Local Red Cross Getting Offers of Help for Haiti
Red Cross volunteers on the ground in Haiti. Photo courtesy of Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross
The local chapter of The American Red Cross has seen an outpouring of support for victims of the earthquake in Haiti. For example, the Reno office stayed open over the three day weekend and collected more than three thousand dollars on Monday alone.
I talked to Executive Director Caroline Punches, who says people are calling every day wanting to know what they can do to help. The local Red Cross is not asking for donations of water or clothes right now. Those may eventually be needed, but roads are still closed and the relief efforts are still being organized. ”It’s a matter of logistics,” says Punches.
What the Red Cross really needs is money. ”We are meeting the needs of the people where they are right now,” said Punches. That means money to provide basic items to people who have lost everything.
Some people have called offering to go to Haiti, but Punches says volunteers are still in emergency mode there and certain skills and training are required. ”The disaster relief effort will be going on for months, so there may be an opportunity later for the skills people already have,” she said. She added that The Red Cross does provide training locally for volunteers, who may be needed later.
In the meantime, you can donate money through the local Red Cross office or send the text message: ”Haiti” to 90999 and donate ten dollars which will be added to your cell phone bill.