The Red Cross has opened its warehouse in Panama to help distribute tarps and cooking sets to families. They have also pledged an initial donation of $1 million dollars to relief efforts, and have sent teams in to offer medical aid. You can donate to the effort by going to www.redcross.org or text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 dollars.

Convoy of Hope: Thursday morning seven members of the Convoy of Hope team began their journey to the devastated island-nation, Haiti. They plan to arrive in Port-au-Prince Friday morning and immediately begin an assessment of the destruction there. They will evaluate the situation and strategically plan to meet the needs of Haitian people as effectively and efficiently as possible. www.convoyofhope.org (Click here to download Convoy of Hope wallpapers and icons.)

World Vision: World Vision has arranged to send supplies in a shipment on Thursday, and it will include tarps, blankets, and collapsible water containers. They have ways to help and donate on their website, along with steps to take to sponsor a child in Haiti. www.worldvision.org

Holt International Children’s Services: Holt has also taken steps to aid relief. Members of the band Julian Drive, who were partnered with Holt on a trip, were in Haiti when the earthquake hit. They carry an unique perspective on the events and you can read the blog at: holtinternational.org Find out how you can donate at www.holtintl.org.

Food for the Hungry, whose motto is “We go to the hard places,” has already sent members of its staff to provide food and supplies to the impoverished country. They are also offering readers blog banners to raise awareness. You can get those, as well as more information, at their website: www.fh.org

Samaritans Purse, best known for their “shoebox” project, also offers disaster relief to struggling countries, and they are sending medical aid and basic supplies. Learn more at www.samaritanspurse.org. You can also sponsor a child at their website.

CARE, a humanitarian relief agency, deployed medical teams when the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit, and they are also sending basic supplies. Find out more at their home page: www.care.org

Doctors Beyond Borders is accepting donations as well, working to mobilize their teams that are already working in Haiti. Their site has new information daily, coming from those who were present in the country when the quake hit. You can donate and find out more about their mission at www.doctorsbeyondborders.org.

Action Against Hunger is taking on the goal of providing clean water for the victims of the earthquake. They are also sending additional medical support to meet the incredible need. A fifty-dollar donation will help bring clean, uncontaminated water to the people of Haiti. www.actionagainsthunger.org

Partners In Health staff in Boston and Haiti have been quickly mobilized and arranging all relevant logistics issues in order to respond efficiently and effectively to the most urgent needs in the field. PIH’s Chief Medical Officer is on her way to Haiti, where she will meet with Zanmi Lasante leadership and head physicians, who are already working to ensure PIH’s coordinated relief efforts leveraging the skills of more than 120 doctors and nearly 500 nurses and nursing assistants who work at Zanmi Lasante’s sites. act.pih.org/earthquake

Thirst No More Director Craig Miller will be collecting supplies Thursday morning in the Dominican Republic and transporting them into the disaster zone. They are collecting supplies for an immediate 1,000 PAKS containing emergency kits of beans, rice, flashlights, matches. They are also working to obtain supplies for portable shelters. Their longer term assessment will follow as the situation on the ground develops. www.thirstnomore.org

Soles4Souls and its partners have shipped 100,000 pairs of shoes in addition to food, water, tents, blankets and other emergency supplies to Haiti and has increased its commitment to provide at least 250,000 new pairs of shoes in the relief effort. With more 300,000 made homeless and 40% – 50% of the population under 18, the need for safe, sturdy footwear is critical for the rebuilding process in front of them. www.soles4souls.org

-additional reporting by Winn Collier

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