August 18th, 2009 
nbanta The SimplyHelp Foundation is mobilizing all of it’s resources to assist the victims of Typhoon Morakot. Families that have lost everything will receive $350 to help them get back on their feet. Students will receive tuition assistance and lunch stipends.
Find more information here: http://www.simplyhelp.org/
If anyone has worked with Simply Help before let us know about your experience!
August 15th, 2009 nbanta The Tzu Chi Foundation, established in 1966, contributes to better social and community services, medical care, education and humanism in Taiwan and around the world. Tzu Chi’s missions focus on giving material aid to the needy and inspiring love and humanity to both givers and receivers.
The foundation offers two ways to make donations through Google Checkout and PayPal.
Learn more here:
http://www.us.tzuchi.org/usa/home.nsf/home/index?OpenDocument
The foundation is doing a good job providing relief updates via the above link. Has anyone worked with this organization before – what are your thoughts?
August 12th, 2009 nbanta UPDATE: If you are an EBAY seller, you can also donate a portion of your auction sales to Global Giving. More information here: http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=33350
Global giving is raising funds for Typhoon Morakot relief efforts. Summary: “Provide immediate assistance to victims of Typhoon Morakot, which has caused massive flooding and mudslides, killing more than 40 and destroying homes. Hundreds of people remain missing.”
Learn more at: http://ow.ly/jPVh
Has anyone worked iwt hthis organization/fund before? What are your thoughts? Let us know with a comment.
August 12th, 2009 nbanta UPDATE: An initial consignment of 224 ShelterBoxes has been sent to the Philippines while 100 ShelterBoxes have been sent to Taiwan. Tell us about your experiences and support them
http://www.shelterbox.org/news_article.asp?id=152
Shelter Box is a disaster response organization that delivers supply boxes to those impacted by disasters. Each box supplies an extended family of up to 10 people with a tent and lifesaving equipment to use while they are displaced or homeless. The contents are tailored depending on the nature and location of the disaster, with great care taken sourcing every item to ensure it is robust enough to be of lasting value. The cost of a box is £490, including delivery direct to those who need it. Each box bears its own unique number so as a donor you can track your box all the way to its recipient country via the website Highly trained ShelterBox Response Teams distribute boxes on the ground, working closely with local organisations, international aid agencies and Rotary clubs worldwide. Since its inception in 2000, ShelterBox has firmly established itself at the forefront of international disaster relief providing shelter and dignity following over 80 disasters in more than 50 countries.
Let us know about your experiences with Shelter Box
You can support the organization here: http://www.shelterbox.org/donate.asp
ShelterBox is responding to Typhoon Morakot after tens of thousands of people have been left stranded in the storm’s wake. During the past several days, the storm has passed over the Philippines, Taiwan and mainland China, leaving a trail of destruction.
High winds, flooding and mudslides have left thousands in need of emergency shelter. In Taiwan, 50,000 people are stranded and flooding has submerged many homes. In China nearly 1 million people have been evacuated in the Fujian Province while 13,000 people have been displaced in the Zambales Province in the Philippines with authorities describing the situation as a calamity. Typhoon Morakot has brought with it a record amount of rainfall with close to 2.5 metres falling on Taiwan.
ShelterBox is providing emergency disaster relief on all three fronts. ShelterBox Response Team (SRT) members Peter Pearce (AU) and Ross Mackenzie (NZ) are already on the ground in the Philippines, two SRT members from the UK will arrive in Taipei, Taiwan shortly and SRT member Tony Zhang (CN) is assessing the situation in China.
ShelterBox Founder Tom Henderson said: ‘This is a textbook ShelterBox operation. We’ve been watching this for a few days and monitoring the situation. We now have teams in place on all three fronts that will be providing emergency disaster relief as quickly as possible. With each ShelterBox containing a 10-person tent, blankets, water purification and cooking equipment, basic tools, a stove and other essential equipment, we not only provide people with emergency shelter provision but also the tools to start rebuilding their lives.’
http://www.shelterbox.org/news_article.asp?id=152
August 11th, 2009 nbanta We just got some information regarding ways you can support local organizations that are responding to Typhoon Morakot in Taiwan. If anyone has any experience with these organizations leave a comment and let everyone know.
Tzu Chi Buddhist Foundation have branches around the world. People can easily get in
touch with the branch in their country and make a donation there.
USA Homepage here http://www.us.tzuchi.org/usa/home.nsf/home/index?OpenDocument
I can’t seem to find the webpage with list of all their branches though!!
Dharma Drum Mountain – large Buddhist organization in Taiwan
They also have branches in US and some other countries where it may be possible to
donate.
English (US based) website http://www.dharmadrum.org/index.aspx
Info for donations in Taiwan at
http://www.ddm.org.tw/ddm/event/main.aspx?contentid=21663
Translation:
a/c number: 191-50-368389
Bank: First Bank
Branch: Beitou branch
or
Taiwan Post Office a/c number: 19577467
Presbyterian Church in Taiwan
Webpage with details of US and Taiwan bank accounts
http://www.pct.org.tw/english/enGnS.htm
It is also possible to make donations to Central Government and
local governments as well as through the main political parties.
Thanks @davidonformosa for the info
August 11th, 2009 nbanta The devastation of Typhoon Morakot continues. We want to rally the international community to help all those who need it!
August 10th, 2009 nbanta It seems like World Vision has played a very active role in Taiwan relief efforts. You can find several new articles (such as the one below) on their efforts. If you have any experience with World Vision let us know. Details on how to contribute to the World Vision Emergency Relief fund are below:
http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?item=1753160§ion=10324&go=item&
First Aid agency World Vision Taiwan is providing immediate relief to affected families in the wake of Typhoon Morakot’s destructive path. Taiwan, August 10, 2009 World Vision has provided food, clean water and cleaning materials to households in southern Taiwan with plans to distribute more food, non-food items and emergency aid subsidies in the intitial stages of the relief effort. On Sunday, August 9, World Vision began providing emergency assistance to 700 people in shelters at Taimali Township, Taitung and Jiadug Township, Pingtung. In addition to food and cleaning supplies, some 684 relief kits containing flash lights, radio, raincoats, gloves, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and towels were also distributed. World Vision had already been working in some of the affected areas for many years with supplies pre-positioned to enable a quick start-up for Typhoon Morakot relief activities.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/fromthefield/217167/124989136998.htm
August 10th, 2009 nbanta Since the local people take little interest in adopting dogs with disabilities or injuries from car accidents or mistreatments, wounded dogs are often doomed to stay in the pound, stray on the streets or remain homeless all their life long. As a result, Animal Rescue Team began to contact several animal-care organizations in the United States and to post touching stories with photos of the miserable creatures on their websites.
To our surprise, a great number of positive responses were received to show willingness of adopting our dogs, and thanks to the efforts made by the volunteer workers, more than 20 homeless dogs has found their new owners in the foreign country.
August 10th, 2009 nbanta The Ministry of the Interior (MOI) opened two special accounts Monday to accept donations from the public for the people who have been affected by flooding brought by Typhoon Morakot over the weekend.
August 10th, 2009 nbanta The Red Cross just released steps it has taken to respond to Typhoon Morakot. Key actions include:
http://www.ifrc.org/Docs/News/09/09081001/index.asp
If you want to support these initiatives, read below:
The Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund
“You can help people affected by disasters, like the current floods, by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters. Your gift enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disasters. You may also call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or mail your donation, to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.”
Red Cross International Response Fund
You can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation by mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.
More details at:
If you have given to either of these funds in the past, leave a comment and tell everyone about your experience.
Posted in 
