HAITI: Here's how you can help

The 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on Jan. 12 has devastated the Caribbean island nation, killing or injuring thousands of men, women and children, and destroying homes, hospitals, schools and other public building and shelters. Officials have said that only donations of money are being accepted. No clothing, blankets or other merchandise will be accepted. Here's how you can help:

• President Barack Obama has announced a joint fundraising effort led by President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush – the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, to which you can contribute in any of three ways: Visit the secure online donation page from www.clintonbushhaitifund.org./about.php; Text the word "QUAKE" to 20222 to donate $10 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, charged to your cell phone bill; or mail donations to The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, c/o William J. Clinton Foundation, Donations Department, 610 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201, or The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, c/o Communities Foundation of Texas, 5500 Caruth Haven Lane, Dallas, TX 75225.

• Red Cross donations: Mahoning, Trumbull and North Columbiana chapters are accepting money donations. To donate $10, text Haiti to 90999. The amount will be added to your next phone bill. The organization is also accepting donations through its International Response Fund, www.redcross.org. Or send donations, earmarked for Haiti relief, to: Mahoning Chapter Red Cross, 8392 Tod Ave., Boardman, Ohio 44512, (330) 726-6063; Trumbull Chapter, 661 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren, Ohio 44483, (330) 392-2551; or North Columbiana County, 5843 Ohio 45, Lisbon, Ohio 44432-9396, (330) 424-6610. Burlington Coat Factory, 529 Boardman-Canfield Road, Boardman, also is collecting monetary donations for the Red Cross and its Haiti Relief and Development Fund.

• Catholic Relief Services: The Catholic Diocese of Youngstown is accepting monetary donations to support the work of Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in Haiti. CRS is the official overseas relief and development agency of U.S. Catholic bishops, which provides emergency assistance. Send donations, earmarked for Haitian Earthquake Fund, to Catholic Relief Services, in care of the Office of Social Action, Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, 144 W. Wood St., Youngstown, Ohio, 44503. Donations also may be made through the Web site, www.ccdoy.org, by credit card or Paypal. For more information, call Brian Corbin, diocesan director of CRS, at (330) 744-8451, ext. 320.

• To donate $10 to the American Red Cross, text Haiti to 90999. The amount will be added to your next phone bill. The organization is also accepting donations through its International Response Fund, www.redcross.org

• To find out how to help the International Rescue Committee, visit www.theIRC.org or call toll free, (877) REFUGEE.

• To donate through Oxfam’s emergency appeal, visit www.oxfam.org.uk

• To donate to Partners in Health, visit www.pih.org. The group is also looking for surgeons, nurses and surgical teams who want to volunteer to help.

• To donate to Doctors Without Borders, which is also treating earthquake victims, go to www.doctorswithoutborders.org.

• To Check the welfare of friends, relatives: People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Haiti should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at (888) 407-4747