Haiti - Here are some ways to help

The State Department has set up a hotline for Americans to inquire after family in Haiti: 888-407-4747.

There are several ways to donate using your cell phone:

• Text the word "Yele" to 501501 to donate $5 on behalf of the Yele Haiti Foundation, founded by Haitian musician Wyclef Jean.

• Text the word "Haiti" to 85944 to donate $5 on behalf of the Rescue Union Mission and MedCorp International.

• Text the word "Haiti" to 25383 to donate $5 on behalf of the Internal Rescue Committee.

• Text the word "Haiti" to 864833 to donate $5 to United Way Worldwide's disaster fund.

• Text the word "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 on behalf of the American Red Cross.

• Text the word "Haiti" to 45678 (in Canada only) on behalf of the Salvation Army in Canada.

You can also find updated information and general ways to help during disasters at ReliefWeb, USAID and InterAction.

The FBI also warns donors to be alert to the potential for scamsinvolving the earthquake. After a tsunami devastated Southeast Asia in 2004, many people lost money by donating to relief organizations that turned out to be fraudulent. The FBI offers several tips here:

Read more details at Washington Post on how to help the Haiti earthquake victims.

Related Posts:

Social tools help spread the word for Haiti earthquake relief - Donate now

Technology Proves Useful in Haiti Relief Fund Drive

• Haiti Earthquake Relief: Ways to Donate (blogs.wsj.com)
• Haiti Text Donation Campaigns Face 90-Day Delays (gigaom.com)
• Gleaning Information From Haiti Online (thelede.blogs.nytimes.com)