Haiti is a Caribbean country. Along with the Dominican Republic, it occupies the island of Hispaniola, and also is a neighbor to Cuba. Ayiti (land of high mountains) was the indigenous Taíno name for the mountainous western side of the island. It's capital is Port-au-Prince. Haiti was the first independent nation in Latin America, the first post-colonial independent black-led nation in the world, and the only nation whose independence was gained as part of a successful slave rebellion. Despite having common cultural links with its Hispano-Caribbean neighbors, Haiti is the only predominantly French independent nation in the Americas. For the past few decades the island has endured great hardships from corrupt government to hurricane disasters, poverty and more.
On January 12, 2010, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, with its epicenter 16 miles west of the capital and largest city, Port-au-Prince, which was devastated. It will take time to determine the exact number of people killed. Rescue teams are still searching for survivors; the Presidential palace, Parliament and many other important structures were destroyed, along with countless homes, businesses, hospitals, and schools.
How you can help the victims of the Haiti earthquake right now:
Immediate Needs:
First aid supplies
Masks and gloves
Clothing (summer)
Bottled Water
Medical Supplies
Toiletries
Blankets (people are sleeping outside!)
Tents
Clothing and food drives at all United Way and Salvation Army (if you do not reside in the areas listed below)
American Airlines is taking doctors and nurses to Haiti for free!! Please call 212-697-9767
Text "Haiti" to 90999 for an automatic $10 donation to the Red Cross,
billed to your cell phone bill.
Here are a list of Haitian Organizations to send donations *We feel more comfortable recommending Haitian organizations. At least you know they are directly dealing with the people in Haiti. We're not recommending you donate funds to Red Cross (Remember a lot of Katrina Relief funds never even reached New Orleans so be on point! The most we recommend to them is texting to the number above to donate $10)
www.yele.org
www.univisionhaiti.org
New York City/Tri-State
National Coalition for Haitian Rights
275 7th Avenue
New York, NY10001
Tel: 212-337-0005
212-741-8949
Fax: 212-337-0028
SOB's Night Club
200 Varick St, Basement
New York, NY 10014
(212) 243-4940
Donation Center accepting clothes (summer), medicine, canned food daily 10:00-10:00 PM
Haitian Centers Council, Inc
50 Court Street -Suite 1010
Brooklyn, NY11201
Tel: (718) 855-0972
Fax: (718) 852-5377
BedfordHaitianCommunity Center (BHCC)
1534 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY11216
Tel: (718) 756-0600
Fax: (718) 351-8166
Haitian Community Service
BHRAGS
Brooklyn, NY11212
Tel: (718) 953-4100
Fax: (718) 735-4664
HaitianApostolateCenter
455 East 291h Street
Brooklyn, NY11226
Tel: (718) 856-3323
Fax: (718) 462-775
Evangelical Crusade
1488 New York Avenue
Brooklyn, NY11210
Tel: (718) 434-7250
Fax: (718)434-7250
Fax: (215) 476-1115
Haitian American United for Progress
(HAUP)
221-05 Linden Blvd.
Cambria Heights, NY11411
Tel: (718) 527-3776
Organisation Communautaire des Raphaelois D'Outre-Mer
C/o Henriot Marcelin
94-74 219th Street
Queens Village, NY11428
Tel: 718-468-3168
Haitian American Cultural and Educational Foundation (HACEF)
208-11 Jamaica Ave.
Jamaica, NY 11428
Tel: 718-426-7038
Fax: 718-479-8426
Haitian Alliance Headquaters
2030-2032 Kennedy BLVD
Jersey CityNJ07305-1526
(201) 332-6057
Haitian community Center or Stamford (HCCS)
570 Atlantic street
Stamford, CT06901
Tel: (203) 977-4751
Fax: (203) 359-4242Flatbush Haitian Centers (FHC)
HaitianCommunity Center of Stamford
Mr. Emilio Revolus
Phoebe Rene
570 Atlantic Ave.
Stamford, Connecticut
Fax: 203-324-8982
Haitian American Cultural and Social Organization (HASCO)
Haiti is a Caribbean country. Along with the Dominican Republic, it occupies the island of Hispaniola, and also is a neighbor to Cuba. Ayiti (land of high mountains) was the indigenous Taíno name for the mountainous western side of the island. It's capital is Port-au-Prince. Haiti was the first independent nation in Latin America, the first post-colonial independent black-led nation in the world, and the only nation whose independence was gained as part of a successful slave rebellion. Despite having common cultural links with its Hispano-Caribbean neighbors, Haiti is the only predominantly French independent nation in the Americas. For the past few decades the island has endured great hardships from corrupt government to hurricane disasters, poverty and more. 
