The Telecommunications Workers Union sends its deepest regards to the people of Haiti following Tuesday’s devastating earthquake.

We echo the sentiments of Canada’s Governor General, Michaëlle Jean, who expressed thanks to Canada for the solidarity it is showing in aiding this impoverished nation.

"Many TWU Brothers and Sisters are from Haiti or have family still living in Haiti. This is a terrible tragedy and I certainly encourage members to help in any way they can," expressed George Doubt, TWU National President.

The federal government has committed to matching donations made by individual Canadians to eligible registered Canadian charitable organizations who are earmarking donations to respond to the Haitian earthquake, for the period between January 12 and February 12, 2010.

The Canadian Labour Congress is working with the Canadian Red Cross (one of the approved organizations) to set up a special donation portal on the Red Cross web site where individual union members can contribute if they wish and receive tax receipts. This would help maximize the individual contributions that qualify for matching federal funds. This will also help us to track the amounts that union members are contributing.

The following information can be found on the CBC website at:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/01/13/f-emergency-contacts-haiti-relief-aid.html

Contacting family members, friends

Canadians attempting to contact family members or friends in Haiti can call the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade emergency operation centre at 1-800-387-3124, or inquire by email at sos@international.gc.ca
 
DFAIT is also advising Canadians who need assistance in Haiti to travel to the Canadian Embassy in Port-au-Prince on Delmas Road, between Delmas 75 and 71. Canadians can also contact embassy officials by calling 613-996-8885.

How to Help

To help those affected by the earthquake, see below for a list of organizations accepting donations. Please remember to take appropriate precautions to evaluate a charity before donating. A list of registered charities can be found on the Canada Revenue Agency’s Website at:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/chrts/menu-eng.html. 

Registered charities are authorized to issue donation receipts for income tax purposes. Contact the charity to confirm that they do provide official donation receipts to donors. Cheques should be made out to an organization, not an individual.

The Canadian Red Cross is accepting donations to support Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti. Donations can be earmarked to the Haiti earthquake fund. Canadians who wish to give may donate online at http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=33898&tid=001.  Donations can also be made by calling 1-800-418-1111 or by visiting any Red Cross office.

The Canadian Red Cross sent $200,000 immediately to support emergency relief efforts on the ground and is on standby to provide additional emergency assistance. The Red Cross response includes evacuation support, search and rescue efforts and providing shelter and first aid. Local Red Cross volunteers continue to work around the clock to help the many people affected by this disaster.

UNICEF Canada is taking donations for the earthquake in Haiti. An income tax receipt will be issued for all donations $25 or more. For donations less than $25, receipts will be issued upon request. Please email secretary@unicef.ca or call 1-800-567-4483.
The Salvation Army in Canada is sending $100,000 US in aid and has started a fundraising campaign. You can also use your cellphone to send donations by text message: Cellphone users can send donations of $5 by texting the word "Haiti" to 45678 through a system set up by the Mobile Giving Foundation, a group that enables charities to collect money by test messages.

Mèdecins Sans Frontières Canada – are setting up clinics to replace damaged medical facilities in Haiti. The group is also working to bring more teams into the country.

World Vision is preparing to distribute emergency supplies to those affected by the earthquake. World Vision has been working in Haiti for over 30 years, helping an estimated 300,000 Haitians each year to overcome poverty through providing access to education, clean water and nutrition, as well as helping families with medical care.  To donate online, please refer to the following site: http://www.worldvision.ca/give-a gift/Pages/EarthquakeinHaiti.aspx.

Partners in Health reports its Port-au-Prince clinical director, Louise Ivers, has appealed for assistance: "Port-au-Prince is devastated, lot of deaths. SOS. SOS….. Temporary field hospital by us at UNDP needs supplies, pain meds and bandages." To donate, please go to:

https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/haiti_earthquake?source=earthquake&subsource=homepage.

Direct Relief is committing up to $1 million in aid for the response and is co-ordinating with its other in-country partners and colleague organizations. Their partners in Haiti include Partners in Health, St. Damien Children’s Hospital, and the Visitation Hospital, which are particularly active in emergency response. Donate to Direct Relief online at http://www.directrelief.org/Index.aspx.

The Humanitarian Coalition: Care/Oxfam Canada/Oxfam Quebec/Save the Children. In collaboration with a number of organizations, the Humanitarian Coalition is taking donations for relief for those devastated by the earthquake in Haiti on Tuesday.  To donate, please refer to the online site: https://www.strategicprofitsinc.com/hosted/humanitarian/index.php?lang=en.

Artists for Peace and Justice, which was established after director/producer/writer Paul Haggis met Rick Frechette, an American doctor and community organizer working in the slums of Haiti for 22 years, is accepting donations. Call 310-319-1394 for further assistance.

International Medical Corps a private, voluntary, non-political, non-profit organization, is deploying an emergency response team to Haiti.

Adventist Development and Relief Agency is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief. ADRA is asking for any donation possible to support its emergency response fund.  The donation form can be found online at: https://www.adra.ca/SSLPage.aspx?pid=204.

Yele Haiti was established by musician Wyclef Jean to inspire change through programs in education, sports, the arts and environment. Yele Haiti is accepting donations to help make a difference in Haiti via its website. Because of high traffic to the website, Yele is accepting donations through mobile phones, with people able to text the word "YELE" to 501501 to make a $5 contribution. Yele Haiti can also be followed on Twitter. (http://twitter.com/YELEHAITI).

Plan Canada has been operating in Haiti for nearly 40 years. Donations can be made by calling 1-800-387-1418.

Mennonite Central Committee is responding to the earthquake disaster in Haiti. MCC is responding with emergency relief supplies and will be there for the long term in reconstruction and trauma support and other work to be determined. Call 1-888-622-6337 to donate or for more information.

United Nations World Food Programme is airlifting almost 90 tonnes of high energy biscuits – enough to provide more than half a million emergency meals. An income tax receipt will be issued for donations over $10.  Please refer to the following site to donate online: https://www.wfp.org/donate/haiti.

United Jewish Appeal-Federation of Greater Toronto and Combined Jewish Appeal of Montreal have established funds for humanitarian relief aid to the afflicted areas. In Toronto call 416-635-2883 and in Montreal call 514-345-2600.

Social Networking:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/InternetHaiti

Earthquake Haiti Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=252988675717