Within hours of the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that devastated Haiti last week, the American Red Cross had begun mounting a massive relief effort, loading Miami-based planes with FOOD and water, distributing thousands of blankets, plastic sheets and other supplies, pledging one million dollars of its own money and partnering with Verizon Wireless on a text campaign that would allow other concerned citizens to contribute more. (As of January 18, this partnership and donations via their website and direct telephone line have generated eighty-seven million dollars.)