Our website is being continuously updated with information regarding Haiti recovery.
Update from Texas American Red Cross Representative Charles Blake
Dear Friends,
I apologize for not writing you sooner. As you can imagine, we are in full response mode and have increased the area of responsibilities. Coordination is not easy and neither is operations but both are critical for continued success. This is the latest update with all the fanfare.
The situation in Port-au-Prince, with the number of makeshift camps now numbering 548 with approximately 600,000 people have caused us to redirect our priorities. The priorities are now shelter, sanitation, and health. There is a lot of activity during the daylight hours as people attempt to search for sustainable items and services. During the night, the power is still out in some locations and people are still sleeping in the streets. We have not felt or had reports of any tremors for a week. Communications via landline are still down and cell phone networks are congested. We now have 13 different countries ERU’s from the Red Cross movement involved in the response of assisting the Haitian Red Cross. All ERU's involved in relief must now focus their attention on shelter.
We are integrating the shelter team and asking them to show us their plans. We had a great plan for Tapis Rouge but one of the trucks lost power while climbing the hill and crashed into a pickup truck as it rolled back down. No injuries. Yesterday the team had to tow another truck up the hill using two land cruisers. We have run out of stock and have nothing to distribute at this time so we are switching to educating the Haitian Red Cross on shelters and assessments until supplies arrive. I'm taking a day off today. I have not had one since I've been here and working 16 hours a day have caught up with me.
We are under intense pressure to get people into transitional shelter using timber and shelter kits with tools or tents. We have distributed supplies to 25,000 families thus far. The goal for NFI's is 80,000 families and 30,000 for shelters. The climate here will change and so will the mood of the people if we do not get this fixed. Due to the displacement of people in Port- a –Prince, people are fleeing the city to other parts of the country to stay with friends and families which is putting a significant burden on rural towns and host families.
The amount of damage and the loss of the Haitian government personnel and services has reduced capacity of the authorities to manage the disaster. I'm at a beach right now and the water is fantastic. It looks like DC took a wallop according to the internet reports. I miss warm showers and a nice mattress to sleep on but still having fun. Hope all enjoyed the game today.
Take care,
Charles
Charles K. Blake, Jr.
Disaster Officer-Texas
Ten Facts About Claiming Donations Made to Haiti
If you are donating to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti,
you may be able to claim those donations on your 2009 tax return. Here
are 10 important facts the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know
about this special provision.
- A new law allows you to claim donations for Haitian relief on your 2009 tax return, which you will be filing this year.
- The contributions must be made specifically for the relief of victims in areas affected by the January 12 eathquake in Haiti.
- To be eligible for a deduction on the 2009 tax return, donations must be made after January 11, 2010 and before March 1, 2010.
- In order to be deductible, contributions must be made to qualified charities and cannot be designated for the benefit of specific individuals or families.
- The new law applies only to cash contributions.
- Cash contributions made by text message, check, credit card or debit card may be claimed on your federal tax return.
- You must itemize your deductions in order to claim these donations on your tax return.
- You have the option of deducting these contributions on either your 2009 or 2010 tax return, but not both.
- Contributions made to foreign organizations generally are not deductible. You can find out more about organizations helping Haitian earthquake victims from agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (www.usaid.gov).
- Federal law requires that you keep a record of any deductible donations you make. For donations by text message, a telephone bill will meet the record-keeping requirement if it shows the name of the organization receiving your donation, the date of the contribution, and the amount given. For cash contributions made by other means, be sure to keep a bank record, such as a cancelled check or a receipt from the charity. Receipts should show the name of the charity, the date and amount of the contribution.
For more information see IRS Publication 526, Charitable Contributions
and Publication 3833 , Disaster Relief: Providing Assistance through
Charitable Organizations. To determine if an organization is a
qualified charity visit IRS.gov, keyword "Search for Charities". Note
that some organizations, such as churches or governments, may be
qualified even though they are not listed on IRS.gov.
Message from National Interfaith Disaster Network:
The January 12th earthquake in Haiti has called forth the compassion and generosity of the global community; thousands of American volunteers, NGOs and military personnel have responded. They have our admiration and remain in our prayers. Please give generously to relief agencies now supporting the survivors. Remember the disaster recovery mantra: CASH IS BEST – CLOTHES CREATE A SECOND DISASTER! There are some 45,000 American and Haitian-American survivors being repatriated through the coming weeks. Find out how you, your house of worship or your agency can help!
Volunteer Opportunities: Sign up for Haiti relief with the international relief office of any Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) partners; or contact your local disaster interfaith or American Red Cross to help repatriated survivors returning to the United States. Meanwhile, many other ongoing recovery projects can use your support, for example, the fall flooding in Georgia and the deadly tsunami in American Samoa.
Homeland Security Map of Current Operations
White House Update - January 21, 2010
Please review this Public Service Announcement posted January 18:http://www.cidi.org/psa-english.wmv
We are saddened to learn of the deaths of Reverend Sam Dixon and Reverend Clinton Rabb, United Methodist Committee on Relief.
Facebook Page honoring Dixon and Rabb
Disaster News Article - Sam Dixon
Please remember those who work tirelessly to help the people of Haiti, and consider one of these donation sources:For Church World Service, go to: http://www.churchworldservice.org/site/PageServer .
For the Clinton Bush Haiti fund, http://clintonbushhaitifund.org/
See the US State Department site for U.S. involvement, info on contacting loved ones in Haiti, and how to donate with just a text: http://bit.ly/5PRJ7R Additionally, interested donors can visit www.interaction.org to obtain a list of credible responding agencies for international emergencies and www.give.org to get valuable information on making informed decisions when supporting charities. In addition, donors can visit www.globalgiving.org.
And -- please do not donate clothing: http://www.disasternews.net/news/article.php?articleid=4004 .
A facebook post from an Austin radio personality:
"A friend who is a producer for 60 Minutes, just got back from Haiti. (She says,) "The need for medical care and supplies grows by the hour and in my opinion from seeing what the doctors and nurses with these organizations are doing on the ground in Haiti they could benefit greatly from your support..." Based on what she witnessed, she suggested two groups to donate to: Partners in Health and Doctors Without Borders."
Partners in Health, Doctors w/o Borders.
Thank you for your prayers and support for the people of Haiti and for those helping them.
In 2008 the TCC Board of Directors embarked on a journey of prayer, discernment, and decision.
What is the nature of ecumenism at the start of the 21st Century? The need?
In a time of denominational and economic challenges, the call to unity has added meaning:
unity as one Body of Christ; unity in support of each other during challenging times.
Our renewed mission is to support ecumenists and ecumenical networks across Texas.
On this site, see how this mission is unfolding. Visit it often, as we update frequently.
TCC Holds Annual Assembly
On November 16 and 17 the Texas Conference of Churches Annual Assembly was held at the Oblate Renewal Center in San Antonio. The theme of this year's assembly was the Social Creed for the 21st century. Attendees learned about the history of the Social Creed and the process by which it was written and approved by the National Conference of Churches and some specific denominations. We discussed how it applies to the current situation, how it applies to Texas in particular, and how to take it to our respective communities. Attendees prayed throughout, heard a sermon, and sang a song inspired by the Creed.
The Oblate Renewal Center is on the beautiful campus of the Oblate School of Theology, a wonderful place for the gathering and an excellent host. We heard briefly from many faith based agencies in Texas and particularly San Antonio. More. . .
Rev. Peg Chemberlin installed as President of the NCC.
The installation was held November 12, 2009 at the close of the National Council of Churches Assembly. Rev. Chemberlin is currently the Executive Director of the Minnesota Council of Churches and is the first state director elected to this position as well as the first Minnesotan. She will continue to serve as executive director of the Minnesota Council of Churches as well as president of the national organization.
Twogether In Texas
The state legislature passed a bill in the last session providing that the $60.00 marriage license fee and the seventy two hour waiting period is waived for couples completing an eight hour course. The Texas Attorney General has launched a program "Twogether In Texas" to facilitate these classes. It assists couples searching for such classes as well as organizations offering them. The courses focus on marriage skills. Link to More infomation here.
For more information, please click here.
CROP/Church World Service
Texas Church World Service also offers disaster relief and engages the congregations of Texas in the work of eradicating hunger and poverty through sustainable self-help development and refugee assistance in Texas, across the nation, and throughout the world. Church World Service's engagement efforts include encouragement of congregations across the state to participate in the Church World Service special event--the CROP Hunger Walk. CROP Hunger Walks are held from El Paso to Orange, Harlingen to Lubbock, and many towns and cities between. The Austin CROP Hunger Walk is consistently among the top five in the nation.
Church World Service serves Texas by the provision of hunger grants to local food pantries and community gardening programs; through the placement of Religious Services Program staff at the Immigration Center in Bayview; with the provision of blankets, specialized kits, and training for long-term recovery efforts at the time of natural disasters in Texas, and; nurturing of ecumenical relationships in communities throughout the state. www.churchworldservice.org
Texas Conference of Churches
The Texas Conference of Churches is an ecumenical community of communions:Orthodox, Protestant, and Roman Catholic, constituted February 25, 1969 in Austin,Texas. We are rooted in Jesus' HighPriestly Prayer for Christian Unity, recorded in John 17:20-23;
“… that they may all be one… so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”