Lending a Hand for Haiti

When disaster strikes, global citizens are moved to act. But how can one make a difference for those affected by a catastrophe as devastating as this week’s earthquake in Haiti?  Where does one even start?
 
While many are willing and able to volunteer today--ready to hop on a plane to Port-au-Prince and lend a hand however they are needed--the reality is there may not yet be appropriate ways for most people to pitch in, especially in the days immediately following a disaster of this magnitude.
 
There are a number of good reasons for this:

• The basic infrastructure of a place following a disaster is often severely compromised, making resources scarce and the environment unsafe for non-trained personnel to be on the front lines. Indeed, good-intentioned but ill-equipped volunteers can actually become a distraction or liability in these situations.
• The current triage of need may mean that those services most urgently sought require skills that many volunteers may just not have (medical expertise, engineering and construction experience, etc.)
• It can even be the case that there is simply too much chaos to bring in new volunteers. Humanitarian efforts are most effective when focused on what can be done immediately by teams of already-trained personnel.

This doesn’t mean, however, that there is nothing concerned citizens can do to help others in need. In fact, one of the best things people can do, wherever they are in the world, is donate money to those organizations who are already on the ground serving affected communities. For a partial list of groups providing critical services in Haiti, check out this list on CNN.com.
 
Donations are by no means required to be substantial; many post-disaster fundraising campaigns rely on large numbers of individuals making small donations to collectively invest in on-the-ground relief efforts. In lieu of monetary donations, some humanitarian and aid organizations may also be seeking donations of household items, clothing or food--an effort individuals can assist with by collecting goods from friends, family and colleagues at home.
 
But if you are certain you want to volunteer on the ground to assist with disaster relief efforts, you’ll need to take a moment to assess what skills and experiences you can contribute, how you can best get involved, and what to expect as a disaster relief volunteer. To get started with this process, check out this page from Idealist.org’s free online Volunteer Resource Center.
 
It’s important to remember, as we struggle to comprehend Haiti’s almost unimaginable immediate need, that it will likely take months – if not years – for the nation to recover from this devastating earthquake. So while we may be energized and motivated today to travel there and lend a hand, it is perhaps wiser to wait until the area is more stable. Over the coming months, there is much to be done and for those with time, energy, and a willingness to give, the opportunities to assist may be innumerable.
 
If you found this article on ways to help in Haiti useful, take a look at this piece on funding for the Peace Corps.
 
(U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Emmitt Hawks; relief in Haiti following the 2008 hurricanes)