- Our congregation would like to collect clothes, food, or supplies. How can we respond with material resources?
- How can I give a financial gift?
- How much of my donation will be used in the relief effort?
- How can I volunteer?
- If I go to Haiti, what do I do?
- My company does match grant for gifts. Will my gift to PDA qualify for this program?
- Have PC(USA) mission personnel been affected?
- How can I stay informed?
- How are funds being used?
1. Our congregation would like to collect clothes, food or supplies. How can we respond with material resources?
Please prepare Gift of the Heart Hygiene Kits and Baby Kits, and avoid other material collections.
Clean water and sanitation are one of the first needs in the emergency relief phase. Here a partner is unrolling piping for a portable water system. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, ACT Alliance. While PDA is discouraging sending material resources, we are encouraging individuals and congregations to assemble Gift of the Heart kits. Working in cooperation with our ecumenical partner Church World Service, shipments totaling more than 35,000 hygiene kits (to provide individuals with basic necessities) and baby kits have been sent to Haiti. This has depleted the stock, and additional kits will be needed to be ready for immediate shipment when another disaster strikes or for additional shipments into Haiti.
Some of the Church World Service regional offices are serving as depots for the kits. You can call the toll-free number 888-297-2767 to see if this is something that will be helpful in your area.
2. How can I give a financial gift?
In disaster situations the most pressing need is money. A designated account has been established to help with the immediate relief efforts: DR000064.
Give online – make a secure online gift with your credit card.
Give by phone – call PresbyTel toll-free at (800) 872-3283.
Give by check
Gifts by check may be given through your local Presbyterian congregation or mailed to:
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700
Please include the designated giving account number DR000064 on your check.
Additional ways to give.
3. How much of my donation will be used in the relief effort?
A minimum of 95 percent of designated funds will be used to help those most in need. Up to five percent of your gift will be used to cover shared administrative costs associated with the processing and distribution of your gift.
4. How can I volunteer?
Volunteer opportunities in disaster settings are extremely rare and are usually limited to people with prior disaster experience and technical skills (such as health, engineering, etc). If it is determined that the situation in Haiti warrants and can sustain volunteers we will notify interested volunteers who have registered their contact information. Please complete the online interest registration form to indicate your interest, skills and experience.
USAID also has an online interest registration form for medical and non-medical volunteer service.
A mother cares for her daughter. A comb is one of the items in the requested hygiene kits. Photo by Paul Jeffrey, ACT Alliance. For more information on international disaster volunteers visit the Center for International Disaster Information’s Web site.
We encourage medical personnel to register with the Medical Benevolence Foundation (MBF) to support their efforts. MBF is preparing for teams to go when the way is clear and when they know for sure how to be helpful to partners. Contact them via email.
5. If I go to Haiti, what do I do?
Help us know what Presbyterians are doing
The Department of State warns U.S. citizens of the situation in Haiti and urges them to avoid travel to Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake of January 12, 2010. The Department of State has ordered nonemergency U.S. government personnel to depart Haiti. This Travel Warning currently expires on February 13, 2010. If citizens do travel, the Department of State strongly encourages all Americans to register online at the Travel Registration site before departing the United States for Haiti.
PC(USA) is interested to know of those specialized volunteers who have been invited to serve through other organizations. If you are taking part in relief efforts in such a manner please email KT Ockels.
6. My company does match grant for gifts. Will my gift to PDA qualify for this program?
Yes, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation, is a federally recognized, tax exempt organization pursuant to section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its tax ID number is 13-3462549. Receipts will be issued for charitable contributions made to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), A Corporation, for disaster-related or other mission work.
7. Have PC(USA) mission personnel be affected?
Information on PC(USA) mission personnel can be found on the Presbyterian World Mission site.
8. How can I stay informed?
Please continue to check the PDA Web site for current and updated information. Sign up to receive the PDA-RIN information in your email inbox.
9. How are funds being used?
The immediate One Great Hour of Sharing and general designated funds are being used to help with basic humanitarian relief in providing temporary shelter, food and health assistance, and psychosocial support. Funds are also being used to provide water and sanitation engineers, and equipment to construct water purification systems. Resources for building latrines are also being provided, as the sanitation situation is critical. PDA will be supporting communities in the long struggle to rebuild from this disaster — the worst earthquake to strike Haiti in 200 years. |
