How to give to Haiti relief

WRAL is teaming with the Red Cross to get your help to Haiti.

The greatest need is money to help with rescue, recovery and rebuilding.

Donations of clothes, blankets and other goods are not being collected right now because there is nowhere to store them, no one to sort them, and it would be difficult to transport the items to Haiti.

All monetary donations you designate for WRAL Disaster Relief will be used in Haiti.

To give online, click on http://american.redcross.org/wral.

Mail a check, made payable to the American Red Cross with "WRAL Disaster Relief" in the memo section, to:
American Red Cross
Triangle Area Chapter
100 N. Peartree Lane
Raleigh, NC 27610

Make a donation over the phone, 24 hours a day by calling:
919-231-1602
OR, toll-free, 1-800-Red-Cross / 1-800- 733-2767

Text "Haiti" to 90999 to send a $10 donation to the Red Cross from your mobile phone. The $10 charge, and any associated fees, will show up on your wireless bill. All funds will go to support the Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti.

At this time, the Red Cross is not accepting volunteers to travel to Haiti. The Red Cross is only deploying volunteers specially trained to manage international emergency operations.

The Salvation Army is also advising that monetary donations are what is needed most.

100 percent of those earmarked for Haiti relief will go to earthquake victims, said Paige Bagwell, executive director of the Wake County organization.

Donors can give to the Salvation Army Latin America Disaster Fund online, or in person at 215 S. Person St. in Raleigh.

Give goods, money locally

In addition to the international aid organizations, individual churches and charities around the Triangle are soliciting funds and goods for earthquake relief.

Connect to that list, and tell us about what your organization is doing on GOLO.

To be sure to get the most from your gift, before making any donation, check out an organization with the Better Business Bureau or Charity Navigator.org.

The Hope for Haiti Foundation is helping to educate and provide medical and spiritual care to the people of Haiti. Contact the organization at www.hopeforhaitifoundation.com.