Field Notes Inside an Integrated Communications Agency

But has it been enough? Can those of us in the Triangle make a difference?

In response to the crisis, Capstrat's Boomerang Society has donated $500 to the American Red Cross. It seems like a drop in the bucket - we want to do more. So, Capstrat has committed to matching additional cash donations raised by employees. Since Thursday, we've encouraged employees to make personal donations to the Red Cross or a non-profit of their choice.

We're tracking results, and so far we've raised nearly $300, which in turn will be matched. In addition to the Red Cross, the Boomerang Society has made a $500 donation to Horne Memorial United Methodist Church in Clayton. The donation will be used to dispatch supplies to a medical mission group that had been deployed to Haiti on Monday - before the earthquake hit.

An interesting twist to this crisis has been the rise in social networking's effectiveness in raising donations. Social media outlets have lowered barriers for many in offering help and communicating about the crisis. Since Tuesday, thousands have flocked to Twitter, Facebook, texting and blogs to donate, communicate and commiserate. The use of these outlets has led to unprecedented results. Think about it: Within 48 hours, the American Red Cross earned more than $3 million in text message donations alone. Now that's impressive.

I'm curious to learn what other companies in the Triangle are doing to help - and how they're doing it. Are they matching donations? Using Twitter...Facebook?

Let's track the results and see just what kind of a difference we can make.

Quick Tips: Text "Haiti" to 90999 to send a $10 donation to the Red Cross from your mobile phone. Call the Triangle Red Cross at 919-231-1602. Give to the Salvation Army Latin America Disaster Fund online. WRAL has some other helpful tips on making donations, so be sure to check it out.