Pass Ed's Living Textbook
Free Lesson Plans for Teachers
Alpha Stage
Donating By Text
January 19, 2010
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The New York Times is running an article entitled "A Deluge of
Donations via Text Messages." Of course, this article refers to
Haiti. The article states, "The Red Cross is the biggest relief
organization with a system in place to receive such donations,
which are sent by cellphone to 90999 and billed at $10 each to the
cellphone account. The total raised, a small portion of which will be
shared with other members of the Red Cross federation, puts the
organization well ahead of other relief groups in fund-raising for
operations in Haiti." Red Cross spokesperson Roger Lowe said, "I
need a better word than 'unprecedented' or 'amazing' to describe
what's happened with the text-message program."

Read the Article!!

Questions to Consider:

1. Why do you think that so many people have responded to the
crisis in Haiti by donating through text message?

2. The article explains that the Red Cross has had management
problems in the past. Do you think that this organization should be
trusted with contributions for Haiti during this crisis? Why or why
not?

3. Ten years ago nobody had ever sent a text message. What do
you think that people will be able to do with a cell phone in ten
years that they cannot do today?

4. Challenge yourself to do something to help the people of Haiti.
Perhaps you can donate money? Perhaps you can run a campaign
to encourage others to donate, as well.


Questions for Younger Children and Everybody Else:

1. What kinds of things do people need to buy to stay alive?

2. If you had no money to buy food and were very hungry what do
you think that you would do to get food? Is there anything that you
could do? Explain!

3. Do you think that people who have food should share with
people who don't have food, even if that means that both will be a
little hungry? Why or why not?

4. What kinds of things do you think that people will be able to do
with cell phones in 100 years that they cannot do with them today?
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