There are many ways to help Nurses in Haiti and many ways to help; many ways to help the people of Haiti by helping nurses and the school. Help can be given across a spectrum of philanthropy that can be simple, free and take only seconds a day or it can be a life-time commitment involving money, time and your best resources. Whatever you have to give, choose to give – no matter how humble - please know that the gift is perfect and will expand your life and the lives of the nurses, nursing students and the people of Haiti. 

Help and giving gifts can come from individuals, businesses and organizations (such as 4-H Clubs, church groups and community organizations). Here are some tangible ways that you can help: 

From simple to complex…

The simple:   

• Visit the Haiti Nursing Foundation website – spread the word – awareness is the first step to action: http://www.haitinursing.org/
• Visit the Hope for Haiti's Nurses Project at to learn about the stories of the Haitian Nurse Heroes – the testimonials here.
• Participate in the Hope for Haiti's Nurses Chain here.
• Never underestimate the power of intention – send your best thoughts and prayers to the people of Haiti and the nurses and students in Haiti – this is no small gift!
• Stay vigilant – do not let the media be your only connection – news stories will wax and wane – keep the people of Haiti in your hearts and on your mind
• Learn all that you can about Haiti – the world has responsibility in why Haiti is where she is economically and socially – they are our neighbors – An African proverb eloquently says it all: ‘Not to know is bad, but not to wish to know is worse’
• Anderson Cooper gives us a beautiful quote “We are all as close as the walls of our hearts” – here’s to paper-thin walls! How thick is yours?
• After being in Haiti – even without a quake – the resources available to the students and nurses – for them to learn and to provide care - is very limited: Practice daily gratitude – be aware of how many and how much supplies, equipment, medications, space and money we have available to teach and to provide care. Conscious awareness helps us to be more present in understanding the abundance in our lives and allows us to re-focus our energies on care – instead of on ‘what’s wrong’: Gratitude is a powerful intention that benefits everyone
• Write! Mary Pipher has a wonderful book Writing to Change the World; Riverhead Books; 2006 – there is power in the pen!
• 2010 was the International Year of the Nurse: http://www.2010iynurse.net/ - The purpose is to celebrate nursing and her accomplishments – “…a celebration of commitment to bring health to their communities, locally and worldwide.” – Nowhere is this truer than with the work of Rigan, Martha, Evans, Shirley and the other nurses of Haiti – join in the celebration - year after year!
• Wear the White Heart pin from the International Council of Nursing (ICN): http://www.icn.ch/whiteheart.htm - “The symbol is meant to characterize the caring, knowledge and humanity that infuse the work and spirit of nursing. The white heart is also a unifying symbol for nurses globally.”

More complex:  

• Volunteer to teach or prepare curricula for a school of nursing in Haiti
• Write a book
• Work within your nursing organization to empower nurses and nursing to actualize their highest vision of care
• Conduct research on nursing in Haiti
• Volunteer to help the HNF write grants
• Buy or collect nursing lab equipment, uniforms, etc. (check what is needed at http://www.haitinursing.org/)
• Sponsor a student at a School of Nuring (SON)
• Donate money - $10 matters
• Have Hope for Haiti's Nurses Project parties – email us at Michele@nursesfornursesinternational.com and we will send you ideas
• Put together a Hope for Haiti's Nurses Project event - email us at Michele@nursesfornursesinternational.com and we will send you ideas
• Do you have other ideas? Let us know – action is powerful – whatever you feel, whatever you envision – begin it! The need is tremendous, but there are nurses in Haiti who will make you proud – for whom your efforts and money will be extraordinarily well spent!

  ---

  Donate through Nurses for Nurses International

 Please email michele@nursesfornursesinternational.com for comments or suggestions - or if you would like to donate.*

How your money will be spent with the Hope for Haiti's Nurses Project: 
For every dollar donated to the Hope for Haiti's Nurses Project:

•  $0.10 will be given to support the FSIL School of Nursing, through the Haiti Nursing Foundation
• $0.70 will be used to strengthen the mission of Nurses for Nurses International – to connect nurses, connect care and to empower nurses to actualize their highest vision of care in order to heal Haiti and create Peace and Possibility for Haiti’s Children - the only true ‘outcome measure’ of the effectiveness of care, the effectiveness of nursing: Specifically; creating safe work environments, providing appropriate nursing tool, assuring for necessary PPE and supporting nurses in CE/professional development 
• $0.20 will be used for administrative expenses