Food and money seem to be some of the more commonly donated items to Haiti for earthquake victims but so are supplies. Tarps are some of the more commonly donated products to Haiti, as relief workers are distributing them to one million earthquake victims. In fact, a request from President Rene Preval asks for more family-sized shelters, in addition to food and water, from international aid. This includes both tarps and tents that can cover a family. These shelters, however, are only good for three to five months outdoors and, when the rain season hits, the tarps will no longer provide adequate protection.
In the US, various organizations and companies are donating these supplies to relief efforts in Haiti to be distributed. One company in east Tennessee, Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, has been holding a tent drive to get more of these shelters to donate. Tarps are some of these shelters they’re requesting, as well as ordinary tents that can fit a family. Although the tarps and tents don’t need to be new, they need to be in sturdy enough shape so that no repairs need to be made to the material before being donated. Additionally, they also request trucks to help distribute supplies. The estimated delivery time to Haiti is two to three weeks from donation.
Individuals are also organizing donations for tarps. In Hattiesburg, Mississippi, residents have started Operation Pitch-A-Tent to gather items, such as tarps, tents, and sleeping bags, instead of money to donate to relief efforts in Haiti. After enough of these supplies are gathered, the organization plans to ship them from Gulfport, MS, to Haiti.
Although both of these donation efforts are in the South, check locally for any organizations, companies, or individuals holding their own donation drives for tarps and tents.
