The logistics of organizing local contributions of solid goods are just impossible to manage. Getting those boxes of (for example) cans of food, or boxes of clothing from a locality in the U.S. to Haiti is virtually impossible.

Please, please urge that DUers who want to help donate MONEY rather than food or clothing, or any other material goods, to the various agencies that have set up channels for contribution. Those agencies are best able to provide the aid that's needed in the most efficient and fastest way.

It's much more effective for an aid agency to turn cash into food that's quickly transportable to Haiti than it would be to (again, for example) transport a pallet of cans from Kansas to Haiti.

I truly believe this is an important message. Americans always want to help; but we need to help in the way that helps best.