Haiti relief: How to use tech to make a speedy donation
Thursday, January 14, 2010 20:17In response to the devastating 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti earlier this week, many foundations have created simple ways to make a donation to the relief effort via the tech we love. With tech access at your fingertips, you have many different options for making a quick donation toward earthquake relief in Haiti. Unconvinced that giving is the way to go? Click here for before-and-after photos of Port-au-Prince, and see the collateral damage yourself.
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Mobile giving
For a much better use of your unlimited text messages than voting for your faves on American Idol, send a donation instead. Mobile donations provider mGive has teamed up with the American Red Cross and the U.S. State Department to launch a text-message campaign aimed at generating donations. To participate, simply text the word “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross. Your cell phone bill will be directly charged the $10 donation amount.
Musician Wyclef Jean’s grassroots organization Yéle Haiti has initiated a similar text-message campaign: Text “YELE” to 501501 to contribute $5 toward food distribution and emergency relief mobilization. Like a donation under the Red Cross program, a donation through Yéle Haiti will be charged directly to your cell phone bill.
Smartphone applications
If you have an iPhone or Android-based smartphone, you can download several free and inexpensive apps that let you donate directly to a specific organization or find a reputable local organization support.
Spread the word through social networking sites
Use your favorite social networking sites to let your friends and followers know that you’ve made a donation, or check your dashboard to for word on how your friends are helping the cause. Charity is infectious: Spreading the word and making Haiti relief a trending topic could inspire others to donate as well.
After donating, update your Facebook status or Tweet about where you made the donation and how. Pepper your friends and followers’ dashboards with ways to support the relief effort, and suggest that they do the same. Use your smartphone to access Facebook pages and groups that have been set up for Haiti relief.
