Many people are wondering what they can do about Haiti,

[MineralMan]

other than donating. There is an answer. We all have personal networks, from family and friends to coworkers and casual acquaintances...all linked through emails and social networks. What we each can do is to start contacting all the people in our networks and encourage them to donate generously to a Haitian relief charity.

It's so simple and so effective. Just state your deep concern, say what you have done, and encourage people to do the same. Even if your one message doesn't move someone, they may get other such messages.

This is collective action. This is what we are capable of doing today. Please, please contact everyone on your email list. Post on your Facebook page. If you have a blog, do the same there. Contact your friends, your family, your coworkers, your clients...everyone. Be simple, be plain. Tell them how you feel and what you have done, and ask them to do something.

This works. Please do it tonight.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. OK, I'll start here.

My wife & I decided to donate $500 to Doctors Without Borders. That's all we can afford right now.

[MineralMan]

2. We could only afford $100 right now, which we gave to the

International Red Cross fund for Haitian relief. I'm hopeful that we can contribute more next month. I encourage everyone to give whatever they can, even it it's just $5. If everyone in the USA donated $5, the total would be $1.5 million.

Give what you can.

[Hansel]

8. I gave $200 to Doctors Without Borders.

I'm probably going to donate more next pay period.

[MineralMan]

9. Thank you so much for your donation.

It will help heal many wounds, I'm sure.

[Ocracoker16]

3. Yes, we should take advantage of our social networks

Now there are going to be people who have already given. You should say that if they have already given money you really appreciate that and they should pass the message on to their friends.

[Robb]

4. Mrs. Robb had her whole office texting to donate on Friday

...Sounded like quite a scene. I'm very proud of her. :)

[MineralMan]

6. Yes! All that is needed is a personal challenge to people.

Most people want to help, but a little nudge is often all that is needed to get them to act.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. We could afford fifty

to UNICEF, and will give a little more later in the month. I know this is long effort.

[MineralMan]

7. It is a long effort. I'm going to try to find a way to donate each month

for as long as there is need.

Here in the Twin Cities, a local Lutheran church is preparing 1,000,000 rice, beans, and dehydrated chicken meals to be sent to Haiti. They will require simple cooking, but just a short boil. Right now they won't be useful, but in a couple of weeks or a month, I'm sure they will. The entire congregation turned out to pack them, and the delivery system is already in place.

Thank you so much for your donation.

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Re rice... I hope, not to be picky

that it is mostly long grain rice... that is what they are the most familiar with

I know, since that is what Mexico is sending... and asking the population.

But you'd be amazed how humans react to uncle bens if they don't know it.

:-)

[MineralMan]

11. Looked like it to me in the TV coverage this evening.

The organizer had spend a year working in Haiti with a relief organization, so it looked like they were on top of it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. Thumbs up