I would have when I was younger.

I meant "only three" not "a"...

At my age and being handicapped, I could not do it.

Yep I would think about it if I were younger.

Sorry, I've been there.
Even if I was younger, no, I wouldn't.

I'll donate here in hopes the money helps.

Yup, sure would. What kind of place do you work that they are asking for volunteers? Is it a medical-type place? I'd love to go and would be ready tomorrow if I thought I could do any good.

would you go to help?
I imagine I would be more of a hindrance than any help due to being so emotional. I couldn't handle it. My assistance will have to remain monetary.

Sue

To so what? With all the crime and disease appearing I think you'd really have to think about the impact it would have on yourself and your family. If you were a trained rescue worker maybe
JMHO but an honest one

In reality, unless the people themselves in Haiti, start cleaning up the streets, piling the stone/bricks up, helping more instead of running up and down with knives, threating everyone, looting. it is not fair to anyone from other countries that really want to help. The US has had too many disasters that after a short period of time, we seem to pick ourselves up and go on, cleaning, building etc. Other countries just expect us to come in, donate, and do it. You would not want me there as I would insist the locals would do more. No I would not volunteer.

Mariend - did you not see the looting that went on in New Orleans and other cities after Katrina? Those were Americans!

There are criminals and desperate people in every single society on this planet.

MOST Haitians are spending their time digging their families and neighbors out of collapsed buildings.

No one truly knows what he or she would do when desperate. These people are living through hell right now, starving and without water. Who knows what you or anyone in any country might do in the same situation??

I absolutely would not go. Would I go to the emergencies of our own here in America if needed? Yes, in a heartbeat and I have many times.

I'd do it if trained. I wouldn't want to be handing out scarce supplies. I'd want to dig up rubble.

I couldn't agree with you more, sjerin. People think about it, if your child was dying in your arms from dehydration, would u just sit there?

I know that they need strong bodies (with strong minds) to help physically repair the country.

But everytime there's a natural disaster somewhere, this concerns me: The big-time newscasters go, hundreds of reporters descend, many photographers jump on the next plane there. Even celebrities go--the musician Wyclef Jean is in Haiti now (his home country)--he's actually helping pick up bodies.

So not only do rescue teams and humanitarian groups have to do their work, but resources -- water, food, protection -- have to be devoted to the news media and such. I don't get it.

I know the media have to go and report what they see and share the devastation so others in the world can see the reality and the need to help. Heck, I make my living in the news media profession (tho I work in the "home" office, I'm not a reporter). But with limited resources, it confounds me.

Tonite I helped put together a photo array, and the images were so, so awful. Bodies being put into trucks. Just horrible. Bodies piled up. Could I stand looking at that in person while doing some task? Probably not. There are stronger people out there than me.

Go to Haiti? Nah, no way. All hell is going to break loose very shortly.

"When you did it for the least of these, you did it for me".

I believe that we're called to help those less fortunate. We do it in different ways. Some with money, some with physical work, some with both. And I believe that there are many Haitians helping there; if I believed only the bad that you see on the news I think I'd jump off a bridge; there is plenty of good going on, it's just not news.

No one truly knows what he or she would do when desperate. These people are living through hell right now, starving and without water. Who knows what you or anyone in any country might do in the same situation??

ITA, Sjerin.

I would like to go.

Two of my cousins went to Haiti a few years ago to volunteer in a hospital.

It was an eye-opening experience for them. They were so glad they went to help.

The families of the patients would stay with their loved ones, stick by them, sleep in the hallways or outside until they were released.

So many were in poor health and lived in squalor, due to the aftermath of many years of highly corrupt government in that country.

My cousins still donate to that hospital -- it was inland, not the one in the capital that collapsed, and is packed with quake victims this week, both local and others brought in from Port-au-Prince. I'll link an article below about this.

Back to your question, as they get things more organized with relief efforts it would be good for energetic people to consider going over there.

In the meantime the victims have no water or food, so donations to major helping organizations are needed.

Here is a link that might be useful: Albert Schweitzer Hospital report

I would go.

I think it's a little too easy for us to sit in our heated homes, drinking our filtered water, eating our nutritious food, surrounded by our healthy and happy loved ones and condemning how others are handling a disaster of this magnitude.

I always find it a little sad to hear people saying they would help "our own" but not others. I don't know of anyone who chose their birth circumstances and I know that even with the troubles I personally have, I am still extremely lucky compared to a vast, vast majority of the world. So I help out where and when I can, and I hope that it can benefit some of the less fortunate people.

I can't imagine more satisfaction than to help dig out someone who may have died otherwise.

I would go if I didn't have kids, could wear body armor, carry weapons and had medical training.

Blessings,
Haley

I was watching Geraldo this morning and he was talking about how if people go there to help they basically need to bring everything with them--food, water, shelter etc.--because there is nothing there. He compared it to Katrina where at least in the outlying areas there were the necessities, but in Haiti there is nothing.

No, there is no way I'd go. There are trained rescue groups and military going there with supplies, but I don't think it's for the average person.

I would not go. I'd be more hindrance than help, plus it is a very dangerous place in the best of times. In about 1968 DH and I were on a cruise ship that stopped at Cap Hatien -- nothing really there except single story shacks and starving people; many children with no clothing, pot-bellied with malnutrition, arms and legs like sticks, too famished to move. Present everywhere were the tonton macoute -- in aviator shades with machine guns at the ready, most looking high on drugs. There were no roads, just ruts in the earth. Above one floated a banner reading "Dieu et Duvalier" (God and Duvalier -- Baby Doc, the then-dictator-for-life).

It hasn't gotten a whole lot better. The earthquake was a disaster, but the whole scene is about to get uglier.

I fail to understand why rosy-cheeked American high schoolers (or ANYBODY) needs to travel to these places 'to do good'. Like there aren't plenty of needy souls within 100 miles?

Media-types have to be there or be their stations will lose advertising dollars, but I WISH these would be declareds media pool situation, where only a few go in to report back.

When I was younger, yes. now, I'm too old and too sick. I don't have a lot to offer. My two nephews helped out on 9/11 by going down to thw WTC with cases of bottled water for the rescue workers. Good boys.

>> I fail to understand why rosy-cheeked American high schoolers (or ANYBODY) needs to travel to these places 'to do good'. Like there aren't plenty of needy souls within 100 miles?

I suspect that those rosy-cheeked American people you talk about DO also help out closer to home. Usually a charitable nature knows no bounds.

For those of you who wouldn't go to Haiti because it's not the US, DO you go to places (Appalachia, New Orleans, etc.) to help?

Possibly, susieque, but... It's not 'glamorous' to volunteer right next door. It's exciting to get Papa to pay thousands to send you to the ends of the earth so you can 'help'. Those thousands, donated to real, trained workers, could do so much -- but then little Gladys wouldn't have this 'fulfilling' experience.

I had to choke when I read a post on the TripAdvisor Hawaii forum that was from a teenager on the mainland. She wanted to know what fun things there were to do on Oahu. She was going to be there for a week with her friends working for Habitat for Humanity. She said they'd be working from something like eight to noon, but that left lots of time to do other things. How much GOOD could they possibly do, and what did it cost to send them to Hawaii to do it?

I wish I could, I would go in a minute if I were younger and healthy.

All I can do is give money...and I have done so.

chisue - I really don't mean this to be rude, honestly. But my question is, have YOU volunteered "right next door"? If so, wonderful; you are giving back. If not, please don't judge people who do something if you have done nothing.

Chisue,

My son, my rosy-cheeked American son, has volunteered right next door for many years. He started at 12, riding a bike from Houston to Austin for the MS 150, which is actually 189 miles over 2 days. He had to raise $350 in pledges. He continued that for 6 years, most years raising over $1000. We, his PARENTS, only ever pledged $100.

When he was a freshman at UT Austin, he raised $4500 for the American Cancer Society, so he could participate in the Texas 4000 bike ride from Austin, Texas to Anchorage, Alaska.

So, yes, he got a wonderful adventure on his bike rides. He also (with his team of 20) stopped in every town they stayed in and visited with children in the hospital with terminal diseases.

He'd be in Haiti now, and is frustrated that he cannot help. But he's in graduate school, and he teaches two classes. The teaching funds his studies, and he can't just abandon them. So, of course, he won't.

DO NOT discount the young people of our country. I've seen many more noble souls than selfish ones.

I also get really ticked when people lump all young people together. You only hear about the lazy, self-centered ones. As a parent of a 23-y-o, I know far many more good young people, than I know lazy jerks.

I just got off the phone with my best friend..her son (Isaac's Dad) went on a Mission trip to Haiti several years ago. He has contacted the Red Cross and is now making preparations to go over there within the next few weeks!

Good for your best friend's son, country bumpkin! These are the people to celebrate and honor!

Do thank your friend's son for his sacrifice and service.