How you can help those in Haiti
Localbull; St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church: stapostle.org/index2.php? area=newsdata=detailid=4646bull; Feed My Starving Children: fmsc.org/Page.aspx? pid=276bull; Spirit of Truth School in Haiti, run by Ruth Caudle of Vernon Hills: haiti-world.orgbull; Naperville-based International Buddhist Progress Society at Chicago is helping through the Buddha's Light International Association to provide food, water, shelter, medical services and emotional support. Donations may be sent to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund (Account # 1005231), c/o American Metro Bank, 4878 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640.bull; North Central College students, who traveled to Haiti in December 2009, are raising funds for Mission of Hope's medical clinic, Hospital of Hope, located north of Port-au-Prince. The hospital is functioning, but overwhelmed with need. Donations may be made online at mohhaiti.org.bull; Nineteen Francesca's restuarants in the Chicagoland area - including ones in Naperville, St. Charles, Elmhurst and Arlington Heights - offer Dine for Haiti on Jan. 25. All profits on that day will be donated to the American Red Cross Haitian Relief Fund. Francesca's is committed to making a minimum donation of $10,000.Nationalbull; To donate $10 to the American Red Cross, text "Haiti" to 90999. The amount will be added to your next phone bill. Or, donate through the Red Cross' International Response Fund, redcross.org.bull; Former President Bill Clinton Foundation's Haiti Relief Fund: Text "HAITI" to 20222bull; InterAction has a list of agencies responding and how to donate to them. Find it online at interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti.bull; To find out how to help the International Rescue Committee, visit theIRC.org or call toll-free 1-877-REFUGEE.bull; To donate through Oxfam's emergency appeal, visit oxfam.org.ukbull; unicefusa.orgbull; doctorswithoutborders.orgbull; habitat.org/Haiti-Earthquakebull; salvationarmy.orgbull; Donating cash to established relief organizations is the best way to help because it allows professionals to get what they need.bull; Send a check to American Red Cross, P.O. Box 4002018, Des Moines, IA. 50340-2018 (indicate the designation on the check's memo line).Other tips:Aid organizations need your assistance but warn that well-intentioned efforts like collecting bottled water and clothing on your own may not be the most helpful thing for a disaster-ravaged country that does not have the infrastructure to distribute them. Some tips from InterAction, a coalition of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations:bull; If you decide to donate supplies and not cash, contact an established relief organization before you collect anything.bull; People who want to volunteer should have previous disaster or international experience or technical skills and should work through a relief organization. bull; Be careful of scams. The Better Business Bureau offers the following advice to help Americans decide where to direct donations:bull; Rely on expert opinion when it comes to evaluating a charity.bull; Be wary of claims that 100 percent of donations will assist relief victims.bull; Be cautious when giving online, especially in response to spam messages and e-mails that claim to link to a relief organization. bull; Find out if the charity has an on-the-ground presence in the impacted areas.