It's been two days since a devastating earthquake hit Haiti, and many Canadians are quickly pulling out their wallets to donate money to help victims of the disaster. But now the province is sending a message to Albertans to ensure they donate only to legitimate charitable donations.
"People across the province are devastated by what's happened in Haiti and are anxious to help in any way they can," said Service Alberta Minister Heather Klimchuk.
Klimchuk said those who want to donate money should take a few precautionary steps to ensure a charity is legitimate before donating their hard-earned dollars to help those in need.
The province said Albertans should first do an Internet search for the charity's name and background, and ask telephone solicitors to provide a website address or mailing information. It's also been suggested to contact Service Alberta to find out if a charity or fundraising organization is properly licensed.
In Alberta, the province's Charitable Fundraising Act lays out specific rules that must be followed when charities ask people for donations.
As of Thursday afternoon, more than $200 million in donations has been pledged to Haiti. The Red Cross estimates that about $3 million people in the country require emergency help.
For more information on the Canadian Red Cross visit http://www.redcross.ca or for more information on other charitable organizations visit http://www.servicealberta.ca
