Non-profit of the month: May, 2008 - Americares

The news coming out of Myanmar is very bad.

Excerpt:

ANGON, Myanmar (CNN) -- Bodies are being thrown into rivers by Myanmar cyclone survivors in desperate need of help.

The government-run radio station said Tuesday that 22,464 are confirmed dead and 41,000 are missing, and the United Nations says that up to 1 million could be homeless.

CNN's Dan Rivers is the first Western journalist to reach Bogalay township, where China's state-run Xinhua news agency says 10,000 died. He reported miserable conditions.

Rivers said that bodies were being dropped into rivers and that survivors had only small amounts of eggs and rice. The area's rice mills are destroyed, leaving Bogalay with a five-day supply. Water pumps were also ruined, and fuel was scarce.

He reported destroyed homes along 30-kilometer stretches. In one area, only four homes remained from a total of 369. People were taking shelter under canvas sheets, and the weather remained awful.
....

There are many relief agencies mobilizing to help the people of Myanmar. I hope you'll consider supporting one you feel comfortable with.

One group I have supported over the years is Americares.

To read the story of how they got started go here.

What would you give to save someone's life?

Well, in this situation, what we give helps provide medicine, clean water and shelter that will save lives. After I publish this post, I'll go to the donate tab at Americares and give. I hope you'll do the same with a relief organization of your choice.

UPDATE: I received an email note from Americares and here is some additional information you can check out on the internet about what is happening.

Americares is taking advantage of Twitter to post updates on where they are at in getting aid to Myanmar.

Here is an item in Chronicles of Philanthropy describing the response by various aid organizations including Americares.