What Charities do you Trust?

[Steve Rozmiarek]

I read that something like 90% of the Haitian population is Catholic. I'm not really, so I don't know, but I'd think that church would be uniquely positioned to be able to pass on help to where it was actually needed. I imagine they have a church based charity program?

[Josh Reet]

Salvation Army When I was in the national guard at the Kent State riots the Red Cross came in and wanted us to pay for there services but the Salvation amry showed up and gave out coffee, donuts, news papers and sandwichs for free. Some nights that was the only food that I got after coming in from guard duty. I make sure I give to them when I can. No Red cross for me.

I'm not going to argue with you about what you experienced at Kent st, that sounds screwed up for sure. However, I think in the decades since the Red Cross has more than proved its value in dozens of disasters. Judging the whole organization for the actions of one group of Red Cross members in one situation from 40 years ago would seem to be a bit unfair.

As far as I am concerned, Red Cross and Red Crescent are good organizations who help millions of people. They are often the only people who can get into see hostages or war prisoners. I would hate to see the world without the work that they do.

But I sure agree with you about the Salvation Army.

[Neal Clayton]

I read that something like 90% of the Haitian population is Catholic. I'm not really, so I don't know, but I'd think that church would be uniquely positioned to be able to pass on help to where it was actually needed. I imagine they have a church based charity program?

i was gonna suggest that. and it applies in new orleans as well. they ran many social services in that city.

their charities are consistently around 90% "paid out" in that there are very little "administrative costs" (which in red cross terms means "we made all this money we have to spend it since we're a non profit, give all the management a raise and a bonus").

they do take vows of poverty after all... no cadillacs and armani suits for catholic priests .

i'm not a catholic, fwiw, but i can appreciate their charitable work after having lived in a predominantly catholic city.

their charitable organizations all fall under the name "Catholic Charities". google should turn up plenty.

[Gene Howe]

Salvation Army When I was in the national guard at the Kent State riots the Red Cross came in and wanted us to pay for there services but the Salvation amry showed up and gave out coffee, donuts, news papers and sandwichs for free. Some nights that was the only food that I got after coming in from guard duty. I make sure I give to them when I can. No Red cross for me.

ABSOLUTELY!!!
I had the same experience in Seward AK after the sunami resulting from the AK quake in the 60's.
Forget the Red Cross!

[Stan Johnsey]

Salvation Army.

[Anthony Scira]

Salvation Army and Red Cross are both great organizations. And if I were in the NG and the Salvation Army was giving away free doughnuts and coffee I know where my alligence would lay.

[Pat Germain]

I read that something like 90% of the Haitian population is Catholic. I'm not really, so I don't know, but I'd think that church would be uniquely positioned to be able to pass on help to where it was actually needed. I imagine they have a church based charity program?

I've actually been to Haiti and Port au Prince. Interestingly, what I'm not seeing in new reports is the local faith is actually Catholic with Voodoo. I'm not being a smart alec here. It's true and I think it's very interesting.

I'm sure the Catholic church is already doing what it can. But I suspect most charities will be pretty limited until the major logistical hurdles are overcome. The aircraft carrier Carl Vinson and a hospital ship are on the way. This will go a long way to providing medivac, trauma care on the ground and getting food and water into the city.

This disaster is going to be of epic proportions. Right now there are hundreds of thousands of people in Port au Prince with no water, no food, no shelter and no medical care.

There are also many thousands of people dead in the city. This is not only tragic, but a serious health hazard in a tropical climate.

The challenges are overwhelming.

[Andy Pogue]

Estes Church of Christ, Henderson Tn. www.estes.tn.org

They will be taking a plane with supplies and workers from the church and a college in town. No paid workers, only volenteers so little if any overhead. we give monthly as they support a children's home there and go regulary to check on them.

[Jim Rimmer]

I sent a donation to Samaritan's Purse. It is run by Franklin Graham, Billy Graham's son.

[John Pratt]

Samaritans Purse, Salvation Army, and CRWRC are all great choices.

Sorry, no Red Cross for me. At Walter Reed Army Hospital they wanted to charge soldiers to rent playing cards and ping-pong balls (Yes, rent. They made you turn them in when you were done). They have done some good things over the years, but I have a real problem with a charitable organization that has executives making over $500K a year in salary.

[Josh Reet]

Sorry, no Red Cross for me. At Walter Reed Army Hospital they wanted to charge soldiers to rent playing cards and ping-pong balls (Yes, rent. They made you turn them in when you were done). They have done some good things over the years, but I have a real problem with a charitable organization that has executives making over $500K a year in salary.

That's pretty strange with the cards and whatnot. My initial reaction is to be unimpressed. I wish I could get some more info on why they have things set up like that. But that still doesn't negate all the good work they have done around the world over the years. After all, it shouldn't be up to the Red Cross to make life better at Walter Reed, that is a responsibility of the American government. Don't let someone else take the blame for their failure.

Regarding executive pay, the Red Cross is an organization with a $3.5 billion (yes, that's billion with a "B") budget. Who exactly do you want to be heading it? Some idealistic hippie or preacher? No. The thing is larger than all but the biggest businesses in the country. $500,000 is VERY cheap when you consider what someone who is qualified to run a $3.5b company could be making at Boeing or Microsoft or Morgan Stanley.

NOTE: I'm having a hard time finding the accurate budget number. Some sources place it as high as $9b, but $3.5b seems to be what their financial statement says to me. Read it yourself here:

http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Do...lang0_3599.pdf

Forbes lists the $9b number for fiscal year ending '06:

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/14/...ss_CH0013.html

[Brian Kent]

Sorry to unload, folks, but I need to ask for your prayers and hopes.

Along with the multitudes of people I don't know, I just found out that three of our mission people entered the Hotel Montana in Port-au-Prince Haiti shortly before it collapsed. They have not been found yet.

Sam Dixon, head of the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR - my most trusted charity),
Clinton Rabb, head of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission,
and Jim Gulley, an UMCOR consultant.

UMCOR's main work in Haiti has been in sustainable agriculture. UMVIM organizes a lot of volunteer groups for orphanage and other work there. I don't know why they were in Haiti this time. I attended a seminar that they gave a couple of years ago in California, ironically, on earthquake preparedness.

Thanks for listening.

Brian

[Harry Hagan]

A local news story reminded me of a Louisville-based organization whose sole purpose is to provide what Haitians desperately need at the moment; life-saving medical supplies and equipment. The organization is called Supplies Over Seas.

Today I helped collect, sort, and package medical supplies for SOS’s relief effort knowing that those items are urgently needed in Haiti. If you live in the Louisville area, more volunteers are needed.

Here’s a link to the SOS website if you’re considering donating to the Haitian relief effort.

http://www.hhministries.com/SOS.html

[John Coloccia]

Salvation army.

[Benjamin Dahl]

Here is another one.

http://www.clintonfoundation.org/haitiearthquake/
this has links to a number of other sites including Mercy Corps and UNICEF if you don't want to donate via Clinton.

Brian, I hope for good news for people from your mission. My work has taken me to Haiti a lot and I have heard that a number of friends and colleagues are dead or still missing. Pretty overwhelming.

Ben