/Donate]
Oxfam International: [Info/Donate]
Concern Worldwide: Improving the lives of the poorest people. [Info/Donate]

Focus on Children:

UNICEF: Help children affected by the earthquake. [Info/Donate]
CARE is deploying additional emergency team members to Port-au-Prince. [Info/Donate]
Save the Children: [Info/Donate]

Medical Resources:

Doctors Without Borders: [Info/Donate]
Direct Relief International: Emergency medical help. [Info/Donate]
International Rescue Committee: Veteran first responders help provide medical care, clean water and sanitation. [Info/Donate]
Partners in Health: Bringing modern medical care to poor communities. [Info/Donate]

Focus on Hunger:

Action Against Hunger: [Info/Donate]
World Food Program: Fighting hunger worldwide. [Info/Donate]
Food for the Poor: [Info/Donate]

Focus on Technology:

CrisisCommons: Community Technology + Humanitarian Relief [Info]

Text a Donation

Mobile service providers are set up to bill you and contribute the funds. When prompted, hit 'YES' to confirm. Receipts are available.

The American Red Cross:
Text the word 'HAITI' to 09000 to donate $10.

Yele Haiti Foundation (started by Wyclef Jean):
Text the word "YELE" to 501501 to donate $5

The International Rescue Committee:
Text "HAITI" to 25383 to donate $5

The Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund:
Text the word "HAITI" to 20222 to donate $10

The International Medical Corps:
Text "HAITI" to 85944 to donate $10

Donations and Online Security

There are those who would exploit any opportunity in order to be evil or annoying. Keep these points in mind:

Do not respond to any unsolicited (spam) incoming e-mails, including clicking links contained within those messages.
Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as surviving victims or officials asking for donations.
Be cautious of e-mails that claim to show pictures of the disaster areas in attached files because the files may contain viruses.
Make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.
Do not give your personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions.
Avoid clicking on suspicious links in e-mail or instant messagess. You're safer typing Web addresses directly into the browser.
Never fill out forms in messages that ask for personal or financial information or passwords.
It's also important to make sure whatever Web browser you use is the most recent version available, for security reasons. Among the newer browser versions are Firefox 3.0.10, Internet Explorer 8 for PC users, or Safari 4 for Mac users. Note: Recent events have brought to light new security holes in Internet Explorer. If you're concerned, switch to another browser. Firefox is free.
Facebook advises users, in general, to "be cautious of any message, post or link that looks suspicious or requires an additional login." Make sure you're logging in from a "legitimate Facebook page with the facebook.com domain."

Tell Us About Yourself

We invite not for profit organizations in the metropolitan New York area to let us know something about who you are. Interested? Fill out an application here.

Previously...

The New York Metro Area Waterfront was the focus for the spring of 2009.
Veterans and their Families was the focus for the summer of 2009. The Fall of 2009 brought attention to Artists' Organizations.