Ayiti, You’re Not Alone — 3 Ways You Can Help Haiti Disaster Relief From Home

By now you’ve probably seen the news of the devastation in Haiti. Men, women, and children trapped under rubbles of what once was their home, school, or church. Desperation, thirst, hunger and anguish have fully set in as the citizens of the first Black Nation look up to heavens wondering where their relief will come from. I can only imagine how my Haitian brothers and sisters feel right now as they are trapped on the small island that has been hit back to back by natural and societal disasters for the past decade.

Even before Saturday’s earthquake, Haiti was already reeling from a series of crises following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse last month. Many parts of the country are currently struggling with gangs and starvation, even as its hospitals are overwhelmed by the pandemic.

“This country just never finds a break!” bemoaned Haitian entrepreneur Marc Alain Boucicault on Twitter. “Each year of mismanagement did not hurt but the cumulative effects made us vulnerable to everything! It’s going to take years to fix things and we have not even started!”

Haiti is still recovering from the 7.0-magnitude earthquake in 2010 that destroyed wide swaths of the capital Port-au-Prince — perhaps the country’s worst disaster to date. Estimates of the 2010 death toll have ranged from 100,000 to more than 300,000. The 2010 event flattened buildings and left hundreds of thousands homeless in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Now, just 11 years later, disaster strikes again and the country's infrastructure simply cannot withstand a blow of this caliber. Over 1,297 more lives were lost to the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit the southern region of Haiti on Saturday morning.

While I can go on and on about the mismanagement, mistreatment and utter neglect the world has participated in towards Haiti, I would like to bring to your attention how you can help this struggling nation right now! Our brothers, sisters, and home planet are hurting and we must all step in and take action.

Donate.

Every cent counts. Below, I’ve rounded up reputable organizations that are currently accepting donations to help those in Haiti.

1. American Jewish World Service is collecting donations for its “Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund,” which will help “its network of grantees in Haiti to meet the urgent needs of the population based on real-time, on-the-ground assessments.” Click here to donate.
2. Global Empowerment Mission works as a first responder for disaster relief, bridges the gap between first response and sustainable development, and implements practices to ensure sustainable development. Right now, they are focusing on the immediate response to global disasters and civic emergencies, such as the Haiti earthquake. Click here to donate.
3. Doctors Without Borders is here to help. Homes and infrastructure, including medical facilities, have been extensively destroyed and damaged in the affected region. Some hospitals had to evacuate their patients, and some lack medical equipment and medicines. Aftershocks and landslides have caused additional damage. Doctors without borders respond quickly to humanitarian emergencies. Click here to donate.
4. World Central Kitchen has been on the ground hand-delivering meals to families on the island. Through locally led approaches, WCK’s food resilience programs advance human and environmental health, offer access to professional culinary training, create jobs, and improve food security for the people they serve. Click here to donate.

5. Catholic Relief Services carries out the commitment of the Bishops of the United States to assist the poor and vulnerable overseas. Catholic Relief Services is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. “When you give, you provide immediate assistance for our Haitian sisters and brothers desperate to survive this devastating situation. Your help will deliver immediate relief.” Click here to donate.

Repost.

Each and every day we gain further proof of the true power of social media. When we join forces for a common cause we can achieve just about anything. By sharing the news of the earthquake in Haiti on your social media you are helping to inform others, and motivating them to take action.

Here are some go-to social media accounts to help you stay connected:

Check on your loved ones.

Life has been tough these past few years. From a global pandemic, to national wildfires, civil wars, and natural disasters, it has been all too much to handle. And, if you or your loved one are of Haitian descent the recent devastation can be the straw that breaks the camels back. Check in on your loved ones. Offer them your unwavering support, and let them know that you are available for whatever they need.

Kindness is free and its impact can last a lifetime.