Here is a summary from the White House of informational tools and resources for the coming days as it relates to the situation in Haiti.

For the most up-to-date information please continue to monitor  http://www.whitehouse.gov/HaitiEarthquake

Cash donations are the most efficient and effective way to help the relief effort in Haiti right now. They allow humanitarian organizations to purchase (often within the affected region itself) the exact type and quantity of items needed by those affected by the crisis. Read about the advantages of monetary donations at http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/help/advantages.html.  You can immediately donate to the Red Cross to assist the relief effort at http://american.redcross.org/supporthaiti. Contribute online to the Red Cross, or donate $10 to be charged to your cell phone bill by texting "HAITI" to "90999."  You can also find more ways to help through the  http://www.cidi.org/incident/haiti-10a/ Center for International Disaster Information, or through  http://www.usaid.gov/ USAID's interactive website, which has a list of NGOs and instructions on how to help.

Right now, the airport is being used to facilitate search and rescue efforts. This is a complex and difficult environment, and all of our efforts have to be focused on prioritizing and moving the right resources into Haiti that can save lives in the next 48 hours.  That is why we are encouraging private citizens to focus their efforts on supporting established aid organizations that are deploying resources to Haiti, and to hold off on traveling there themselves.

We ask that you keep track of offers of in-kind services and supplies being offered in your communities in the coming days so that as needs on the ground are assessed we can quickly turn around the resources and get them to Haiti.  Those looking to donate time, supplies or funds should contact the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) at 703-276-1914, or visit online at  http://www.cidi.org/incident/haiti-10a/.

If your PTA wishes to participate in the relief assistance for Haiti, please review the California State PTA Toolkit sections

• 5.8.7 Handling Requests for Relief Assistance, p. 205;

• 5.3.12a Providing Documentation to Donors, p. 188;
  and the Forms section,

• Donation Receipt, p. 318.

These Toolkit sections and form are available in English and Spanish and are posted online at www.capta.org.