# Please Take Note: Red Cross, Tsunamis, Amazon **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 29, 2004, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097 "2004-12-29T15:03:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/21 "2004-12-29T21:16:49Z")
The wife isn’t much of a Red Cross fan, we went with [AmeriCares](http://www.americaresfoundation.net). They seem like a solid organization. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Macphisto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b487fb/32.png) [@Ms\_Macphisto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Macphisto)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2004, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/22 "2004-12-29T22:00:19Z")
I couldn’t decide between the Red Cross and MSF, so I’ve given $25 to each. I suspect that a lot of this duplicates **fessie** ’s list, but a friend forwarded a list of aid agencies in the US and Canada that are accepting donations. # USA AmeriCares > **[Americares | Disaster Relief & Global Health Organization](https://www.americares.org/)** > > Our Mission: Americares saves lives and improves health for people affected by poverty or disaster so they can reach their full potential. Action Against Hunger [http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/](http://www.actionagainsthunger.org/) ADRA International > **[ADRA](https://adra.org/)** > > Give now COVID is far from over. Learn more about how the world has changed and how you can help. DONATE LEARN MORE COVID has caused families and communities to not have consistent access to food. American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Inc. > **[Home | JDC](https://www.jdc.org/)** > > JDC is the leading global Jewish humanitarian organization. Since 1914, we've put Jewish values into action to save lives and strengthen communities. Association for India’s Development > **[Home - AID](https://aidindia.org/)** CARE [http://www.careusa.org/](http://www.careusa.org/) Catholic Relief Services > **[Home](https://www.crs.org)** > > Catholic Relief Services eases suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. Christian Children’s Fund > **[Home](https://www.crs.org)** > > Catholic Relief Services eases suffering and provides assistance to people in need in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. Church World Service > **[Home - CWS](https://cwsglobal.org/)** > > Welcoming Afghans Help provide safety and shelter to our new neighbors. Act Now Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images We have one goal: building a world where there is enough for all After seven decades moving towards this goal, CWS has the faith and... Direct Relief International > **[Direct Relief | Official Site | DirectRelief.org](https://www.directrelief.org)** > > A humanitarian relief charity that works in the US and internationally to improve the health and lives of people affected by disasters and poverty. Doctors Without Borders > **[Home | Doctors Without Borders - USA](https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/)** > > Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) treats people where the need is greatest. We are an international medical humanitarian organisation. We help people threatened by violence, neglect, natural disasters, epidemics and health... Food for the Hungry, Inc. > **[HOME: Sponsor A Child](https://www.fh.org/)** International Aid [http://www.gospelcom.net/ia/](http://www.gospelcom.net/ia/) International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies [http://www.ifrc.org/index.asp](http://www.ifrc.org/index.asp) International Medical Corps [http://www.imcworldwide.org/index.shtml](http://www.imcworldwide.org/index.shtml) International Rescue Committee > **[International Rescue Committee (IRC)](https://www.rescue.org)** > > The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Find out how you can help the IRC offer lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to... Lutheran World Relief > **[Lutheran World Relief](https://lwr.org/)** MAP International [http://www.map.org/](http://www.map.org/) Mercy Corps > **[Homepage | Mercy Corps](https://www.mercycorps.org/)** > > Mercy Corps is a global team of humanitarians, working together on the front lines of today’s biggest crises to create a future of possibility, where everyone can prosper. Network for Good > **[Simple & Smart Fundraising Software for Small Nonprofits](https://www.networkforgood.com/)** > > Better fundraisers are made with Network for Good. Reach your fundraising goals, connect with supporters, and advance your mission using our all-in-one fundraising software. Operation USA [http://www.opusa.org/](http://www.opusa.org/) Oxfam America > **[Oxfam America](https://www.oxfamamerica.org/)** > > Oxfam is a global movement of people fighting inequality to end poverty and injustice. Together we offer lifesaving support in times of crisis and advocate for economic justice, gender equality, and climate action. Plan USA > **[Girls and Childrens Rights Charity | Plan International USA](https://www.planusa.org/)** > > Plan International USA is a global girls’ rights and children’s charity. Our nonprofit organization empowers girls and boys in developing countries to move from a life of poverty to a future full of opportunities. Project Concern International [http://www.projectconcern.org/](http://www.projectconcern.org/) Save the Children USA > **[Humanitarian Aid Organization for Children](https://www.savethechildren.org/)** > > Save the Children is a leading humanitarian organization for children. We’ve changed the lives of over 1 billion children in the U.S. and around the world. UNICEF [http://www.unicef.org/index.html](http://www.unicef.org/index.html) U.N. World Food Programme [http://www.wfp.org/](http://www.wfp.org/) World Concern > **[Witness The Transformation - World Concern](https://worldconcern.org/)** > > Your gift today will deliver innovative solutions to provide clean water for children and families in need. # CANADA The following non-profit organizations are among those collecting donations to help survivors of the Dec. 26 tsunami: Canadian Red Cross [https://secure.csfm.com/redcross/](https://secure.csfm.com/redcross/) 1-800-418-1111 (or donate through your local Red Cross office) UNICEF Canada [https://secure.unicef.ca/forms/emergency\_page.html](https://secure.unicef.ca/forms/emergency_page.html) 1-800-567-4483 UNICEF Canada 2200 Yonge St., Suite 1100 Toronto, Ont. M4S 2C6 Oxfam Canada [https://www.strategicprofitsinc.com/hosted/Oxfam](https://www.strategicprofitsinc.com/hosted/Oxfam) 1-800-466-9326 Asian Earthquake/Floods Relief, Oxfam Canada 200-215 Spadina Avenue Toronto, Ont. M5T 2C7 World Vision Canada > **[World Vision Canada](https://www.worldvision.ca/)** > > World Vision Canada 1-800-268-5528 SALVATION ARMY www.salvationarmy.ca or 1-800-SAL-ARMY CARE CANADA www.care.ca or 1-800-267-5232 DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS www.msf.ca or 1-800-982-7903 Tamil Rehabilitation Organization [http://www.troonline.org/](http://www.troonline.org/) 416-751-8777 Make donations for the Sri Lankan relief effort at any TD Canada Trust branch, through account 500-1027, transit number 540. Canadian Tamil Congress 416-751-8777 Canadian Relief Organization for Peace in Sri Lanka 416-429-2822 ---
**Author:** ![mighty\_maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@mighty\_maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mighty_maxx)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/23 "2004-12-30T00:12:14Z")
I have a lot of fond memories fror that place. It was essentially the place where I met my wife, and fell in love. The wife is looking for some Thai charities, we want to get specific with our first donation, we want to help Thai. If you want a general fund to donate to I highly suggest the salvation army. I’ll post links to the Thai charity we donate to.[HERE](http://www.mightymaxx.us/phuket1resize.jpg) is a pic of a place that doesn’t exist anymore…its under water. Taken 4 years ago. What bothers me is that I guarantee that some of the people I met there that treated us so great are now dead, and the places I remember going are either completely gone or at least severely damaged. There was lady that rented scooters on the beach, she lived across the street. I wanted a scooter, but I didn’t want to give her my passport as deposit (which was evidently standard), but she rented it to me anyway, because I had an “honest face”…lol yeah right. It was the extra $10 bucks I offered that did it. I wonder if she made it. Just thought I would share this and encurage you to donate to help out if you could. All my in laws are fine, they all live in central/Bangkok. But they certainly felt the earthquake. ---
**Author:** ![gardentraveler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gardentraveler/32/3576_2.png) [@gardentraveler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardentraveler)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/24 "2004-12-30T00:28:59Z")
Look at post 6 in [this thread from yesterday](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=293905). It has ratings of various charities from two different sources. I’m about to donate to Lutheran World Relief, which looks like it’s extremely efficient. GT ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/25 "2004-12-30T02:41:19Z")
I couldn’t get the DWB link to work last night, so I wound up giving $75 to Mercy Corps. ---
**Author:** ![jweb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/71c47a/32.png) [@jweb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jweb)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/26 "2004-12-30T03:13:20Z")
I’m waiting until after New Year’s, but there’s a good reason for that. My company will match dollar for dollar on contributions to any 501©(3) organization, up to a maximum of $2500 (IIRC) per employee until the designated pool of money is exhausted. Unfortunately, the 2004 pool of money has been exhausted, but we get a new pool of money on 1/1/05. As 1/1/05 falls on a Saturday, I will wait Monday to make my donation. Then my $200 will become $400 instantly. That gives me the next few days to decide which orgainzation(s) should receive my donation. ---
**Author:** ![Squee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@Squee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squee)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 9:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/27 "2004-12-30T09:46:01Z")
Donated $500 today via the Amazon link from Google. Wish I could give more, but cash is tight for me this month. = ( ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/28 "2004-12-30T09:56:45Z")
Gave to UNICEF and the Red Cross’ International Disaster Relief Fund, via their websites. That was when the scale of the tragedy of the scale seemed “smaller;” the death toll has doubled since then. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/29 "2004-12-30T10:44:13Z")
Something substantial to the International Red Cross in the UK. Will be hopefully be joining a reconstruction team in Thailand in a few months’ time. ---
**Author:** ![Jillyvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Jillyvn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jillyvn)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/30 "2004-12-30T15:37:37Z")
I was trying to figure out how to budget in some money to give to a relief agency, until I found out this morning that my boss has decided to donate $5,000 on behalf of our business. We’re a really small office, 4 people plus him, and I was sort of shocked. I’m new here, and this definately reinforces my already good opinion of the place. - Rebekkah ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/31 "2004-12-30T20:55:27Z")
I just got an email from the company president (I work for a gigantic megacorporation) saying that they will match any donations to the Red Cross. I’ve been feeling pretty guilty about my tiny donation, but this makes me feel better. As soon as I get home, where I have my donation receipt, my company will turn my little $50 into $100. I have to take advantage of this and donate some more. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/32 "2004-12-30T20:58:09Z")
In fact, on a scale of one to ten, how unethical of it of me would it be to offer to take PayPal donations? I’d in turn donate the money and my company would match it. It’s not like they can’t afford it. Hm. ---
**Author:** ![ErinPuff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dbc845/32.png) [@ErinPuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ErinPuff)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/33 "2004-12-30T21:18:11Z")
I donated $20 through Amazon. It isn’t much, but I’m a lowly college student. After I buy textbooks for the spring semester I might give more if I have money left. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2004, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/34 "2004-12-30T21:41:29Z")
The [Apple](http://www.apple.com/) home page, which is usually an ad for the iPod, now contains links to various aid organizations. I followed one to give $100 to UNICEF. ---
**Author:** ![BlueKangaroo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@BlueKangaroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueKangaroo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2004, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/35 "2004-12-31T07:33:15Z")
**Kangaroo\_in\_Black** and I just donated today. > [@Kyla](#): > > In fact, on a scale of one to ten, how unethical of it of me would it be to offer to take PayPal donations? I’d in turn donate the money and my company would match it. It’s not like they can’t afford it. Hm. **Kyla** , while I’m sure your heart is in the right place, I suspect this is a bad idea. I know it feels like the company can afford it, and they likely can, but if they found out you could be fired. I’m not a lawyer or a professional anything right now, but this is my gut reaction. If you really feel like you need to do this, why not do it within a circle of real life friends? ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2004, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/36 "2004-12-31T17:06:30Z")
> [@BlueKangaroo](#): > > **Kangaroo\_in\_Black** and I just donated today. > **Kyla** , while I’m sure your heart is in the right place, I suspect this is a bad idea. I know it feels like the company can afford it, and they likely can, but if they found out you could be fired. I’m not a lawyer or a professional anything right now, but this is my gut reaction. If you really feel like you need to do this, why not do it within a circle of real life friends? No, you’re right, it’s a bad idea. :: sigh :: ---
**Author:** ![Priam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/77aa72/32.png) [@Priam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Priam)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2004, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/37 "2004-12-31T17:23:22Z")
I donated $10 to the Red Cross. Wish I had enough money to feel like I made a difference, but I couldn’t just do nothing. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/38 "2004-12-31T20:32:45Z")
I donated through [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com). I wish I could donate more (hopefully later) but at least it was something. I did quite a bit of donating earlier this month so I’m kind of tapped out . . . I love refreshing the [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) page and seeing how much the total has increased. A few days it was 3 million. Now it’s 9 million, heading towards 10 million. Really wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![Yeticus\_Rex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a698b9/32.png) [@Yeticus\_Rex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yeticus_Rex)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2004, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/39 "2004-12-31T23:24:53Z")
I was impressed with Direct Relief International’s [efficiency (99.1%) and medical bang for the buck(34:1)](http://www.directrelief.org/sections/support_us/donate.html), so I donated $1K there. When I go to church Sunday, I have a feeling that I will talk myself into matching that through Catholic Relief Services or Christian Foundation for the Children/Aging for long-term rebuilding efforts, then I will reassess on a monthly basis and donate accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![Rock-n-Rolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/22d042/32.png) [@Rock-n-Rolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rock-n-Rolga)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2005, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097/40 "2005-01-01T03:08:12Z")
Whoa, donating thru Amazon was so easy! I was already signed in so it really took just one click. Brilliant. Yesterday I started to donate to the ARC via Yahoo, but got bogged down on their info page and had to leave. Major thanks for the info, **Bosda**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-take-note-red-cross-tsunamis-amazon/282097.md?page=1)