Feel Helpless? Want To Somehow Help Out With The Crisis At Haiti?
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
January 16, 2010 10:57pm CST
Unless you've been living in a cave, everyone has heard about the tragedy due to the massive earthquake in Haiti where daily the estimates of the dead is rising more and more. The country is devastated, millions of people are now homeless, hungry, need medical help, etc. A lot of organizations, the best in my mind like the Red Cross (one of the few legit ones) are accepting donations of money for all kinds of badly needed supplies to help the survivors.
Now many of us feel helpless, since maybe we would love to donate but just don't have the extra funds to do so, I know I sure don't. YET there is a site that has been around for a long time and in which one can donate simply by clicking. Actually it's a series of sites, such as Animal Rescue, The Literacy, Breast Cancer, etc...but they also have a Hunger Site. One simply clicks the tab and it's their sponsors who donate money to where it's needed. So far over $125,000.00 has been donated to the Hunger Site. You also have the option of signing up for daily email reminders to this site to click everyday (or even more than once a day) So if you want to feel like you're helping out and don't have the monetary means to do so, this is a great alternative.
Have any of you ever used this site? Are you in the habit of donating to worthy causes? Which ones?
The Hunger Site is here
: http://www.thehungersite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=1
5 people like this
8 responses
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
17 Jan 10
I donated to the Red Cross last week. I am very sceptical about so many of these donation sites. However I trust the Red Cross not to use 99.9% of my donation for overhead or any other such self serving purpose.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (157598)
• United States
20 Jan 10
The Hunger Site is legit, and so is Free rice. They were originated by the same people, as well. I have seen documentaries of the Free rice being distributed.
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
20 Jan 10
I have been using the Free Rice site for years. However I still prefer to give hard cash to the Red Cross.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
18 Jan 10
One can't go wrong with the Red Cross. I have been hearing a lot of bogus sites are cropping up asking for donations though
2 people like this
@maezee (41997)
• United States
17 Jan 10
Great post! I've never used "the hunger site" but I'm an avid fan of Freerice.com (although I've been slacking on going on it lately...My bad.) I noticed that there's also a Facebook group that you can join - along the lines of "For every 1,000 people, we will donate $1 to Haiti" - I'm not sure if it's legitimate or not, but why not join and see, I suppose?
I've been racking my brain on ways that I can help without donating money, as of course funds are DEFINITELY limited in my case, and this helps. Thanks!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Jan 10
Yes I've heard of freerice too...and like you haven't been there in awhile
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157598)
• United States
20 Jan 10
I was going to put in a plug for Freerice, but you beat me to it. I really enjoy that site. That one definitely goes to people in under developed countries.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I know very sad to see this but this happens with every disastor even with a tusami they never find every one am sure they get washed out to the sea.
.
Found out last night HE is to be there about 3 months and maybe longer as they help clean up and probably start helping them rebuild!
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
20 Jan 10
It's going to take a very, very long time to rebuild Haiti again...
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157598)
• United States
20 Jan 10
I like the fact that The Hunger Site has all those other options as well. I think some of them are stateside as well. Lakotah I will pray for your grandson, right now, and for Sparks. I find that I have to do the praying and good thoughts right when I think of it, as I may not remember later.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I just wanted to say thank you Melanie for linking up to this site. I too have been feeling that I wish there was some way I could help with the situation in Haiti, but as usual I was presently "tapped out." I have bookmarked the Hunger Site so that I can go there often to help in a small way.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
18 Jan 10
Yes I think a lot of us are "tapped out" due to maybe spending more than usual for Christmas time...and since I'm on benefits never have spare to donate money for something like this...so at least with this site I can feel I'm helping out somehow.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
18 Jan 10
Yes I think it's a great concept since not all of us have the means to donate actual money
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
17 Jan 10
no I have never heard of that site
no I dont intend to check it out so that I can donate to Haiti
I do donate to worthy causes but I dont feel that Haiti is something worth my donation
yes what happened was tragic and I feel bad for the people of Haiti
BUT I am not going to send my donation to another country when my own country is so screwed up
our economy is in the toilet, there are homeless people and starving people here in this country
there are animals in need here
If I donate to anything it will be something HERE in my country
I dont understand how people can drive past needy people in their own neighorhood and not bat an eye but yet they feel compelled to send their money to another country that probably wouldnt help us if we needed it
sorry if my opinion upsets anyone but that is just what I think I am aint going to change my opinion
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
17 Jan 10
It's not like one is actually donating one's own money here though--yes I'm all for wanting to help people in our own country too but one has to be even wary of such organizations. Give you an example. Since I'm part Native American I wanted to help out with Native American people...why should I help some child in another country when I could help a child here, so years and years ago I used to foster a child via one of the Native American organizations...it was $30 a month...yet then it struck me what phonies they were since the child I was fostering didn't even get half of what I donated...the majority of it went to the overhead and staff...(been so long ago can't even remember the blasted name of it)--but it was sanctioned by Robert Redford among other celebrities so thought it was all right
1 person likes this
@wonttakelong (3555)
• United States
17 Jan 10
and I have already offered up prayers of healing to Sparks
2 people like this
@venshida (4836)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I am not familiar with the site reference. My financial situation is not the greatest, but I will contribute $10.00 to the American Red Cross. They do a good job, and have help my family in the past. I think anyone who cannot contribute should not feel bad. Your government is contributing and the government is funded by taxpayers so you are contributing when they contribute.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
18 Jan 10
This is a great way to donate though without actually donating money for those of us who want to do something to help
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
17 Jan 10
Thank you very much. I don't have any $ right now (don't even have the $ to pay my bills this month)and need to help. So I definitely will check it out.
www.freerice.com is the one I've used before. You answer questions and every question you get right, makes for more rice donated. Since I take lots of Civil Service tests, it helps keep me sharp and keeps me donating, too. I also like the visual of the rice bowl filling up. I often wonder what else they have besides rice?
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I'm aware of that freerice website too, but have to admit haven't been there in awhile. I can't help thinking though, while rice is nice, and yes perhaps filling, it's not exactly that nutritious. People need some kind of proteins as well. I heard among the foods they are handing out in Haiti are biscuits...uh, mmm??? Somehow I just think it would be so much better if canned meat foods would be better
2 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
18 Jan 10
True, most people need protein and most malnutrition is caused by a lack of protein. White rice doesn't have much protein, brown rice does.
Biscuits, rice, starches tend to be filling, esp. when you add water. Maybe to get rid of the ache of hunger. That's only a guess.
They gave out peanut butter in Afghanistan and people either didn't know what it was or didn't like it or it didn't work with their digestive systems. We have to be very careful when we help other people. They said that most of the kids thought it was a toy like silly puddy, food clay or something and were found playing with it and not eating it in Afghanistan.
1 person likes this
