Haiti Response

Many people are calling and asking what they can do to help our brothers ans sisters in Haiti during this most of awful of moments.  There will be  community events that we encourage Boston area people to attend listed below.  If you have additional events email jennifer@massjwj.net and we will list them on our website.  There is also a list of resources and places to donate to.  It is our hope that together we can help make things a little better.

Take action!
We are urging folks to call their  Congressperson (www.wheredoivote.gov to find your Congressperson and telephone number) and ask them to extend Temporary Protective Status to Haitians here in the U.S.  To read more please visit http://www.naacp.org/get-involved/activism/alerts/111thaa-2009-03-19-2/index.htm to learn more about this issue.

Events
As events are constantly being added, please check our calendar for more upcoming events

Resources
If you are looking for news of friends and family in Haiti - you can contact the International Red Cross - they have set up a database with news on individuals in Haiti - you can find the information on their website: www.redcross.org.
 
Massachusetts is in the process of mobilizing relief efforts.  If you have emergency training, and would like to volunteer, please call 211, and the State officials will collect your information.  
 
The City of Boston has opened a center for those in need of counseling or assistance - please see the fact sheet from the City of Boston, listed below, or online at www.cityofboston.org:
 
The Boston Referral and Support Center will operate from 9 AM to 9 PM on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The Referral and Support Center is located at the SEIU Local 1199 Bayside Office Center, 150 Mt. Vernon Street, Dorchester (next to the JFK stop on the Red line). They can use assistance in numerous ways (i.e. greeters, interpreters, grief counseling support, etc.,) during the center hours. Clergy, chaplains, and pastoral caregivers welcome. If possible email Ms. George-Marie Jasmin <GJasmin@bphc.org>, to let her know the date, times you are available and how you would like to assist.

Where to Donate

Donate to the Haitian American Relief Fund at Citizens Bank Account number 1300 112 570 (an account for a collaborative effort between many community based organizations and individuals in the Haitian community); We must support the empowerment of Haitian organizations to help empowerment Haitians back home.

Partners In Health - www.pih.org.  PIH is already established in Haiti and has begun providing emergency health services 

Haiti Emergency Relief Fund (HERF), which works directly with the Haitian grassroots movement, "including labor unions, women's groups, educators and human rights activists, support committees for prisoners, and agricultural cooperatives."

Yele Haiti- http://www.yele.org/  Formed by Wycleff Jean, Yele has deep roots into some of the hardest hit communities.