Donations to Haiti

[Michel Nau*]

Dear Members of Ann Pale, and honorable visitors:

There's a pervasive perception throughout the world that when bad things happen to people, they need food, water and clothing. Well, these things are important, but not URGENT, therefore not needed. Haitian people don't die from hunger, or thirst, and they could wear the same clothes for a week or two.

I would like to urge the Haitian people to yield sending canned food, bottle water, and clothes to Haiti. These things are heavy to carry, and the shipping cost is expensive.

Note that you're not actually saving anybody's life by giving them an extra T-shirt, an extra can of beans, or a bottle of water. Pure bottle water is for foreigner volunteer workers who are scared of overseas water. But the water from the rivers in Haiti isn’t dangerous to Haitian people.

Since the deed is already done, the key things that need to be brought in from you are v
accines, vitamin A through Z pills or chlorine, penicillin, and other kind of antibiotics, and medicines. These things are really light to carry, and pretty cheap to ship, and above all URGENT. They save life!!


Contact your hospitals, and pharmacies from your community and ask them if they could donate from their inventory, medical supplies, and medicines that will expire within one month or two. Haiti needs these things immediately.


The most important thing, I left it for the end is MONEY. Remember people of Haiti, because of their living conditions, don’t do volunteer works. They want to get paid specially if they have to do sanitation jobs, such as remove cadavers from the streets, and pick up trashes.


Please be generous, give to organizations that are currently active in Haiti or any of your choice. Unfortunately, I can’t make a recommendation, however, I do believe that we have in our community several organizations with honesty and integrity that are willing to accept
your donation, and use it for a good cause.


And one more thing before I go: Don’t send your money to Haitian embassies abroad, or your government. That wouldn’t be smart to do. Remember you give money to your government, when you have to pay your taxes, or other legal fees for services. Otherwise, reach out to the PEOPLE.


Haitian Americans Today
Michel Nau,
Executive Director
Washington, DC
E-mail mnau@haitianamericanstoday.org
God Bless You All!!