It's good to know the Navy and the Marines are on the job, when the feeling is there's not to much we can do here at home.
We can offer up what we do and what we suffer today for those who are suffering without much hope.
I Corinthians 12:26
And if one member suffer any thing, all the members suffer with it: or if one member glory, all the members rejoice with it.Colossians 1:23b-24
…whereof I Paul am made a minister. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for His body, which is the church…
And if you want to know that 100% of what you give will go to Haiti now, donate $10 to the Red Cross by texting haiti to 90999. It will be added to your mobile bill this month.
*Update* — Texting your donation in this way is a legitimate way to give money. Secretary of State Clinton did ask for donations to be texted. There may be a concern with how quickly the money is released to the Red Cross, although some companies have agreed to “front” the money now. Dear Barbara at Praying for Grace has a post with some background.
Just as with Hurricane Katrina, the money will be needed just as much in 30 or 90 days, I have no doubt. The news reports suggest that the maximum is being done — money is not really the problem.
But if you want to give and be sure your money gets there right now, you can give via the Red Cross site or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS — or, for that matter, you can go ahead and pay your cellphone bill right now!
In addition, the four major cell companies are providing the texts for free. So even when you get those 4 follow-up texts (to which you can, as I did, reply stop), you are not paying for them.
scmom (Barbara) says
FYI The best way to donate to the American Red Cross is directly. Otherwise you have to trust that the middleman will not keep a percentage.
Polly says
Yes yes!I am considering doing an *eating from the pantry week* and giving the grocery money to the Red Cross. There's so much food in the house, and so much need elsewhere.
Julia says
Thanks for reminding us that if nothing else, we can pray and offer up our day.
Elaine says
Here in the UK a lot of our focus on giving is going to the Disasters Emergency Committee, http://www.dec.org.uk/ which is an umbrella organisation including Christian charities, which is very geared up to rapid response in such terrible situations.I'm praying hard tonight.
Leila says
Dear Barbara — that is a direct donation to the Red Cross. It's a way that they set up to donate quickly to them. Even the text is free.If you click on the link it takes you to their blog where they explain it further.<<100% of the donations will go to support the Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti. * The mobile fundraising effort launched on January 12, approximately three hours after the earthquake struck Haiti. The program is powered by Mobile Accord and the MGive Foundation in coordination with the U.S. State Department as part of its ongoing support of this disaster response.>>
Sophie says
I wonder how that would work with a prepaid phone. I bet it wouldn't.
Eternal Optimist says
thanks for the information on donating to the Red Cross.