On Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 12, the worst earthquake in 200 years struck less than 10 miles from the city of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The earth shook yet again near the Caribbean city on Wednesday, just nine days after the initial magnitude 7.0 earthquake that caused devastating results.
The death toll in Haiti is estimated at 200,000, according to Haitian government figures relayed by the European Commission. An estimated 2 million are homeless, up from 1.5 million, and another 250,000 are in need of urgent aid, reported the commission.
Relief aid in the form of medical staff, volunteers and supplies are finally reaching those who need it most. Local companies are doing their part. Bellevue-based Expedia, has committed a $100,000 contribution to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund. In addition, the company will match its employees’ contributions to Haiti relief efforts two to one, up to an additional $100,000.
Tech-giant, Microsoft, reported it will donate $1.25 million in the form of cash and in-kind donations through NetHope to Haiti earthquake relief. Microsoft is also encouraging employees to make individual donations to Haiti by agreeing to match up to $12,000 per worker.
“The whole world is heartbroken over the events in Haiti this past week,” said glassybaby founder Lee Rhodes, a Bellevue business supporting the efforts of the American Red Cross Haiti fund. “As a member of the global community, we want to do our part to help the people of Haiti in their time of great need.”
Donations made to Haiti using text messaging on mobile phones, managed by the non-profit organization Mobile Giving Foundation in Bellevue, have surpassed $28 million in less than two weeks time.
Continued funding and support is needed and local organizations and businesses are doing their part by hosting fundraising campaigns and events in the Bellevue area.
Here are a few ways to get involved in our own backyard:
1. Donate at Purple Cafe/Barrio
Heavy Restaurant Group, representing four Purple Cafe locations and two Barrio restaurants including the Bellevue Towers location, is pitching in to help raise donations for UNICEF’s Haiti relief fund. Donations can be made at any of the six restaurant locations, from now until Jan. 24, and corporate owners of Heavy Restaurant Group will make a percentage match. Visit www.heavyrestaurantgroup.com for more information.
2. Stir teams up with World Vision
Stir Martini & Raw Bar has teamed with Emerald City Fashion Week’s #Fashion4Haiti fundraising efforts for World Vision. On Sat., Jan. 23, Fashion Week staff and volunteers will be selling #Fashion4Haiti shirts at Stir from 2-5 p.m.
Stir is located in Bellevue Place at 10500 NE Eighth St., Suite 125, inside the Bellevue Hyatt. Stir owners Matt and Michelle Bomberger have purchased #Fashion4Haiti shirts for their staff to wear for the day and have also offered to donate a portion of their profits from the event to World Vision.
“The response we’ve received from the local community regarding our efforts has been amazing. We cannot thank Owen Lei and King 5 News enough for their generous coverage of our efforts,” said Steven Paul Matsumoto, producer of Emerald City Fashion Week.
During the event #Fashion4Haiti shirts will be offered at a special event price of $25 each, or two for $40.
Emerald City Fashion Week is an annual event designed to support local charities and bring together the Puget Sound region’s diverse fashion and lifestyle community to celebrate and showcase what makes the Northwest unique. Emerald City Fashion Week is where the Puget Sound’s Fashion Renaissance takes shape.
For more information contact Noelle Wolfe, marketing coordinator at noellew@emeraldcityfashionweek.com or call 206.849.1751
3. Bellevue’s glassybaby
The Seattle-born shop will donate 10 percent of all online purchases with HAITI promo code (www.glassybaby.com) to the Red Cross’ Haitian relief efforts. Through the end of February, online customers who enter the promo code “HAITI” at the end of their order placement will direct 10 percent of their purchase to the Red Cross Haitian relief efforts.
National Ways to Give:
• The American Red Cross – The organization is pledging an initial $200,000 to assist communities impacted by the earthquake. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.
• Clinton Bush Haiti Fund – One hundred percent of the donations made to the Clinton Foundation go directly to relief efforts. Text the word “QUAKE” to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, charged to your cell phone bill or visit www.clintonfoundation.org.
• Yele Haiti – Musician Wyclef Jean is raising funds for emergency earthquake relief through his nonprofit organization Yele Haiti. Text YELE to 501501 to give $5 to the fund.
• UNICEF- The organization requests donations for relief for children in Haiti via their Haiti Earthquake Fund at www.supportunicef.org or call 1-800-4UNICEF.
• Operation USA – Looking for public and corporate donations in bulk of health care materials, water purification supplies and food supplements which it will ship to the region from its base in the Port of Los Angeles. Donate online at www.opusa.org, by phone at 1-800-678-7255.
• Save The Children – The nonprofit has launched an emergency relief effort for Haiti. Donate to their fund to provide medical attention and clean water to children and families by texting “SAVE” to 20222 to donate $10 or visit www.savethechildren.org.
• International Medical Corps – Helping with the Haiti relief by sending medical volunteers to provide lifesaving medical care and other emergency services to survivors of the earthquake. Donate to the International Medical Corps through their 24-hour hotline at 800-481-4462 or visit www.imcworldwide.org.
