As the tragic news of the Dec. 26 earthquake and subsequent tsunami has spread across the Web, so have initiatives to help the relief effort.

While countries around the world have pledged all types of assistance, online stores and software and electronics companies are getting in on the action by hyping charities’ Web sites, giving funds, and asking employees and customers to donate, too.

Through links on their home pages, Amazon has raised more than $14 million and Yahoo has brought in about $4.7 million for organizations including the American Red Cross, UNICEF, Oxfam, Network for Good and AmeriCares.

Apple Computer, Google and Microsoft also put links on their home pages to relief groups, and America Online is encouraging its members to donate to Network for Good, an online charity the Internet service provider co-founded.

Auction giant eBay is also playing a part in alleviating damage caused by the natural disaster. The company has donated an undisclosed amount to disaster relief and has encouraged its employees to give funds that will be matched by the company. Also, its 125 million users have a chance to help out through the site’s Giving Works program, which lets sellers donate a chosen percentage of their item’s sale price to charity.

Those looking for a more tangible way to help the people left injured, homeless or starving may find the answer gathering dust in the closet.

AuctionDrop, a company that resells old items on eBay, has joined with UPS to collect used electronic gear to help raise money for a disaster relief fund operated by the global nonprofit group CARE.

Consumers can drop off their old electronic gear, including computers and cameras, at any UPS store in America at no cost. UPS will deliver the items to AuctionDrop, which will then sell them on eBay and donate the net proceeds to CARE’s Earthquake Tsunami Relief and Rehabilitation Fund. Televisions and computer monitors will not be accepted due to their fragility.

Big companies aren’t the only ones drawing attention. An Indian Web log that aims to aid tsunami survivors has reported 1.1 million hits within 10 days of its launch – a blogging landmark not only in India, but all over the world.

The South-East Asia Earthquake and Tsunami Blog (tsunamihelp.blogspot.com) is regularly updated with news updates, requests for volunteers, donations and medical help. Thousands of voluntary groups and aid agencies working in tsunami-hit areas are seeking help and posting their needs on the blog, which has attracted 50 contributors from affected regions as well as Europe and the United States.

Other blogs operating from affected cities like Chennai have given graphic accounts of the devastation caused by the deadly waves. One such Web log, Kiruba.com, relates news and photos of the disaster and relief efforts.

Since most non-profit organizations have not had time to begin direct mail campaigns or other offline activities, funds donated online are critically needed for relief efforts and can make an immediate impact.

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Eddie Hargreaves was the Webmaster of eastoregonian.com. He can be reached at meged@earthlink.net.