Last modified: Thursday, January 14, 2010
IU Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies collection site for Haiti relief items
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 14, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Late Tuesday afternoon, Haiti was struck by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake, causing widespread damage and thousands of deaths and injuries. The quake was centered about 10 miles west of Port-au-Prince, the capital city.
Indiana University's Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) has announced that while monetary donations to reputable organizations will be of greatest help during the initial period of trauma relief, CLACS will serve as a collection site for Haiti relief items.
The CLACS office, located at 1125 E. Atwater Ave, will be receiving materials to be sent to Haiti during normal business hours (typically 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday; call 812-855-9097 to schedule a dropoff time).
Relief workers informed Levinson of the following priority items:
- Wound dressings and bandages;
- rehydration packets;
- Chloroquine (anti-malarial);
- non-perishable foods (peanut butter, crackers, canned items, for instance).
"As the day has worn on, our awareness of the magnitude of the catastrophe in Haiti has grown," wrote Bradley A.U. Levinson, director of CLACS and an associate professor of education, in a letter to faculty members, students and friends, on Wednesday. "It is almost inconceivable: possibly thousands dead and injured in the area around Port-au-Prince, the city and most of its buildings destroyed. A proud and long-suffering people has been struck down once again."
Relief items will be sent through area organizations or limited CLACS funds that the organization can use to mail boxes to organizations in Miami or D.C., where relief flights will be ongoing. CLACS will keep supporters informed of the shifting needs in Haiti during what will certainly be a long-term reconstruction effort. An IU benefit concert is also in the works.
Monetary donations can also be made to operations already on the ground in Haiti. IU instructor of Haitian Creole, David Tezil, recommends the International Firefighter Association, at https://www.ifarelief.org/. Within two hours of the quake, musician Wyclef Jean and his organization Yéle mobilized on social networking sites to raise funds for disaster relief. Jean is encouraging people to text "Yéle" to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yéle Haiti Earthquake Fund, or to visit https://www.yele.org/.
The Haitian Studies Association recommends donating through Fonkoze (www.fonkoze.org/), Lambi Fund (www.lambifund.org/) or Partners in Health (www.pih.org).
More options for donations:
Oxfam International: https://www.oxfam.org.uk/donate/haiti-earthquake/index.php
American Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/
Mercy Corps: https://donate.mercycorps.org/donation.htm?DonorIntent=Haiti Earthquake
United Methodist Committee on Relief: https://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760
The Salvation Army: https://secure.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/donate?openform&projectid=USN-HaitiDisaster
