Vincentian Lay Missionary Krissy Bennett Bruce saw a possibility to help disaster efforts in Haiti, so she posted it on Facebook. “…people can text ‘HAITI’ to 90999 and a $10 donation will be made to Red Cross. $10 will be added to your phone bill.” From Bolivia, Vincentian Father Aidan Rooney picked up, and passed it on to Vincentian campus ministers and other Lay Missionaries and Vincentian Volunteers. Through their personal social networks ( some of the young volunteers and Vincentian collaborators have over 1000 “Facebook Friends”), they spread the word. Lay Missionary Kellie Willis and Vincentian Father Chris Robinson got to work in Chicago. Annie Sauthoff, former LeaderworX Vincentian volunteer passed the word from San Francisco. Former Vincentian seminarian Steve Carter posted from the mountains of Vermont. Meanwhile, Fr. John Freund posted the efforts of the Society of St. Vincent De Paul. The Facebook group picked it up and added it to their efforts. This form of fast-paced “viral” communication has spread the word to an estimated 20,000 Facebookers in less than three hours. Family members and friends joined in. And it continues to grow and generate donations and prayers for the people of Haiti.
Tags: Aidan Rooney, Collaborative projects, Haiti, Vincentian Lay Missionaries USA, Youth
For those who might not understand the signficance of this post I suggest you view this short YouTUbe video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IAPIjKR_p4 to get an appreciation of yet another way the new media can be used in times of crisis.
USA TODAY – Facebook provides two-way lifeline with Haiti. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlife/2010-01-13-haitisocial_N.htm
Cell phone users have texted donations of more than $4 million in about 24 hours for Haiti earthquake relief, asays a piece on YouTube. mGive, the not-for-profit group that is handling the donations for the Red Cross and wireless industry, says donations have been coming in at about $200,000 an hour.
The dark side abuses Haiti needs with bogus claims of aid according to respected site on “urban legends” http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/2010/01/14/haiti-relief-hoaxes-spread-via-twitter-facebook.htm