The Simi Valley Acorn prides itself on covering the local news and people that make our city great. But when a worldwide catastrophe like Tuesday’s massive earthquake in Haiti occurs, we’re reminded how important it is to stretch the boundaries of our compassion and do our best to help the people of this faraway place. Although thousands of miles removed from the tragedy, we at home know that those affected by the earthquake’s damage must be in unfathomable pain.

While rescue workers pour into the island country and news reports return images of the destruction, local residents are asking, “What can I do to help?”

Donations are now being accepted by a number of internationally recognized service and rescue organizations.

As despicable as it might sound, there are those who will try to take advantage of this horrendous situation and fraudulently collect donations that will never be used to help those in need.

To avoid such scams, it’s best to donate directly to the following recognized humanitarian agencies:

The American Red Cross is accepting donations through its International Response Fund. Donations can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C., 20013, or made by phone at (800) REDCROSS (733-2767) or (800) 257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org.

Donations also can be made to the Oregon-based Mercy Corps, an international crisis relief organization that is sending an emergency response team to Haiti. Its website is www.mercycorps.org.

Direct Relief International, a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit medical relief organization, is accepting donations at www.directrelief.org. (Click on Emergency Response.)

There’s also the New York-based Doctors Without Borders organization (www.doctorswithoutborders.org) and the Virginia-based United Way Worldwide (www.unitedway.org/ worldwide). Other organizations assisting the relief include UNICEF and Save The Children.

Please do what you can to help. Compassion has no borders.