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A Charity Raises Money for Haiti Through Text Message Campaign

Cap collecting moneyWe were all shocked and saddened to hear of the events in Haiti. This poor country never seems to catch a break. In hurricane season it always seem to get a hit from a major cyclone and this can lead to plenty of damage, destruction caused by flooding and an awful number of casualties and deaths. However, even some of the worst cyclones will pale into insignificance when compared with the damage that we are seeing from this magnitude 7.0 earthquake.

As the drama is unfolding, we are coming to the awful realization that this is likely to be one of the worst natural disasters in living memory. We dread to look at the news on a daily basis and to see just how many people are left homeless with nowhere to go, just wandering around with a few possessions, that they were able to salvage to comfort them. Still worse, of course, is the growing death toll. This is likely to be a terrible testament to the wrath of mother nature and as the numbers grow and events unfold, we will be left to wonder how such natural events can happen in a faithful world.

Thankfully, the human race is very philanthropic. We naturally want to look after our neighbor in crisis and somehow this horror seems that much more real to us, as this island nation is very close to the United States, after all.

As with any major event taking place these days, news of disaster spread very quickly through social media, with reports emerging from the region through Twitter posts and other messages. Our upgraded ability to communicate can have a positive effect through all this carnage as well. A number of text messaging campaigns have emerged, through which you can pledge a certain amount of money by just sending a simple text message. This is a really easy way of contributing and showing that we all care and is a whole lot easier than the traditional method of seeking out a website and working out for yourself how to contribute.

We look at our new communication tools, our all-encompassing smart phones and our ability to socially engage with each other and imagine many ways that our “new world” can enhance our lives. Now we can see an additional use, a way to reach out to those who are very much less fortunate than we are, at their time of need.

The Red Cross has already raised more than $8 million as of Friday morning, January 15th for this essential cause. Donations may be made, a $10 value at a time, through a simple texting effort. The donation is added to your phone bill. The Red Cross is also adding $1 million from its international response fund to this ever-growing pile of money that will surely help to make a difference as that country begins the long, long road to getting back on its feet. It’s amazing to hear that the amount raised so far for this initiative is more than double the entire amount raised throughout 2009 via this method – and all within just a few days.

If you want to help, text “HAITI” to 90999 and give a $10 donation to the Red Cross.

Here are some other alternatives as well:

Text “YELE” to 501501 to donate $5 to the Yele Haiti foundation.
Text “HAITI” to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton Foundation Haiti Relief Fund.
Text “HAITI” to 85944 to donate $10 to the International Medical Corps.
Text “HAITI” to 25383 to donate $5 to the International Rescue Committee.

Adam Toren

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