January 18, 2010 at 1:54 pm

We are praying for the disaster relief efforts in Haiti. Thank you to those who use God-given talents and abilities that took effort to get developed – to help others in need of life, hope, and comfort. Those of us who cannot get there will be giving and praying surrounding those in Haiti. It takes many people to make a big circle of help and hope for Haiti.

January 18, 2010 at 3:16 pm

I’ve been monitoring the efforts of Doctors Without Borders who have been working tirelessly to save lives in the face of widespread injury. With so much of the countries infrastructure damaged, it has been extremely difficult for aid organizations to get the supplies they need, and equally difficult to get much needed food and water to the victims.

January 18, 2010 at 7:27 pm

I saw you on CNN just now and heard you were at the BHM hospital. I Grew up on that compound and know many of the staff at the hospital. Thank you for your help there. There is an orphanage just down the road from the hospital that runs a neonatal clinic. They could use any help that you and your group could offer. Its called Gods Littlest Angels and is only about 10 minutes from the hospital. Thank you for your service to Haiti.

January 18, 2010 at 8:00 pm

We met you when we were in Nasheville at the debates. I am a retired Pediatrician and my wife is a retired nurse. We would be available in the next few months if you could use some help. We have done other Missionary work in Honduras with Rotary and have traveled extensively in the third world.

January 19, 2010 at 1:38 am

I am so proud of senator frist. He is a man of great compassion and honor. We tennesseians have a great respect for his service to our country.

January 19, 2010 at 6:16 am

The daily grind of poverty does not make the headlines as readily as a sudden onslaught of tragedy. Unfortunately, it often requires a dramatic event to focus our attention on the misery of others. Their daily suffering goes unreported and therefore is ignored. Tragedy that happens in slow motion does not garner the headlines the way a single climatic moment does. But it is human suffering all the same. It requires a continuous response to alleviate the day in and day out agony just as a sudden disaster requires immediate action. In nations where poverty is rampant, any type of natural disaster is magnified many times over. The sub-standard infrastructure, the shoddily constructed housing, the lack of government oversight all contribute to make the death toll climb. These are issues that need to be addressed BEFORE a disaster strikes. That is why making a monthly contribution to fight poverty in Haiti and other places is so important. It is wonderful that humanity responds so well in times of emergency, but we need to realize that a steady effort is required to erase poverty and its effects. A long term effort is necessary to help people survive the next disaster.

January 19, 2010 at 11:05 am

I am a retired internist/nephrologist from Minnesota, now living in Florida. Is there an opportunity for me to volunteer in Haiti?

January 19, 2010 at 3:04 pm

I donated over a thousand dollars to help in Haiti. The organizations I gave through are AFSC, Dr’s Without Borders and the Haitian Emergency Relief Fund. My usual donation range is $25. to $50. every once in a while.

I worry about donations through other organizations, specifically the Red Cross which according to today’s NY Times has raised millions of dollars this past weekend through its text messaging campaign. I saw the “90999″ text messaging commercial at least twice and if I am not mistaken, it was advertised as being earmarked for Haiti.

Is there any accountability for that vast amount collected? Is at least 70% to 80% indeed going to Haiti? How can we get some kind of transparency on this?

Institutions like the Red Cross have a long history of not really telling the public how they direct funds.

I would welcome any advice about where else I might ask these questions.

Thanks,

Roy Devoe