Angelenos Rally to Help Haiti

Los Angeles - Here in Los Angeles, people watch the images of devastation from Haiti... knowing full well that a destructive earthquake could be a reality right here. It's no surprise that Angelenos are responding to the call for help with fierce intensity.

Everywhere you look, there's some kind of fundraiser... people are offering to help... local doctors are heading for Haiti... and that's only the beginning.

Claudel Thomas, Critical Care Nurse
Each and every person that I see bleeding or dead on the street... I see a relative. I see a loved one.

Claudel Thomas's family is in Haiti. The critical care nurse is part of a team from USC's Keck School of Medicine on the way to the devastated island nation.

Ramon Cestero, Surgeon
We have a very wide breadth of experiences going and we can pretty much do everything we are asked to do.

It seems that everywhere you look, someone local is trying to help the people of Haiti.

From shoes collected at Sports Chalet by Soles for Souls... to drive-thru money donated at the Rose Bowl. Even the spare change... going to the American Red Cross Haitian relief efforts.

At the University of Southern California, it's technical support being donated.

Chad Cataccio, Organizer
What we are really trying to do today is to provide concrete solutions that can be used by people on the ground in Haiti.

Technology to the rescue in more ways than one in what they are calling "Camp Haiti."

Chad Cataccio, Organizer
One of the things that we are building is a people finder. We are making it easier to help people enter their loved ones into the database.

Andrew Lih, USC Professor
People are finding new ways to donate. You no longer have to pick up the phone and dial a number or mail in a check. From the phone that you are addicted to using, you can turn that into a fund raising opportunity.

The motivation, according to one doctor traveling to Haiti...

Andrew Tang, Trauma Physician
The value of serving other human beings and this profession that i am entering into... that's what i am good for!

One word of caution... efforts to help are multiplying, but so are the dispicable scam artists trying to take advantage of those trying to help.

Be sure to check out just who it is you're donating to!