The same mobile giving effort that is being used to help Haiti is now underway to help wildlife hurt by the Gulf oil spill, as well as for wetlands cleanup.
Using their cell phones, donors can send a text message for a donation of $10 to the National Wildlife Federation. A similar drive to help Haiti following the Jan. 12 quake there raised more than $43 million, according to the Mobile Giving Foundation.
“The more people we can get to spread our message, the more impact we can have to help wildlife affected by this senseless tragedy,” said Jaime Matyas, chief operating officer of National Wildlife Federation, in a news release.
Those who want to donate can text the word "WILDLIFE" to the designated "short code" of 20222, then press the phone key for "YES" to confirm the donation. The donation is added to the cell user's bill, and receipts are available.
More than 50 miles of Louisiana's shoreline already have been soiled by the massive slick unleashed after BP's Deepwater Horizon burned and sank last month. Officials fear oil eventually could invade wetlands and beaches from Texas to Florida. Louisiana is expected to be hit hardest.
At least 6 million gallons of crude have spewed into the Gulf, though some scientists have said they believe the spill already surpasses the 11 million-gallon 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska as the worst in U.S. history.
