When a major natural disaster hits, the American Red Cross has been there for emergency aid for those in need since 1881. The recent devastating earthquake in Haiti prompts the return of the Red Cross as My Monthly Charity.

See my previous post about a string of tragic natural disasters in My Monthly Charity May 2008 featuring the Red Cross and all the great humanitarian things they do.

My Monthly Charity January 2010 will bring the Haiti earthquake aid to the spotlight featuring the Red Cross.

How the Red Cross is Helping

Funds Spent/Committed for Haiti Earthquake Response
American Red Cross Funds Spent/Committed for Haiti Earthquake Response [PDF]

In an operation that has involved more emergency response teams than any other single-country disaster in global Red Cross history, the American Red Cross has so far spent or committed more than $67 million to meet the most urgent needs of earthquake survivors in Haiti.

The American Red Cross is currently focusing on three areas through its emergency responders and partners:

1. Sending food to those in need, including 3 million pre-packaged meals and funding for World Food Program efforts that will enable them to feed up to 1 million people for a month.
2. Providing clean drinking water, including 3.5 million liters distributed to date in 68 settlements. Each day, the Red Cross is distributing enough water for 100,000 people.
3. Distributing shelter items, such as blankets, tarps, sleeping mats and tents, to families who have been left homeless.

The Red Cross is also meeting the health needs of Haitian survivors and providing support to Haitian families in Haiti and the US. This includes providing relief supplies, shipment of blood products, family linking services and providing Red Cross volunteers to the USNS Comfort, which have been in Haiti for one week.

Ways you can help the Red Cross:

• Make a donation
  • A new way of giving is now available right through your phone by texting “Haiti” to 90999 and a small donation will be made to the Red Cross. (See my post about “A New Way of Giving”)
• Volunteer your time
• Give blood

The effects of this earthquake has been magnified by the fact that Haiti is one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. Haiti will needs lots of help to recover and you can help today. Aid the Haiti relief effort today through the Red Cross

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