I have a friend in Richmond, VA with a daughter from Chonqqing who is active in fundraising for the kids there. I notice that Half the Sky, an excellent organization, is raising funds for kids in orphanages that have been effected by the earthquake. So far, the news is okay - some buildings damaged and kids removed to other housing or buses where the fear of aftershocks is strong. Still, it will take time for all the news to come out from areas with blocked roads and all.

Half the Sky took the lead during the bad snowstorms of the Chinese New Year and got food and supplies to many of the orphanages(called welfare institutes in China). They mostly do valuable long-term work but have enough presence in China that they can get to places and get permission quickly on the ground.

Our son is from Jiangsu Province, the other side of the country and not effected, but this kind of tragedy shocks everyone. The local Chinese student community is raising money here, and of course many people are very worried about relatives back in China.