ShelterBox Effort

ShelterBox is one among many organizations that have been actually outputting massive efforts to rescue victims in Haiti. Besides ShelterBox, the American Red Cross, Pelican Inc., and the UN have been doing as much they can to help the Haitian people toward recovery in the devastated region.

What are some of the different ways these organizations are trying to help? Well, for one, they're not just sending money that can be easily "lost" (if that's what you want to call it) in the process of being transferred to the Haiti rescue efforts. They're sending loads of supplies that can actually be used by the Haitian people. Americans have sent an unknown (but a suspecting decent) amount of money to Haiti, but yet there have been many reports that US Military air lifts have been halted because they have finally realized that they're not being covered financially for the efforts.

Money. Americans have for long always sought to be the great hero they've always been when it comes to assisting in natural disasters across the globe. But it seems this time money has played too big a role for efforts to even continue for MediVac efforts. In no way should this indicate that we should stop donating toward the efforts. The money that goes toward Haiti rescue efforts are definitely going toward a good cause (right? I mean, nobody steals money. There have been virtually no issues with governments stealing money that have been donated from financial help rigiht?). More than just sending money, Stanford has already sent out a response team to help Haitian citizens (I don't have a link to this, but I have spoken with a woman who was at REI to buy nearly $1000 in gear/supplies in preparation for a response effort to Haiti 2 days later. This was about 2.5 weeks ago.).

Some of the pros of donating money directly to the rescue efforts:
-it can be used however it needs to be used
-can help Haitian citizens get back on their feet
-can be used to make decisions on what to buy.
-ultimately... flexibility on how it can be used

Cons of donating money directly:
-no way of tracking how much
-no way of tracking where it's used
-no way of assuring that it's actually being sent to Haiti
-ultimately.. no accountability

Some organizations have realized the chances of money being "misplaced" along the way and have done more than money. They're putting together their own rescue boxes filled with emergency supplies that will actually be used in the Haiti recovery efforts rather than being lost along the way (Really, if you're that desparate to steal supplies that you don't need at the expense of possibly hundreds if not thousands of lives...). From my own experience in rescue work, it is easy to say that it is much easier to compile a list of needed supplies and have those donated rather than having money being donated where it could potentially land in the wrong hands (although it's rare to find someone with both traits in unison). There are some efforts where money is truly needed (such as MediVac efforts by the military)... so don't stop donating!