You can help pack meals for Haitian survivors - here's how:

[Coventina]

This is an email I received this morning from "Feed My Starving Children"

www.fmsc.org

Several of our mission partners in Haiti are already offering FMSC meals to victims of Tuesday’s earthquake. One million meals are currently on the ground in Haiti, and with your support, we will produce an additional three million meals for Haiti relief. We will rely on your support to provide these meals.

We are calling you to donate time and funds for life-saving meals. To make a financial contribution now, click here.

We need thousands more volunteers for our permanent food-packing sites in the Twin Cities (MN) and Chicagoland (IL). Daytime volunteers are especially needed. We have also opened the following emergency food-packing shifts at our permanent sites:

Sunday, Jan. 17 (all sites): 2-4 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 24 (Coon Rapids, Chanhassen, and Aurora only): 2-4 p.m.
Please call the sites to sign up for any shift:

Coon Rapids, MN: 763.504.2919
Eagan, MN: 651.379.3775
Chanhassen, MN: 952.937.2329
Aurora, IL: 630.851.0404
**************************************

This is a Christian organization. As most Haitians are Christian, I don't have a problem supporting their work there, no more so than I would giving to a Buddhist relief organization in Cambodia or a Muslim organization in Jordan.
If you disagree, please don't be ugly. I am only posting this for people who might be interested in doing something a little more "hands on" than donating money.

[livetohike]

1. K&R for good info!

I hope to find something hands on in my area - so far no luck.

[Bragi]

2. In all due repect

I don't question your sentiments here, I applaud them.

But I disagree with the notion that we should be appealing to people who might be interested in doing something a little more "hands on" than donating money.

Sorry, I think people should understand that our efforts have to be focused on helping Haiti, not on giving donors in the US feel-good things to do.

I think people should be urged to just donate money to known humanitarian organizations that are on the ground and know what they are doing and how to do it.

And if they don't have money and want to help, they should consider volunteering to help credible humanitarian organizations in their fundraising.

[blondeatlast]

3. Pretty presumptive to question the motives of people donating

whatever they can.

Some people may not have money to spare so donating their time is easily as generous.

[Coventina]

4. If that's the way it came across, I apologize, I didn't mean it that way.

My intentions were twofold:

1. Some people don't have any money to give, but might have a few hours to volunteer.

2. Some people feel a desperate need to "do something" that feels tangible. Sometimes writing a check doesn't feel like it's "enough." That's why some people give blood or build houses or whatever. With Haiti so far away, and with most of us unable to leave our jobs and families, I just wanted to alert people that this is an option. I never intended it to be a substitute to giving money, which is probably the *best* option.

[blondeatlast]

5. No need to apologize. It's very human to want to overcome the helplessness we feel

in this situation.

Even if the food donations don't get to Haiti, they will no doubt be put to use. As my dad used to say, "You did good. That's all there is to it."

[roguevalley]

8. I know plenty of broke people who would do this if they could. I would

and I am barely keeping above water. what a great OP. Thank you.

[Coventina]

6. kick

:kick:

[Coventina]

7. one more kick

Thanks to all who want to help Haiti!

:kick: