Haiti Aid : Stop Sending Breast Milk!

In a misguided attempt to help the Haitian earthquake recovery effort, apparently a lot of new moms have been sending their breast milk over for infants that have been orphaned by the tragic happening, in a response to what they thought was a call for breast milk from whoever could spare it.  They thought or understood wrong though, the Red Cross has just put out a message to all breast milk donors to please stop sending their breast milk as it cannot be used to help the children over there.

The well meaning problem started when breast feeding advocate groups, perhaps even more than one, issues statements out to their members  to please send any excess breast milk they had to Haiti so that it could be used to feed the children that were abandoned by parents who dies in the earthquake or were perhaps critically injured in the quake.  But a Red Cross spokesperson said he is completely sure that they don’t need the breast milk, and in fact, never requested it from organizations or individuals, so they are unsure how this rumor started in the first place, or if it was just autonomous on the parts of do gooders who’s heart was in the right place.

However, they don’ t need and cannot use donated breast milk, and so it is actually causing more harm than good when they get it, as there is already so much confusion over there.  Actually, this isn’t the only overwhelming response they’ve had, but there are so many people that want to go over there to help that they have had to turn people away and ask them to stay away, as the overcrowding will just cause more confusion, and volunteering would just cause more pandemonium, so they are asking people to just send money, nothing else at this time, money is the best thing you can do for the Haitians right now.

So, even if you have five bucks to give, that’s awesome.  I know right now that it’s hard to give up even a cent because so many people are in tight spots financially, so by all means if you are in a difficult financial position, you should be using your financial resources on your family and yourself, but if you have a little to spare, this is the perfect opportunity to help folks in need out. And it’s tax deductible because it’s a charitable organization, which is great.