I have tried to contribute to Oxfam and "Save the Children"

[librarycard]

but after typing in all my information and hitting "submit," I get a "Service Unavailable" message.

Does this mean they are getting lots of hits? Let's hope so! We will try again tomorrow.

[Kira]

1. Is oxfam better than unicef?

I can't decide who to pick.

[silverweb]

3. They're both wonderful.

Take your pick. They'll help.

[Kira]

4. Thanks.

I have a lot of childrens clothes I wish they would let us send too.

[silverweb]

7. Donate the clothes locally.

To an organization that helps locally. Like Goodwill, AmVets, etc. A woman from UNICEF was on TV last night saying people want to donate canned food, clothes, blankets, etc, but that's just not practical for an overseas operation.

[silverweb]

2. Let's hope so.

I donated via the UNICEF site, no problems. You could try there....

http://www.unicefusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=duLRI8O0H&b=25933

[librarycard]

5. Does UNICEF get lots of free air time?

They are advertised constantly on CNN International. Do they pay for that?

Doctors without Borders has been very upfront about donations for the Tsunami Relief Fund....their website says that they have enough contributions for Central Asia and recommend that current donations go to their general fund.

At least they're straight forward about it, which is very honest of them.

[silverweb]

8. I don't know.

I do know that UNICEF helps communities all over the world. If some stations give them free air time, more power to them.

Doctors without Borders is another wonderful organization!

[librarycard]

10. I don't see "Doctors w/o Borders" advertising on international airwaves

and yet their website says, essentially, that they have all the money they can use for Central Asia, asking permission to use further donations for places like Dafur.

I don't mean anything against UNICEF, and I may donate to them yet, but I like "Drs'" straight forward approach. Their annual report also shows very low administrative costs.

[Zan_of_Texas]

6. Oxfam is getting more donations in a shorter time than

they have ever had. Just in the US, it's about a million dollars per day since it happened. AT&T had to donate more phone lines, so the phones in their two-block area wouldn't melt down.

So, don't give up. Maybe try late at night or early in the morning?

www.oxfamamerica.org

Or, you can just mail them a check - address on their website.

When I found out that the American people (and people all over the world) were so generously donating, it made me cry. Our government is ruthless and greedy, killing foreigners in our name. But our people are good-hearted, mostly, and just want to help.


The first fifteen days are crucial to survival of many people who need food and water, but after that the rebuilding will go on for months and years.

If you'll recall that after 4 hurricanes in Florida, months later there are still people without homes -- and that's in a developed nation where the President has strong reason to send $.

Oxfam has been in Sri Lanka for thirty years, and they have relationships with the people who live there -- they don't just fly in from elsewhere or drive around in Land Rovers. They in fact ran a drill for a major emergency in Sri Lanka just a few months ago.

They also coordinate their response with other NGOs through the UN's emergency relief group (unlike a certain White House squatter who shall remain nameless). This coordination has developed over the past few decades with crises in Africa.

[silverweb]

9. Fantastic!

:bounce:

I'm on Oxfam's mailing list and they are an incredible organization!

Agree about the first 15 days being crucial. I'm glad Oxfam is there, along with all the other emergency organizations.

[librarycard]

11. Terrific information. You are very well informed on Oxfam

I will try them again. It was surprising, though, to see that "submit" didn't kick in once I'd made the $200 donation. I'm glad they are so busy, though, and we will try again later.