Earthquake ravages Port Au Prince Haiti

[Pastiche]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Hopefully they arent pushy about it like safeway.

How was Safeway pushy?

[mykalberta]

Are you at all obligated to send that stuff as part of the adoption contract? If not why keep the ties?

[mykalberta]

Originally Posted by Pastiche

How was Safeway pushy?

Just their constant asking of donations for everything, every cashier asks for it and when you say no I dont want to support ABC they all seem very elitist about it.

Other than the prices its one of the few redeeming qualities about Walmart/Superstore/Costco that you dont get bombarded with that stuff.

Let me dontate my $50 to the singers charity and be done with it.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by cyclone3483

HOOT, I think it has less to do with slavery and more to do with lack of other media. Criminals spread the rumour that a tsunami was coming, scaring hundreds of people up into the hills, just so they could just take the aid and supplies they left behind in their panic. Haitians often rely too heavily on word of mouth and far too often believe what they are told without critically thinking. Same thing happened when they were distributing those energy cookies. One person thought that the packing date was the expiry date and began yelling that they were no good. Many just took his word for it and left or crumbled the food.

That was messed up. Personally if I'm starving I would just have eaten it regardless.

[cyclone3483]

I was asked about communications with my twins' biological mom: I met her when I was in Haiti. She loves her kids, but she knew she could not take care of them. When they were 3 years old, she'd have to lock them in their shack alone while she went to work. Yes, it was dangerous. She had no one to care for them and if she did not work, they did not eat. I have my twins because she loved them so much that she let them go to a better place. For the most part, I would say that non-orphaned kids from Haiti are a similar story. I never saw one kid that was not loved while I was there, but they are just incapable of providing the necessities of life. The twins' biological mom deserves to know she made a good decision and that her kids are healthy and loved. So I make sure she knows that....BTW haven't heard if she has survived. Waiting....praying for Sophonie Fils.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Just their constant asking of donations for everything, every cashier asks for it and when you say no I dont want to support ABC they all seem very elitist about it.

This drives me nuts or the old "...but it's only a few dollars." line. If I donated a few dollars every time I shopped I wouldn't be able to eat myself (okay I'm exaggerating, but still!). Being a single guy with no roommate or anything I go shopping quiet a bit because I like to have fresh fruit/veggies so I hit Safeway 3-4 times a week sometimes for quick shops. I have no problem donating but sometimes I don't want to donate $20/week to some of these charities they have. I would rather give it to some charity I personally believe in.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by cyclone3483

I was asked about communications with my twins' biological mom: I met her when I was in Haiti. She loves her kids, but she knew she could not take care of them. When they were 3 years old, she'd have to lock them in their shack alone while she went to work. Yes, it was dangerous. She had no one to care for them and if she did not work, they did not eat. I have my twins because she loved them so much that she let them go to a better place. For the most part, I would say that non-orphaned kids from Haiti are a similar story. I never saw one kid that was not loved while I was there, but they are just incapable of providing the necessities of life. The twins' biological mom deserves to know she made a good decision and that her kids are healthy and loved. So I make sure she knows that....BTW haven't heard if she has survived. Waiting....praying for Sophonie Fils.

I think it is great that you keep in touch with her because she will hopefully spread the good word that people are actually trying to help other children in Haiti not abuse them as the rumors would like others to think.

Do the kids still keep in contact with her? Or just you?

[Azure]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Hopefully they arent pushy about it like safeway.

The one I donated at wasn't pushy, but the lady did get a bit annoying when she started to praise me for a measly $50.

[Azure]

Originally Posted by HOOT

This drives me nuts or the old "...but it's only a few dollars." line. If I donated a few dollars every time I shopped I wouldn't be able to eat myself (okay I'm exaggerating, but still!). Being a single guy with no roommate or anything I go shopping quiet a bit because I like to have fresh fruit/veggies so I hit Safeway 3-4 times a week sometimes for quick shops. I have no problem donating but sometimes I don't want to donate $20/week to some of these charities they have. I would rather give it to some charity I personally believe in.

And its really tight right now for a lot of families. I know they only ask for a few dollars, but those few dollars mean a lot to a struggling family.

The guy in front of me said he would love to donate but couldn't so I put in $25 bucks for him.

[worth]

Before donating I would really much rather understand who I’m giving to and what they will do with the money.

I'm going to Safeway after work, so I expect to be inundated with this, and I don't mind giving, but I want to know that my money will actually end up where it should.

I think Safeway will give the fund to the Red Cross and UNICEF. I would personally rather not support UNICEF to be honest. Maybe I will make a direct donation to the Red Cross.

I picked up a globe and mail on Saturday and there were huge 1/2 page and 3/4 colour page ads taken out by organizations pleading for donations. Does anyone know if the globe donated this space? I would hope so. The issue I have is the money not going to the places where it's needed. That's why I hesitate. You read these stories where non profit organizations are only donating a fraction of the money they receive.

I also read another article that the Red Cross still had millions of dollars from the Tsunami that they had not spent as of yet. I don't want to donate money and then the organization just sits on the money. If they're doing that then maybe they don't need the funds.

[Knut]

I gave to Doctors without Borders. I know that they have a constant presence in Haiti and that their facilities were destroyed in the quake. At the very least you can help them rebuild and maintain their long-term presence there.

[Peanut]

Originally Posted by worth

I also read another article that the Red Cross still had millions of dollars from the Tsunami that they had not spent as of yet. I don't want to donate money and then the organization just sits on the money. If they're doing that then maybe they don't need the funds.

But if the funds were donated specifically for the Tsunami, they are likely not permitted to re-allocate those funds to other stuff. I haven't read the article you're refering to, but just because there was supposedly a surplus from the Tsunami doesn't mean they don't require funds for Haiti.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by Hesla

I gave to Doctors without Borders. I know that they have a constant presence in Haiti and that their facilities were destroyed in the quake. At the very least you can help them rebuild and maintain their long-term presence there.

Same, Doctor's without Borders is one of the rare charity groups that I trust my donation is going to the actual cause.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by HOOT

This drives me nuts or the old "...but it's only a few dollars." line.

I also wouldn't mind if they told me that the company was going to match donations made by the shoppers. As it stands the company takes in a bunch of money in donations, and then gets themselves a tax receipt without them having to donate anything themselves.

I made my own donation online; to the Canadian Red Cross. And I encourage each of you to also make your own donation; even if it's just $5. Just have one less beer at the pub, or whatever it takes.

I thought I heard on the radio this morning that the Canadian gov't was going to match our donations, but I can't find a link.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I thought I heard on the radio this morning that the Canadian gov't was going to match our donations, but I can't find a link.

The federal government announced it will match, dollar for dollar, Canadians' individual donations to registered charities to support the relief and recovery efforts in Haiti -- up to a total of $50 million.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...14/?hub=Canada

[Russic]

I was actually annoyed that I wasn't ask to donate when I was at Safeway. I wanted to, but the sign at the register said to go to customer service. There was a line and I was already late. Not saying I couldn't donate (did that through iTunes), but I was just a little shocked because they seem to usually on the ball with the donations thing.

[cyclone3483]

To answer your question, HOOT, I keep in touch with her and had just got the twins set up with her email address just before this happened. So I don't think either of them did get hold of her.

[HOOT]

Looting has started and one orphanage has reported being robbed twice so far.

[1stLand]

I donated nothing. My give-a-damn is broken.

Mass media hasnt been successful in brainwashing me.

[1stLand]

Originally Posted by HOOT

Looting has started and one orphanage has reported being robbed twice so far.