PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island organizations and local businesses are mobilizing to send aid to earthquake-ravaged Haiti through direct contributions, donations and volunteers.

National Grid, Plan USA, United Way of Rhode Island and the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island are among the organizations helping to provide relief to Haiti after the small nation was hit by a powerful earthquake on Tuesday.

The United Way of Rhode Island has set up a page on its Web site for donations to the organization’s United Way Worldwide Disaster Fund, which is activated in times of crisis to accept donations for aid. Anyone can donate by visiting LIVEUNITEDri.org, and following the link to the Disaster Fund.

In addition, the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island (JFRI) has posted a link on its Web site to donate to its special relief fund; 100 percent of the contributions will go to help the victims and their families. JFRI is working in partnership with the American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), which provides ground relief efforts. To make a donation to the JFRI/JDC earthquake relief efforts, visit JFRI.org or mail a check to the organization with the notation “For Haiti Earthquake Relief.”

Warwick-based Plan USA, a unit of the children’s charity Plan International, is helping to provide relief in Haiti through funds and manpower. The nonprofit has released more than $500,000 in emergency funds, and has sent its own disaster experts to Haiti to work with local Plan staff and other relief workers. Plan International has four offices in the area around the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, which was heavily damaged by the quake. The organization has another three field offices in the southeast of Haiti.

Lastly, National Grid, based in Waltham, Mass., has made a $100,000 contribution to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts in Haiti. “The shock and devastation of the earthquake is being felt around the world, including many of the communities we serve,” said Tom King, U.S. president of National Grid. “I am so proud of our employees, many of whom already have sprung into action by starting grassroots collection efforts and organizing fundraising and volunteer activities.”

National Grid has also announced that it will match all employee donations for Haiti made to the American Red Cross through the end of February. The U.K.-based offices at National Grid are making similar contributions.

Gov. Donald L. Carcieri in a statement on Thursday urged "all Rhode Islanders to provide whatever support they can to those who are affected by the Haitian earthquake. There is a great need for financial contributions to the relief organizations already on the ground in Haiti," said Carcieri, who served as director of the international humanitarian agency Catholic Relief Services’ West Indies operation in the early 1980s.

Other links for making contributions to the relief effort include the following:

• American Red Cross: www.redcross.org.

• American Jewish World Service: ajws.org.

• Beyond Borders: www.beyondborders.net.

• Catholic Relief Services: crs.org.

• William J. Clinton Foundation: www.clintonfoundation.org.

• Doctors Without Borders: docotrswithoutborders.org.

• Oxfam America: www.oxfamamerica.org.

• Partners in Health: www.pih.org.

• UNICEF: www.unicef.org.

• Yele Haiti: co.clickandpledge.com [or text YELE to 501501 to donate $5 (added to phone bill)].