.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} The Central Iowa United Way campaign fell just a bit short of its goal, despite going into overtime. Still, it was an admirable result, considering the financial hit most people have taken.

Then the next massive disaster came along. Now everyone is urged, and feels compelled, to give something to help the people of Haiti. And they’re giving.

We hold back on traditional donations because of a specific budget or, more likely, because of vague mental calculations that kick in when money gets tight.

But when the extraordinary occurs, we drop the usual formulas and go with our instincts to react in extraordinary ways. We understand that, as important as the United Way and our other familiar charities are, the suffering of thousands of earthquake victims is a whole different story.

FBL Financial Group deserves our praise and admiration for donating $10,000 to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Other Central Iowa companies are making fine efforts, too.

If you’re still thinking about giving but haven’t sorted out the options, CNN listed a number of trustworthy groups.

To donate to the American Red Cross, go to RedCross.org, hit the “donate now” button and then “International Response Fund.” You also can text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 to the International Response Fund.

To donate to Care’s Haiti relief fund effort, go to Care.org or call 1-800-521-CARE. Money will go toward food, water and sanitation, shelter and health issues.

If you’re interested in giving hands-on help, Sen. Tom Harkin’s office notes that the United States Agency for International Development’s Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance has set up a Web site and phone line for that purpose. Check www.cidi.org/incident/haiti-10a/ or call (703) 276-1914.

It’s not a political issue. The earth’s plates shifted, and now human beings need help.