Aruba Helps Bring Aid to Haiti

The island of Aruba is helping to bring aid to Haiti, following the devastating earthquake which nearly destroyed the country's capital city and killed thousands in the impoverished nation.

Red Cross Aruba is in the process of collecting funds from Aruban citizens and companies, and has been receiving an overwhelming number of calls from those looking to donate. Red Cross Aruba has opened bank accounts at all local banks for direct donations and will send the collected funds to Red Cross International, which is coordinating relief efforts with emergency supplies, technical assistance and other support to those in urgent need in Haiti. Red Cross Aruba is also organizing a relief effort to send local doctors and surgeons to Haiti to provide medical assistance along with Red Cross volunteers from Aruba.

Setar Aruba, a telecommunications company, is donating money raised by every customer who texts the word "Haiti" to their call line, which will collect about $3 per text.

Digicel Aruba, a telecommunications company, has donated $100,000 to a relief fund for Haiti, and is also donating 100 percent of proceeds from all customers who text the word "Help" to a call line that has been set up for the relief effort.

MetaCorp, an Aruba-based holding company, has donated about $28,000 to Red Cross relief efforts and Burger King in Aruba has donated roughly $3,000.

Additionally, De Schakel College, a private school on the island, is organizing fund raising activities and collecting clothing and supplies.

Visit www.ARUBA.com.