Michelle Obama Appeals to Americans to Help Haiti

2 years ago

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In the wake of the terrible Haiti earthquake, and a massive Obama administration effort to respond to the tragedy, First Lady Michelle Obama taped a public service announcement Thursday urging Americans to donate $10 to the American Red Cross.

"The images from Haiti are heartbreaking," Mrs. Obama said in her 30-second spot, taped in the Vermeil Room at the White House "We can all do something." She encouraged the donations be made by texting "HAITI" to 9-0-9-9-9 on cellphones. (The donation is made automatically.) Click play below to watch the video:

Tommy Vietor, the lead White House spokesman on the U.S. relief efforts, said that as of 8:25 a.m. Eastern time Friday more than $8 million had been raised through the texting drive. The State Department worked with the American Red Cross to set up the appeal, which has been "aggressively and widely promoted by the Obama administration," Vietor said in a statement.

While visiting the Labor Department on Thursday -- continuing the tour of federal agencies she started in 2009 -- Mrs. Obama discussed the devastation in Haiti at the top of her remarks and urged people to donate to help Haiti grapple with the disaster.

"The destruction and the suffering that we see, the images that are coming out of that country are just overwhelming, and it is important for the people of Haiti to know that we are keeping the victims of this tragedy and their loved ones in our thoughts and our prayers," she said.

"And that also includes prayers going out to all of the Haitian Americans who have families and friends there, and they're worried about them back home. It's difficult to get word. People don't know where folks are. This is a tough time for Haitian American citizens here, as well. And we also want to send our thoughts and prayers out to the American citizens who are working and living in Haiti, as well.

"Right now my husband and the administration are focused on moving as many resources as possible into Haiti as quickly as possible so that we can save as many lives as we can. And later today I'll be taping a public service announcement for the Red Cross, which is providing on-the-ground support -- food, water, medicine -- that's desperately needed right now, particularly in this short period of 48, 72 hours after the disaster.

"So for those Americans who are watching this, who are listening, who want to help -- and everyone's help and resources and energy at this time are critically important -- you can go to the White House Web site at www.whitehouse.gov to see what you can do to support our friends in Haiti in this time of urgent need.

"And as you know, it's not just in the weeks and months ahead. This is going to be something that we're going to have to put our attention to for many years to come. So again, our thoughts and prayers go out to the country of Haiti."

Filed Under: The Daily FLOTUS with Lynn Sweet

Tagged: daily guidance, DailyGuidance

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