Haiti needs help from the Afrikan Diaspora

Note: This blog appeared as a note on my facebook page. The location for many of the organizations listed is in Chicago Illinois. This blog gives pertinent information regarding Haiti as of (Gregorian Calendar) January 13th-14th, 2010.

I went to a meeting with the Haitian community in Evanston and came away with some info. The most important thing right now is that there is usually a two to three day phase of search and recovery. Since this is an especially devestating case this phase may take a little longer. So because of that clothing, food, school supplies, toys etc are not essential items right now. There is no way to get these items to the people due to the roads being destroyed and cluttered with....buildings. What is essential now is MONEY, MEDICAL & HYGEINE SUPPLIES. This is the information I deduced from the meeting last night in Evanston. Everything else I filtered out because a member of Homeland Security was there giving out some suspect info. The most common sense thing to do in terms of donations is either give money or FIND OUT what is needed on the ground in Haiti at the moment. Whatever that is, that will get to Haiti faster. Everything else will just sit in a warehouse for weeks maybe months.

I will tell you all to choose your charity carefully. Me myself, I would rather NOT f**k with the Red Cross. But since neither the Nation of Islam nor the AAPRP are on the ground in Haiti....well, I'll just reiterate, choose your charity carefully and wisely.

So because of that I would recommend the following:

Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti
1227 Dodge Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202
Tel: 847-475-5856 Fax: 847-424-1049
Their e-mail is: contact@haitiancongress.org
Their website is: haitiancongress.com
This is the Haitians themselves, now whomever they give the money to is their perogrative.

Wyclefs' effort called Yele Haiti
Use your cell phone to text “Yele” to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (it will be charged to your cell phone bill), or you can go to the website http://www.yele.org/ to DONATE.

Doctors Without Borders
This organization has some people on it's board that are a little suspect but the doctors are needed right now. So if you want: http://doctorswithoutborders.org/
Their donation page is: https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=197&hbc=1&__utma=1.1968024294808115400.1263475311.1263475311.1263475311.1&__utmb=1.6.10.1263475311&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1263475311.1.1.utmcsr=google%7Cutmccn=(organic)%7Cutmcmd=organic%7Cutmctr=doctors%20without%20borders%20haiti&__utmv=-&__utmk=255930379

Shelter Box
Here's an international effort that was brought up at the meeting, it seems to be a decent idea. http://www.shelterbox.org/index2.php

I was also informed that the organization Children of Haiti Enhancement Foundation, Inc.(C.O.H.E.F.) are collecting donations. Their website address is: http://www.cohef.org/

These are the ones I would give anything to. You can go the Red Cross route, but me...I don't trust them, especially after that September 11th debacle. I also heard of a collection/donation drop off effort by some Moorish Science Temple members at the Nguzo Saba Academy on 1929 W. 87th st. There's also an effort by LIB Radio Haitian Relief Fund which is Black folks who have a direct line to Haiti. Their website address is:http://www.libradio.com/

Doris Lewis has organized storage space to collect whatever needs to be collected as time goes on (clothes, food, school supplies, toys etc.). She is working out of Hyde Park Storage 5155 South Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago, IL 60615-3610, (773) 955-5500

This is what I have for now. Some comrades are coming up with more organizations and donation efforts. I will check on the Haitians at my old school/church Our Lady Of Peace to see if they are organizing anything or to help them organize. Please give what you can, when you can. This is OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

As an addendum, I will say this: DO NOT SEND PAT ROBERTSON A PENNY!!

P.E.A.C.E.
FX - ALL AFRIKAN PEOPLE ARE ONE PEOPLE!