We have all witnessed this last week the horrible disaster occurring in Haiti with the earthquake measuring more than a magnitude 7 that damaged or destroyed most structures in the country.

With the rescue effort ongoing, on Wednesday an aftershock measuring 6.1 has once again hit this poor island country, destroying remaining structures and killing even more people.

As tens of thousands of military and aid workers are committed towards rescue and care of the injured and providing the basic essentials to survivors, our hearts and prayers go out to all involved.

As caring and generous Americans, many of us are donating funds to help in this humanitarian effort. The sad part of the world today is that while most of us are of good moral character and basically just good honest citizens, there are also many unscrupulous, dishonest criminals that look at this disaster as an opportunity to profit and scam people wanting to help the people of Haiti.

With this in mind, it is very important that you do not respond to unsolicited request for donations. Never give your personal information (full name, date of birth, Social Security number, checking account number or credit card number) to a person you did not initiate contact with.

This includes e-mails, phone calls or personal contact. There are many legitimate organizations and agencies locally and nationally to send donations to.

The American Red Cross always comes to mind. We all know they are in constant need of blood donations and monetary support allows them to direct funds to the area of logistics needed most at this particular time.

Locally, the American Red Cross can be contacted at (785) 650-0067; nationally you can make donations on their Web site, www.redcross.org. Most churches in our community have charity organizations or missions that they support that diligently work rescue efforts such as the earthquake disaster in Haiti. To name a few examples:

* The Catholic churches here in Hays have a Catholic Charities Office at 2707 Vine. They can be contacted at (786) 625-2644 or online at www.crs.org to make cash donations. Donations can also be mailed to Catholic Charities, P.O. Box 1366, Salina, KS 67402-1366.

* First United Methodist Church in Hays donates through the United Methodist Committee on Relief. The president of UMCOR was killed in Haiti last week. UMCOR has said every single dollar donated to Haiti will go to Haiti. The overhead will be absorbed by the church.

First United Methodist is collecting "health kits" to be shipped to Haiti the first part of February. These ziplock bag health kits will contain eight new items -- a comb, a hand towel, a wash cloth, a nail file or fingernail clippers, bar of soap, tooth brush and $1 for tooth paste. Donations of any or all of these items can be dropped off at 305 W. Seventh Street.

* Lincoln Elementary has decided to join this effort. Recognizing a simple, but great way for kids to feel a part of the effort to help the people of Haiti, they are collecting the individual items listed in the health kits and on Feb. 4, they will create an assembly line to place the items in the bags for UMCOR and shipment to Haiti from Wichita in February.

Most all of us want to help. In this desire, please don't get scammed. Don't reply or respond when asked to donate from anyone you do not know.

If you want to help the relief effort in Haiti, consider contacting the Red Cross, your local church, the kids at Lincoln Elementary or maybe all three.

Our community is full of many wonderful people who support others in need. Please be careful and do not become a victim of a scam, give to agencies you have contacted and know.

Philip Hartsfield is assistant chief of the Hays Police Department.