The magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck the Haitian capital of Port-Au-Prince on January 12th has left the country in ruins.  Basic services such as clean water, food, shelter & medical care are almost non-existent at this point & hundreds of thousands may be dead.

The devastation in Haiti has inspired incredible acts of generosity & kindness – sorely needed in a country ruined by an extraordinary act of nature.  For folks looking for a way to help, Green in BKLYN is collecting funds & many of Myrtle Avenue’s local businesses are also taking donations.  In addition, below are foundations & charities – all focused on getting the support & resources needed to the people of Haiti.

The resources listed from CNN include the highest-rated charities by CharityNavigator.org, which is an independent, nonprofit organization that evaluates charity groups based on effectiveness and financial stability.  Those sites are vetted by CNN journalists for credibility.

Here in NYC & Brooklyn:

• Haitian Women’s Program is accepting monetary donations & medical supplies at: 464-66 Bergen Street, Brooklyn NY 11217 (718-953-4100).

• NYC Council is accepting checks with Haiti Earthquake Relief written in the memo at: Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, One Centre Street 23^rd Floor, NYC NY 10007 (212-788-7794 or call 311).  Or go online at NYC.gov.

National & International (per CNN):

• American Jewish World Service:  The agency supports grass-roots, community-based organizations in remote locations whose needs are not always met by larger organizations.  To donate to its Haiti relief efforts, go to ajws.org/haitiearthquake/ or mail a check to 45 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York NY 10018.  Make checks out to “American Jewish World Service” and in the memo section write “Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.”  You may also call 1-800-889-7146 or 212-792-2900.  The group will use the funds for immediate needs, such as psychological and social support, health services and education on hygiene and disease prevention, mobilizing volunteers in Haiti to help with rescue and aid distribution and aid to the Haitian Dominican community – who can coordinate with the Dominican government for greater support – in addition to long-term rebuilding plans.

• American Red Cross:  The American Red Cross’ primary focus during the initial response of an emergency is feeding, sheltering and supplying any other basic needs.  To donate go to RedCross.org, hit the “Donate Now” button and then “International Response Fund”.  You also can text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to the International Response Fund.  The money will go directly to relief efforts in Haiti.  Or call 1-800-Red-Cross.

• AmeriCares:  This nonprofit disaster relief organization delivers medicine, medical supplies and aid to people in crisis around the world.  To donate, call 1-800-486-HELP or go to AmeriCares.org.  Donations will go toward medicine and medical supplies and for expenses for providing that medical aid.

• Care:  This humanitarian organization’s main focus is to fight global poverty, specifically by empowering marginalized women and girls.  To donate to the Haiti relief fund effort, go to Care.org or call 1-800-521-CARE.  Money will go toward food, water, sanitation, shelter and emergency health response.

• Catholic Relief Services: Catholic Relief Services is an aid agency that works with emergency relief, micro-finance, AIDS/HIV relief, agriculture, water and sanitation, among other projects in countries around the world.  To donate, go to crs.org or call 1-877-HELP-CRS.  You also can text RELIEF to 30644.  You will receive a text message back with instructions on how to donate.  You can send a check to Catholic Relief Services, PO Box 17090, Baltimore MD 21203-7090.  Write “Haiti Earthquake” in the memo area.  The money will go toward immediate needs, which includes water, food, hygiene kits, bedding and basic cooking utensils, among other items.

• Direct Relief International:  Direct Relief provides medical attention to those in need on an ongoing basis and in emergencies.  Monetary donations go toward medical aid, supplies and equipment in Haiti.  To donate, go to DirectRelief.org or call 805-964-4767 and 800-676-1638.

• Food For the Poor: The agency delivers food, medical supplies and other goods that are donated to the poor.  To donate to its Haiti relief efforts, go to FoodForThePoor.org or call 1-800-487-1158.  Monetary donations will go toward purchasing food and supplies as well as shipping costs.

• Habitat for Humanity: Habitat for Humanity provides affordable, safe shelter for low-income families and people in need.  Money donated for Haiti relief efforts will go toward recovery and rebuilding.  To donate, go to habitat.org or call 1-800-Habitat.

• International Medical Corps: This emergency response agency focuses on health in emergency situations.  Monetary donations go toward purchasing medical supplies, medicine and emergency kits and transporting these supplies.  Call 1-800-481-4462 or go to imcworldwide.org.

• International Relief Teams: The nonprofit organizes volunteer teams to provide medical and non-medical assistance to victims of disasters and poverty.  To donate, go to irteams.org or call 619-284-7979.  Checks can be made out to “International Relief Teams”, 4560 Alvarado Canyon Road, Suite 2G, San Diego CA 92120-4309.  The money will be used for medical supplies, medicine and other relief supplies and to support volunteers heading to Haiti for relief efforts.

• Love a Child: The Christian-based humanitarian relief agency focuses on giving aid to children and their families in Haiti.  To donate, go to loveachild.com or call 1-800-645-4868.  You can mail a check to PO Box 30744, Tampa FL 33630-3744.  Write “Haiti Earthquake” or “Where most needed” on the memo line of the check.  Monetary donations will be used for food, clothing, shelter, schools and medical needs, among other program services.

• Medical Teams International: This Christian global health organization sends volunteer medical teams and supplies to those in the midst of disaster or poverty.  Monetary donations will go to supporting the medical teams being sent to Haiti and to the cost of shipping the medical supplies donated by corporations.  Donate by going to MedicalTeams.org and clicking on the “Donate Now” button, call 1-800-959-HEAL (4325) or send a check to Medical Teams International, PO Box 10, Portland OR 97207.

• Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders): The humanitarian organization delivers medical care to people caught in crisis.  Donations to its Haiti relief efforts will go toward repairing the obstetrics and trauma hospitals in Haiti that were damaged in the earthquake.  They also will go to transporting an additional 70 doctors and medical supplies to the island in an effort to set up makeshift emergency medical response centers.  To donate, go to DoctorsWithoutBorders.org or call 1-888-392-0392.

• Mercy Corps: The organization provides humanitarian assistance and economic opportunities in the world’s toughest places, specifically those dealing with poverty, conflict and instability.  To donate, go to MercyCorps.org.  Money will go toward immediate humanitarian needs in Haiti, which may include, food, water and temporary shelter.

• Operation USA: The international relief agency provides funding for reconstruction and development aid to communities that have experienced disasters, disease and poverty.  For its Haiti relief efforts, the agency plans to use donations for health care materials, water purification supplies and food supplements.  To donate, go to opusa.org, call 1-800-678-7255 or mail a check to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Avenue, Suite A, Culver City CA 90232.

• Project Hope: Project Hope responds to crises with medical supplies and medical volunteers and it is committed to long-term sustainable health care.  To donate, go to ProjectHope.org or mail a check to 255 Carter Hall Lane, Millwood VA 22646.  Monetary donations will be used for shipments of medicine and medical supplies and for deployment of volunteer doctors and nurses to Haiti.

• Project MediShare: The agency’s sole purpose is to improve the health and well-being of Haitian people.  To donate, go to ProjectMediShare.org or you can send a check, cash or in-kind donation (including medicines and medical supplies) to Project MediShare, 8260 NE Second Avenue, Miami FL 33138.  Money will go toward medical care in Haiti and to send medical teams there.

• Samaritan’s Purse: The nondenominational evangelical Christian organization works through local churches and partners on the ground.  The aid agency provides spiritual and physical aid to the poor, sick and suffering.  To donate, go to SamaritansPurse.org or call 1-800-528-1980.  To give by mail, send donations to Samaritan’s Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone NC 28607-3000.  Money will go toward temporary shelter, water purification, hygiene kits, blankets, medicine and medical teams.

• Save the Children: The independent organization focuses on children in need in the US and globally through programs for health and nutrition, child protection and education.  To donate, go to SavetheChildren.org, or call 1-800-728-3843 or 203-221-4030.  Donations will go toward purchasing relief items, such as hygiene kits, family kits (pots, pans, food preparation items) and tarps.

• The Salvation Army: The Salvation Army’s mission is to provide food, shelter, clothing and spiritual comfort during disasters.  To donate money, go to SalvationArmyUSA.org or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.  Make sure you designate the donation for “Haiti Earthquake.”  Money will go to the Salvation Army in Haiti, which will determine the country’s immediate needs including water, food, medicine and transportation.

• Shelterbox: The nonprofit delivers boxes of supplies to families of up to 10 people.  The boxes contain a tent and essential equipment to use while individuals are displaced or homeless.  To donate, call 941-907-6036 or go to ShelterBoxUSA.org.

• U.S. Fund for UNICEF: The national committee for UNICEF is responsible for the organization’s fundraising.  UNICEF uses the money for health care, clean water, nutrition, education and emergency relief.  To donate, go to UnicefUSA.org or 1-800-4-UNICEF.

• World Concern: The organization lifts people out of poverty, beginning with disaster response and ending when families can live sustainable lives.  To donate to its relief effort, go to WorldConcern.org or call 1-866-530-5433.  You can also mail checks to 19303 Fremont Avenue North, Seattle WA 98133.  Please specify that the check is for “Haiti Disaster Response.”  Money will go toward water supplies, shelter, blankets, distribution of food and long-term needs such as job training, education, loans and home construction, among other projects.

• World Food Programme: The food assistance agency’s main focus is to fight hunger worldwide.  The organization is working to bring food to Haiti.  To donate, go to wfp.org.

• World Neighbors: The agency trains and educates communities to solve hunger, poverty and disease.  To donate, go to wn.org, call 405-752-9700 or mail a check to World Neighbors, 4127 NW 122nd Street, Oklahoma City OK, 73120 and write “Haiti Fund” on the memo line.  Monetary donations will be used to support short-term needs (i.e. food, water and supplies) and long-term development programs.

• World Water Relief: The agency’s main focus is bringing clean water to developing countries.  To donate, go to WorldWaterRelief.org, mail checks to 8343 Roswell Road, Suite 455, Atlanta GA 30350-2810 or call 404-242-1601 or 214-500-9417.  Money will go directly to water filtration systems that will be installed in Haiti.

• Yele Haiti: This organization, founded by Wyclef Jean, creates projects to improve the quality of education, health, environment and community development in Haiti.  To donate to to its Haiti relief efforts, go to yele.org or text YELE to 501501 to donate $5.