Small Change Can Make a Big Difference in Haiti
Jan 22, 2010
By Amy Pisani
I, like the rest of you, have been in disbelief over the devastation in Haiti. I think the only positive thing to come out of this ordeal is the overwhelming wave of support our country has been able to offer in the midst of this tragedy. It’s truly incredible that more than $300 million has been raised in such a short window of time – much of it via text messages and phone calls. Unfortunately though, the relief effort does not yet have the funds to tend to the majority of people in Haiti. I came across this article on MTV.com that actually spells out some of the tangible items that donations such as yours could be offering the people of Haiti. Even if you don’t think you have much to offer in terms of dollar amount, it’s important to realize that even the smallest amount of money goes a long way.
This one in particular struck me (for obvious reasons) as impressive: according to UNICEF, $10 will pay for a cold-box vaccine carrier that will help ensure that vaccines reach children in remote areas to protect them from communicable disease, including the many who are stuck in temporary camps.
As you can see, every dollar makes a tangible difference in these victims’ lives. There are so many organizations out there doing great things. I hope you will take a moment to check out some of them, and hopefully support them in any way you can. The New York Times has provided a list which you can check out here.
Below are some more impressive statistics that your donation can provide, according to the Red Cross:
» $5 provides a water container to store clean drinking water.
» $10 provides a blanket that is appropriate to the climate and culture of the disaster-affected area.
» $25 provides a family of five with a kitchen set, giving them the ability to cook and serve food (a disaster can destroy even the most basic family possessions and restoring family’s self-sufficiency is essential). This includes two cooking pots, a frying pan, bowls, plates, cups, and utensils.
» $30 provides essential hygiene materials to five people for one month (ensuring adequate hygiene after a disaster is essential in promoting the health of those affected). This includes items like a toothbrush and toothpaste, shampoo, body soap, laundry soap, toilet paper, sanitary pads, a razor and a towel.
» $60 provides tools for a family of five to build a temporary shelter: two tarps, a rope, hoe, machete, tin snips, handsaw, roofing nails, shovel, long nails, tie wire, claw hammer.
» $100 provides a cooking set, hygiene pack, blankets, and water containers for one family of five following a disaster.
» $500 provides a family tent for a family of five.
And from UNICEF:
» Tent: For a little over $200, this tent can be used to provide life-saving shelter or to support a clinic or a school in time of crisis.
» School-in-a-Box ($200): UNICEF’s innovative “School-in-a-Box” sets up a temporary school for at least 40 children during times of emergency. Kits provide the chance for children to continue their education during the most extreme crises.
» Vaccine carrier ($10): Cold-box vaccine carriers help ensure that vaccines reach children in remote areas who need them.
» Collapsible water containers ($2 per container): Each container holds 10 liters amount of water and is especially useful for kids carrying water for long distances to ensure that all their water doesn’t spill en route from their water supply. It is also very useful for storing clean, safe water for everyday use.
» Water purification tablets (60 cents for 50 tablets): Each tablet is able to turn 4-5 liters of dirty water into water suitable for drinking. Every day, 4,000 children worldwide die because they do not have access to clean water, according to UNICEF.
» High energy/protein biscuits ($1 per pack): These contain minerals and vitamins and have been developed for malnourished children during emergencies.
» Therapeutic Nut Spread: $77.63 feeds 10 children for one month — therapeutic nut spread is a high protein, peanut-based paste, supplied in a ready-to-use packet. No water is needed for mixing, which means that help can be provided to malnourished children in any situation.
» Therapeutic Milk ($24.75/ 12 liters): A milk-based powder for treatment of severe child malnutrition, this successful formula includes added vegetable fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals and boosts the chances of child survival.
» Blanket ($3): Blankets protection from the elements and provide comfort in the more dire of circumstances.
» Oral rehydration salts (7 cents for one package): This solution, containing sugar and salt, treats children suffering from dehydration caused by diarrhea. Approximately 3,500 children die each day from dehydration caused by acute diarrhea, according to UNICEF.
» Soccer ball ($5): Play brings children together and helps restore a sense of normalcy in times of crisis or emergency.
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