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NASW Florida Chapter
1931 Dellwood Dr.
Tallahassee, FL 32303

(800) 352-6279
(850) 561-6279 (fax)
naswfl@naswfl.org

       

 


News

NASW-FL responds to disaster in Haiti

Florida, more than most other areas of the continental US, has a direct connection to Haiti and it’s residents who were impacted by the recent 7.0 earthquake in Port Au Prince due to the high number of Haitian immigrants in Florida. An estimated 3 million residents of Haiti were affected, and the extent of the devastation is still unknown.

The Board and staff of the National Association of Social Workers, Florida Chapter would like to reach out to the Florida social workers who are directly impacted by this disaster. In Florida, there are a large number of local social workers who have families and friends in Haiti, and more who have clients who are being impacted in a variety of ways. NASW-FL would like to offer our assistance to our members by providing information on how to access resources, donate, or volunteer.

Our hearts go out to all who were touched by this tragedy!

FOR THOSE WHO ARE SEARCHING FOR FAMILY MEMBERS IN HAITI

The State Department Operations Center has set up the following number for Americans seeking information about family members in Haiti: 1-888-407-4747. Due to heavy volume, some callers may receive a recording. Communications are very difficult within Haiti at this time.

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO DONATE THEIR ASSISTANCE

According to the Center for International Disaster Information (http://www.cidi.org/incident/haiti-10a), in general volunteers are deployed directly to Haiti only if they have significant, disaster-specific training (such as Red Cross Certification), prior disaster experience, and are willing to commit to work up to three months in their volunteer assignments. Because resources are strained during a crisis, volunteers without the appropriate skills and experience can be a significant burden on the ongoing relief efforts.

Assistance can be provided stateside, however, by volunteering with one of the many organizations (some of which are listed below) who are collecting donations and providing assistance.

If you would like to contact the Red Cross to become a certified disaster relief therapist to assist in future disaster relief efforts, you can do so at www.redcross.org

FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO DONATE MONEY OR SUPPLIES

  • The Red Cross is taking donations via text messages. Text the word HAITI to the number 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts. It'll show up on your phone bill. You can also donate online at www.RedCross.org
  • Yele (Wyclef Jean's Charity): Visit www.yele.org or text YELE to 501501 to quickly donate $5 (your phone bill will be charged). Wyclef Jean is a musician and is a native of Haiti, you may remember him from the group The Refugees.
  • Operation Helping Hands, a joint community project of The Miami Herald and United Way-Miami, will be collecting donations to support the relief effort in Haiti. To make a contribution, go to www.iwant2help.org
  • The Archdiocese of Miami is accepting financial donations to assist with recovery efforts for the earthquake victims in Haiti. People may send their donations to Catholic Charities, 1505 NE 26th St. Wilton Manors, FL 33305, Attention Earthquake Victims.
  • Catholic Relief Services is responding to the aftermath of the massive earthquake that struck near the capital of Port au Prince. Donate online at www.crs.org
  • Doctors Without Borders is asking for donations to help the emergency response teams in Haiti. Donate with a debit or credit card at https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org.
  • Project Medishare, Miami, brings medical care to northeast Haiti. Make a donation at www.projectmedishare.org or call 305-762-6448.
  • Hope for Haiti, Naples, Fla., is an education and relief charity that will send supplies by private plane. Donate at www.hopeforhaiti.com or call 239-434-7183.
  • Agape Flights, Venice, Fla., services American missionaries throughout the Caribbean with supply flights, the next scheduled for Thursday. Donate at www.agapeflights.com or call 941-584-8078.
  • Haitian Education Project, St. Leo University, north of Tampa, is organizing relief efforts to support people on the ground. For information, visit haitianeducationproject@saintleo.edu or call either 800-334-5532 or 352-588-8331.
  • World Vision, a worldwide Christian nonprofit, has been providing humanitarian services in Haiti for decades. Donate to the disaster relief fund at worldvision.org; 866-280-6587. P.O. Box 9716, Federal Way, WA 98063-9716.
  • American Jewish World Service is a New York-based worldwide relief organization with a Haitian disaster fund. Donate at www.ajws.org or call 212-792-2900.
  • The Salvation Army, a Christian nonprofit, has been operating in Haiti since 1950, with schools, medical facilities, schools, feeding and economic development programs. Donate to its disaster relief fund at www.salvationarmyusa.org, by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, or send checks to Salvation Army, 61 NW 67 St., Miami, FL 33150.
  • Jesuit Refugee Service/USA, is an international Catholic non-governmental organization with a relief operation. Donate online at www.jrsusa.org, call 202-462-0400, www.twitter.com/jrsusa, or on Facebook at http://bit.ly/y5EUS
  • The City of North Miami has a sister cities program in Delmas, Haiti where the Canape Verte Hospital and school collapsed. The City has established an account for donations which will be tax deductible and managed by the Red Cross and the City of North Miami for the specific purpose of rebuilding and supplying the hospital, the school children and school as soon as possible. Check donations should be made payable to: City of North Miami Haiti Relief Fund. Please include a letter identifying who or what entity is making the donation so that they can get the tax deductible letter later in the year. The checks can be forwarded: Haiti Relief Fund, City of North Miami, Attn: Mayor Andre Pierre 776 N E 125 Street, North Miami, Fl 33161.
  • The City of North Miami is also accepting donations of dry food, WATER, and clothing. The central collection point is 800 NE 137 St. The City is providing law enforcement and staffing at this site to ensure proper execution of the collection donations begin today from 12 - 8:00 p.m. and will be ongoing from 8 - 8 tomorrow.
  • Additional and updated resources can be found at www.volunteerflorida.org

 

 

 

 

Page last updated on Thursday, January 14, 2010

 


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