Haiti Earthquake Six Months Later: Where and How to Donate
Organizations that are still on the ground in Haiti helping earthquake victims
July 8, 2010 — -- It has been nearly six months since the deadly 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, killing at least 230,000 people and leaving many more people economically and emotionally devastated. The unforgettable images: hands reaching out from rubble; orphaned children covered in ash and crying for their parents; the long lines of people waiting for clean water and food; tent hospitals filled with limbless children and bandaged elderly women and men; people praying in fields and under basketball hoops.
The devastation sparked millions of Americans to donate money, supplies and in some cases, their time to assist the people of Haiti. Six months later, the desire to help continues. Since the Jan. 12 earthquake, Americans have raised $1.138 billion.
ABC News checked in with 23 of the largest U.S. charities with operations in Haiti. Of the over one billion dollars received from those charities, over half of it is not being used. At least 62.7 percent, $714.3 million, has been allocated for future Haiti relief efforts or is unassigned.
In the coming nights "World News With Diane Sawyer" will investigate exactly how the money you have donated is being spent.
If you are looking for a charity that is still helping in Haiti, we have compiled a helpful list of resources if you want to donate to the earthquake victims:
Click here for a full report on the quake and its aftermath.
U.S. State Department
When the earthquake first happened, the State department quickly set up a hotline where people could donate funds. That operation continues. The U.S. State Department asks those wanting to donate $10 by texting "QUAKE" to "20222." The $10 donation will go automatically to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
For more information, click here to visit the U.S. State Department Web site.
American Red Cross
Hours after the quake struck, the American Red Cross pledged an initial $200,000 to assist people affected by the devastation. Since then, it has helped at least two million Haitians and raised approximately $468 million for relief and recovery efforts. A third of that money has been spent. As the six-month anniversary of the earthquake approaches, the American Red Cross announced plans to build semi-permanent shelters for the 40,000 Haitians living in tents and tarps.
The American Red Cross offers several ways to donate to various funds, including international relief to Haiti.
Click here to visit the American Red Cross Web site to find out more or donate online.
People who wish to donate by phone can dial (800) Redcross, or (800) 257-7575 for Spanish.
Those who wish to donate by mail can do so by contacting their local Red Cross chapter or by mailing a donation to the following address:
American Red Cross
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, D.C. 20013
Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
Former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush joined forces to establish the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. At least 230,000 donations have been made to the fund. They are shifting their focus to economic recovery, reconstruction and job creation. Haiti's unemployment is estimated at 70 percent.
Click here to donate to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.
Catholic Relief Services
Catholic Relief Services has fed 900,000 people since the earthquake struck Haiti. They initially made a $5 million commitment for emergency supplies to send water purification tablets, plastic sheeting, hygiene kits and mosquito nets to Haiti.
Click here for information on safely making charitable donations during a crisis.
How to Help Haiti Quake Victims
Mercy Corps
Mercy Corps' teams work in 28 tent camps and have provided water, hygiene and sanitation services to 22,000 people. They've donated 315 tons of food and provided 882,500 gallons of clean water.
Click here to find out more or donate online.
Those who wish to donate by phone can call (888) 256-1900.
Or donate by mail by sending a check to the follow address:
Mercy Corps
Dept W
P.O. Box 2669
Portland, Ore. 97208-2669
UNICEF
In the six months since the earthquake struck, UNICEF has deployed experienced staff to Haiti from around the globe. They continue working with partners with the goal of reaching every quake-affected child and family in need. They have focused on integrating children into the reconstruction efforts and helping HIV positive mothers and their children.
UNICEF invited people to give by mail by printing out a form on its Web site, which is available by clicking here.
People interested in donating can also call (800) For Kids or (800) 367-5437.
Click here for more information from the UNICEF Web site or donate online.
Food for the Hungry
Food for the Hungry has staff located near the earthquake and in neighboring Dominican Republic, according to the organization's Web site.
The site calls on visitors to donate to "help us respond now."
Click here to learn more and find out how to donate online.
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is mobilizing resources and personnel to assist with the international relief effort in Haiti, the group said in a statement today.
The group has been working in Haiti since 1950. It operates schools, clinics, a hospital, feeding programs, children's homes and church-related activities in Port-au-Prince.
Click here to visit the Salvation Army Web site to learn more and donate.
How to Help Haiti Quake Victims
Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres
In the months following the earthquake, MSF teams treated more than 173,000 people. They performed more than 11,000 surgical procedures. As of May 31, Doctors Without Borders had received $122 million dollars in donations.
Partners in Health
Partners in Health is an aid organization that has a team in Haiti and aims to provide "a preferential option for the poor in health care," according to its Web site. The organization has been working on the ground in Haiti for more than 20 years.
Click here to learn more about Partners in Health and get information about donating online.
World Food Programme
According to the World Food Programme's Web site:WFP has reached more than 4.5 million people since the earthquake struck.
They have implemented a Cash for Food Work program that includes 30,000 Haitian workers who receive cash and food for their help in rebuilding damaged areas. By the end of the year, they hope to have 140,000 people enrolled in the program.
Click here to learn more about WFP in Haiti and get information about donating online.
How to Help Haiti Quake Victims
AmeriCares
To date, more than $30 million worth of AmeriCares aid has been delivered to help Haitian earthquake survivors.
Americares has sent medicine, medical supplies and helped support health care facilities throughout Haiti.
Click here for more information about AmeriCares.
Samaritan's Purse
Samaritan's Purse is also providing thousands of families with emergency shelter materials until homes can be repaired or rebuilt. At least 2,000 families who were homeless are now living in shelters built by the organization.
Samaritan's Purse is currently coordinating the construction of 10,000 temporary shelters near Port-au-Prince.
Click here to learn more and to help.
Operation Blessing International
Operation Blessing International, the seventh largest international charity, is working on several projects to help the earthquake victims. The organization is working on providing clean water in hospitals, setting up sustainable fish farms and providing school-aged children with anti-parasite medication.
Contact information:
977 Centerville Turnpike
Virginia Beach, Va. 23463
(757) 226-3401
Action Against Hunger
The mission of Action Against Hunger is to save lives by eliminating hunger through the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition, especially during and after emergency situations of conflict, war and natural disaster.Click here to learn more about what Action Against Hunger is doing in Haiti and find out how to help.
Save the Children
Save the Children has been working in Haiti since 1985. To date, they've reached 682,000 Haitians.
For more information, or to donate, click here.
How to Help Haiti Quake Victims
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is addressing shelter solutions for low-income families affected by the earthquake. The group helped 50,000 families rebuild after the earthquake. Immediately after the earthquake, they distributed shelter kits to help families make immediate repairs or build temporary shelter, typically at the site where their homes were located.
Habitat for Humanity has been operating in Haiti for 26 years. Their office was destroyed in the disaster. They have since rebuilt the office and are now fully operational again. Click here to learn more and donate to Habitat for Humanity's effort.
Oxfam America
Oxfam has provided water, latrines, plastic sheeting, and relief materials -- as well as cash payments for work -- to people who have gathered in temporary camps both within the city and in hard-hit outlying areas.
Click here to learn more and find out how to help.
International Medical Corps
Teams from the International Medical Corps have been working with hospital administration in Haiti to provide medical care to Haitians. Thirteen teams have been working in 15 sites around Port-au-Prince to help the Haitian people lay the groundwork for long-term recovery.
Click here for more information.
International Rescue Committee
The International Rescue Committee deployed its Emergency Response Team to Haiti to deliver help to the devastated city of Port-au-Prince. By the end of Juine, the organization had registered 2,280 separated children and reunited at least 390 children with relatives.
Hope for Haiti
The organization says 96 percent of the donations it raises, directly reach the people in Haiti who need it most. All the donations received in response to the earthquake are going directly to its disaster relief effort on the ground. They've distributed $30 million in aid.
Click here to find out how to help Hope for Haiti.
Food for the Poor
Food for the Poor has been working in Haiti since 1996, according to its Web site.
The organization has purchased, packaged and shipped more than 3,100 tons of emergency relief to earthquake victims in Haiti.
Its operations are now moving from relief mode to reconstruction of homes and schools.
Click here to donate or to learn more about Food for the Poor.
ABC News' Daniel Arnall and the "Good Morning America" Digital Unit contributed to this report.