With schools and community groups all over the Eastside raising money through bake sales and other drives to help the nation of Haiti recover from a devastating earthquake two weeks ago, one Issaquah resident has come up with an idea that she hopes will meet a very specific need of the earthquake victims.

Tents.

Aid groups have predicted this week that a lack of shelter would soon become the most pressing problem for a population also dealing with food shortages and little access to appropriate medical treatment.

Issaquah’s Susan Sullivan, a board member of the South Cove Homeowners Association, believes there are plenty of tents in the garages and basements around Issaquah that people would gladly donate to the cause.

“In Haiti, tents are the biggest priority now aside from food, water and medical treatment,” Sullivan said. “We have a tent that can sleep 10 people and we will happily donate it. I am sure other families have tents of varying degrees of sizes and would gladly donate them.”

She has started her own tent collection drive. New or old tents will be accepted, as long as they are tied together properly and as tightly as possible. To best serve the needs of the people in Haiti, medium to large tents are preferred.

Sullivan said she will take tent donations at her home, at 4431 193rd Avenue SE., Issaquah, in the South Cove neighborhood. (Please place them in front of the garage on the right hand side.)

The motivated local is also looking for a company that could help with shipping the tents, and perhaps storing them, if the pile of donations gets too big.

To get involved, or for more information, e-mail her at skcseattle@hotmail.com., or phone 425-502-7061.

President Obama announced late last week that taxpayers will be able to write off charitable donations to Haiti earthquake relief efforts when they file their 2009 taxes this spring. Under current law, donors would have to wait until they file their 2010 returns next year to take the deductions. The bill would allow donations made by the end of February to be deducted from 2009 returns.

A similar law was enacted in 2005 for donations to victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004.