Submitted by Beth Steinhorn on Fri, 01/15/2010 - 20:55.
The stories are devastating; the images heart wrenching; and
the future even worse. The earthquake in Haiti has shaken the world and the
emotional aftershocks reverberate every time we turn to the news. As
individuals, we all want to help – but it’s difficult to find a way to help
when we live hundreds or thousands of miles away. As professionals in the
nonprofit and service sectors, we are driven to help – even if disaster relief
is not part of our organizations’ core mission. But how? Organizations who work
as first responders, search and rescue, and direct relief often have built-in
infrastructures to respond and support. For the rest of us, though, there are
ways to leverage our existing structures and rally our constituents and
volunteers to respond. We can make a difference.
