Helping Haiti

Haiti Earthquake Relief: How You Can Help
UPDATE 01/15 4:12pm: Thanks to the generosity of over 300 members, Humanist Charities is sending $23,450 from the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund to purchase food and supplies for the people of Haiti. The AHA sent the donation via wire transfer to a secure credit union in the Dominican Republic, where the money will be used by Sebastian Velez to secure food and supplies to deliver to the people in Jacmel, a city near Port-au-Prince devastated by the earthquake. A gift of this size had made it possible to provide the largest truck filled with supplies. The trucks and Dominican NGO teams will travel Saturday evening to begin distributing the food.
In an email sent to the AHA at 5:00pm today, Sebastian Velez writes: “I cannot begin to express how much good this will do, and how important it is that the help came so fast. I’m off to a meeting and feel elated that we Humanists have such a big presence. I also need to break the news that instead of $5,000, we have $23,000!” A full report and photos will be posted on Tuesday.
Humanist Charities of the American Humanist Association is proud to has supported Sebastian Velez’s brave efforts to secure food and supplies for the people of Haiti after this devastating attack. Your donations were quickly put to work and directly contributed to the purchasing of food and supplies that will quickly aid the people in Jacmel. From all of us at the American Humanist Association, thank you for responding quickly and giving generously in a time of great need.
Humanist Charities will continue to accept donations to the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund throughout the weekend.

UPDATE 01/15 at 10:45am: Sebastian Velez, with the help of several Dominican NGOs, are organizing a trip with food and supplies to Jacmel, a city near Port-au-Prince, that was also severely destroyed but has not yet received supplies nor attention. The teams and trucks are planning to leave Saturday night and have secured an armed escort to bring them to Haiti. Mr. Velez reports that “this is our best chance to send food immediately.” Humanist Charities has so far donated $5,000 to this effort, resulting in the largest truck with the most supplies. Mr. Velez is coordinating the distribution and will continue to keep us updated.
A devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck the impoverished Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince yesterday afternoon, causing the destruction of thousands of buildings and a death toll that could reach many thousands. Officials report tens of thousands of people were left homeless.

Humanist Charities of the American Humanist Association (AHA) expresses its deep sorrow for the people affected by the massive devastation caused by the earthquake. To ensure rapid and effective response to this tragedy, Humanist Charities has established the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund to support the relief efforts going on right now.

Humanist Charities is working with Sebastian Velez, evolutionary biologist at Harvard University and director of the Children of the Border project, which works to protect the rights and expand access to medical care and education for Haitian immigrants. Humanist Charities has previously supported Mr. Velez and the Children of the Border project when AHA members helped raise over $2,500 to expand emergency medical service for expectant mothers living in the Haitian border region of the Dominican Republic in 2008.
Mr. Velez is currently in Haiti assessing the situation and will report back to us a humanist or secular organization that can receive funds directly to help with relief efforts. If none is found, Humanist Charities will make a donation to the American Red Cross’ International Response Fund on your behalf.

We urge all members of the humanist and freethought community to join us in the relief effort. You can make a donation to the Humanist Charities’ Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund online at www.humanistcharities.org or calling 800-837-3792.
We also encourage members to support international nonsectarian relief organizations such as the American Red Cross, Direct Relief International, Doctors Without Borders, Operation USA, and Partners In Health.