Click here for a list of groups assisting with the relief efforts in Haiti and to see what the NYS Senate is doing to help!

NEW YORK STATE SENATE
MAJORITY CONFERENCE OFFICE
            
250 Broadway, Suite 2034               T: 212-298-5595
New York, NY 10007               F: 212-298-5686

NYS Senate Assistance with Haitian Relief Efforts

Following the devastating earthquake in Haiti, the federal governmental has enlisted the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) as the lead agency to spearhead the relief effort.  USAID envoys have arrived in Haiti and are assessing the situation on the ground.  The Departments of State and Defense are working in conjunction with special envoys from around the world to coordinate support and stabilize the situation. 

A list of the groups enlisted to assist in relief for Haiti can be found at: http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti.

This directory should be used when considering any monetary donation.  Given the complexities of this disaster and the massive damage to the country’s infrastructure, many groups may not have the capacity to help, and we are working to determine the names of organizations located in Haiti that are still viable and functioning.  Additional information regarding donations, volunteers, nurses, doctors, and rescue and recovery assistance personnel can be found at the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) website:
 http://www.cidi.org/incident/haiti-10a or by calling 1-703-276-1914.
 
WHAT THE NYS SENATE IS DOING

We ask everyone to exercise patience while the federal, state, and city governments and the international community gather information and deploy resources to Haiti. Donations of clothing, food, and other items are being discouraged at this time, pending the initiation of basic repairs to vital infrastructure.  However, we encourage immediate monetary donations to support the purchase of medical supplies and items that facilitate search, rescue, and recovery efforts. Every dollar contributed will increase the success of relief efforts.
 
We are reaching out to each member’s office to obtain suggestions and recommendations on the most effective methods of disseminating information to communities in his or her respective district.

• The Secretary of the Senate, under the Leadership of Majority Conference Leader John L. Sampson, President Pro Tem Malcolm A. Smith, and Majority Leader Pedro Espada, has convened a task force to assist members’ offices with constituent-based issues and concerns. The unit is putting together a series of initiatives that include but are not limited to conference calls, clergy meetings, virtual webcasts, and town hall style meetings during which constituents can have their questions answered by representatives from USAID, FEMA, the U.S. State Department, and other agencies and organizations that are partnering in the relief effort.

• The NYS Senate is working with the Governor’s Office and the State’s Emergency Management Office (SEMO) to provide access to a registry that will enable people to list the names of family members and friends in Haiti in order to obtain status updates.  (These status updates are contingent upon USAID's ability to complete rescue, recovery, and identification efforts.)

• The Senate is creating a telephone hotline for Haitian relief efforts that would provide callers with much of the information addressed in this memo and answer questions about the search and recovery efforts.  Hotline information will be updated as necessary.  In addition, a Senate Initiative Webpage has been established with links to pertinent information about the Senate's Help-Haiti Initiative. Please visit http://www.nysenate.gov/haiti for more information.

• Senate offices are being asked to catalog into a spreadsheet the names of any volunteers who offer assistance (nurses, doctors, civil engineers, etc.) and forward the spreadsheets to our task force.  These volunteers will be matched with organizations that can make use of their services. Please e-mail: helphaiti@senate.state.ny.us to forward this information.

HOW TO HELP IMMEDIATELY
 
Information on finding family members and on general conditions in Haiti is being provided by   the State Department at the following number: 1-888-407-4747.

 A $10 donation to the American Red Cross can be made by texting "HAITI" to "90999"(the charge will be added on to your cell phone bill). You can also visit www.redcross.org or call     1-800-REDCROSS.

A $5 donation to Wyclef Jean’s Yelé Haiti Foundation can be made by texting “YELE” to 501501 (the charge will be added on to your cell phone bill) or by visiting www.yele.org.

A $10 donation can be made to the Clinton Foundation by texting “HAITI” to 20222 (the charge will be added on to your cell phone bill) or by visiting www.clintonfoundation.org.

To donate to UNICEF, please visit www.unicefusa.org or call 1-800-FOR-KIDS.

To donate to Catholic Relief Services, please visit http://crs.org or call 1-877-HELP-CRS.

To donate to Doctors Without Borders, please visit https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org or call 1-212-763-5779.

To volunteer, send an e-mail to the U.S. State Department at: helphaiti@state.gov and in the subject line write "Donate _________" and list the type of service you can provide.