Americans Open Wallets for Haiti

(CBS)  In every corner of the country, Americans are responding to Haiti's overwhelming need.

In Pittsburgh, Latisha McClelland organized a collection drive.

"They took a tragic loss, and I just felt if I could do anything to help, I would," she said.

Rapidly organized efforts to help Haiti have already brought in millions of dollars in cash, food, water, medicine and other goods. From corporations to community centers, people are chipping in, reports CBS News Correspondent Randall Pinkston.

(Watch the report Pinkston submitted below)

Complete Coverage: Devastation in Haiti

In New York, donors brought goods to Charity: Water, a non-profit group that works with partners in Haiti.

"These are the most critically needed items that our partners have told us about," the charity's Lane Wood said. "They are bandages, gauze, bottled water. We need sleeping bags, blankets, tents."

A Kansas City organization is sending a portable clinic.

"Once it arrives, it's ready to hit the ground running and it has some advantages in being mobile," John North of Heart to Heart said. "You can travel around to different areas and meet needs."

While goods and supplies are important, former President George W. Bush outlined the highest priority Saturday.

"I know a lot people want to send blankets or water," Bush said. "Just send cash."

Bush: Just Send Your Cash

With help from first lady Michelle Obama and the Internet, the American Red Cross is achieving astounding results. The Red Cross' text 'haiti 90999' campaign yielded more $12 dollars since Wednesday.

"It spread so fast on sites like Twitter that almost everybody has seen this text," the Red Cross' Wendy Harman said.

Thirty U.S. corporations, including Pepsico and McDonald's, are pledging at least $1 million each.

Celebrities are also lending their star power to the cause. Actor George Clooney and Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean will host a Hope For Haiti telethon across 11 networks next Friday night.


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[truthtoday]

American promises $100 million to Haiti. What did Haiti do with the $3 billion?

Since 1993 Americans have given Haiti over $3 billion dollars in aid. Now we're promising another $100 million dollars. That kind of money should have built each person a house, hundreds of schools, and hospitals, several new power plants, new water plants, and new sewer plants. The averaged Haitians earns less than $1,000 per year. If $3 billion dollars over the last 20 years isn't enough then something is terrible wrong with their government.

Is the money getting to the people or are corrupt politicians and the wealthy steeling it?

[get_down]

"While goods and supplies are important, former President George W. Bush outlined the highest priority Saturday.
"I know a lot people want to send blankets or water," Bush said. "Just send cash."" Hummmm - "Just send cash." Not blankets nor water nor food - "Only cash"? Very troubling and puzzling to say the least...

[iq145]

Your Donation: How Much Gets There? You've just been persuaded by a telemarketer to donate $100 to a worthy charity, and you feel good that you helped. But you probably didn't ask a key question: How much of your $100 pledge will actually reach the needy of the charity? You may not like the answer... Telemarketers working in New York for charities and non-profits raised $189.6 million in 2005 but charged FEES of about $116.4 million. The charities and non-profits received only about 39 percent of all pledges. Charitable fundraising experts caution that you should check the bona fides of any charity before giving them money and make sure you know how much of your donation will be kept by the fundraising firm itself. Some campaigns return a very low percentage to the charity, or even cost the charity money, because the intent is not to raise funds but to recruit new members or supporters. "Uncollected pledges" figures, which can be quite large, sometimes reflect multi-year campaigns. For instance, a charity may ask for pledges to be paid over a three-year period. All pledges are reported the first year under "gross received," with money promised for years two and three listed under "uncollected pledges." Click the link to check the database: php. democratandchronicle. com /RocDocs /fundraisers Gannett: Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

[CharlesAtkinson]

How many cargo planes with skids of water, food, medicine have been dropped with parachutes on the people of Haiti? How has it worked? What were problems and successes? Did the people of Haiti appreciate this?

Or is this something that nobody thought of or rejected before trying it or felt that sending money was the only solution?

I would like this to be asked of President Obama, Former Presidents Bush and Clinton, and have the issue raised in the media.

Thoughts from Cambridge, Massachusetts on Sunday, the 17th, praying for a parachute to rescue the Haitian people!!!!!

[jeffreyfranks]

Think about it....The people will get crushed trying to get at the skid of water. Some people would be killed by skids of parachuted supplies and the whole world would talk about how stupid America is for dropping skids of water out of airplanes.

[quapawsix]

I think it's commendable that the American people opened their wallets but why hasn't corporate America and Wall street? Or are they hoping that by us spending money it boosts their bottom line?

[ffoulkes-2009]

Several large corps are contributing using the matching gifts strategy to get their employees to give too.

[babooph]

The need seems clear,but in this economy ,hard to give until the rich give down to my level-then it would be hard not to match them dollar for dollar...

[Ohiocitizen1967]

My heart breaks for those affected by this tragedy. So many people homeless, devastated and without hope. I am not a wealthy person and I have given what I can. I have said a multitude of prayers. But why put all the burden on our government and military? It is time for big business to step in. The cruise ship lines should send some of their ships to provide temporary housing. Cruise ships are large enough they could carry and house additional medical personnel, supplies and equipment.The ships already have food and amenities. They function as a floating city. It seems a logical suggestion to help alleviate the burden...