Tsunami relief

[soxfan[$]]

A couple of days ago, the Boston Globe published a list of organizations accepting contributions for tsumani relief in Asia. If you have other ones, please post.

[theworm[$]]

Auntie Emma posted this link in another thread:

AuntieEmma said

Here's a list of places to make donations.

[theworm[$]]

and here is the list that Google has up.

[hadassahchana[$]]

I was looking for a link that Frazz posted, and I think she said that 99% of monies collected go to actual relief work. I can't find that post- does anyone else remember that?


Cindy

[theworm[$]]

I'll get it and put it here. Give me a minute!

[pippadaisy[$]]

directrelief.org

[theworm[$]]

Here's Frazz's post:

frazzledspice said

In trying to find the best place to send my donation, I looked up the Forbes list of most efficient charities in 2004. The average charity spends 89% of its resources in direct aid and 11% in expenses, but there are a number that do much better, and these are certainly the ones we should contribute to.

http://www.forbes.com/lists/results.jhtml?passListId=14&passYear=2004&passListType=Misc&searchParameter1=unset&searchParameter2=unset&resultsStart=1&resultsHowMany=25&resultsSortProperties=-numberfield9%2C%2Bstringfield2&resultsSortCategoryName=Net+Assets&category1=category&category2=category&passKeyword=

The disaster agency on the CNN list that has an 100% efficiency rating on the Forbes list is Direct Relief International.

http://www.directrelief.org/index.html

They spend 99% of their income on direct aid.

I usually donate through an agency affiliated with my religion (Catholic Relief Services) and I'm sure all of the agencies are good, but if ever there was a situation that cried for the most efficient distribution of aid this is it.

[hadassahchana[$]]

Oh, and does anyone know if we can donate points from MyPoints like we did after 9/11?


Cindy

[hadassahchana[$]]

Thanks, Pippa! That one sounds good to me - do you guys think so, too?


Cindy

[pippadaisy[$]]

Yes. I IM'd my girlfriend who works for another relief organization and she said they were decent. Her agency isn't allowed in because some of their meals contain GMO soybeans, and no GMO products are allowed into Asia, so her agency contributed what money it would have cost them for relief efforts to the Red Cross.

However, I'm a wee bit skeptical of the Red Cross after 9/11.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

Red Cross is letting you designate the funds (which wasn't an option after 9/11, although people thought they were designating funds for 9/11).

[pippadaisy[$]]

Thanks, MJ. Good to know.

[frazzledspice]

When I signed in to Direct Relief, I had to try several times to get my donation through because the site was backed up (I understand that's a problem for many of the charity sites.) After about three tries I was able to make my donation.

There wasn't a specific category for tsunami relief, but when I filled in the form there was a comment section at the end and I indicated I wanted my contribution to go to the tsunami fund.

The site had several references to their high ratings from Forbes and other rating sites. Forbes only gave 5 charities the highest rating.

[frazzledspice]

For those people who mentioned selling their digital cameras, etc. and donating the proceeds to tsunami relief:

UPS Stores are collecting old computers and electronic items and will be reselling them on Ebay to provide money for tsunami relief. Auction Drop is sponsoring this campaign.

If you've replaced your computer or DVD player, etc. this holiday season, maybe it would be good to bring your old ones to the UPS Store.

I usually pass on my old electronics, etc. to my young adult children or needy friends, but I think I have some things to bring down to a UPS Store.

Here's a story link:


http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y04/m12/i31/s01

People can help disaster victims in South Asia by donating used cameras, computers and consumer electronics. Consumers can drop off items at any The UPS Store in the U.S., and AuctionDrop will sell them on eBay and donate the net proceeds to CARE's Earthquake and Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation Fund.

"This is the worst natural disaster of our lifetime. We all want to help the victims; that's why we've opened up our organization to aid in the relief effort. We are processing donated items at cost and will sell them on eBay, giving the net proceeds to CARE for disaster relief. I'm appealing everyone to do what they can to help," said Randy Adams, CEO of AuctionDrop.

[hadassahchana[$]]

Sigh. I have been writing to MyPoints for nearly a week now, and I'm getting nowhere.

The customer service rep told me that they have always had the option to donate points to charity. He said that you go to 'spend points', click on 'charity', and then choose between Toys For Tots and REd Cross.

When I do this, I get a message indicating that there are no charity options currently. MyPoints insists that there is, I still cannot find it.

Can those of you who are MyPoints members check to see if you have the option available on your account? I don't know if it's just me, or if there really is no way to donate through them.


Cindy

[Prepoia[$]]

I've given to the Red Cross. They let you designate where the donation goes.

Sandy