CaribWorldNews, NEW YORK, NY, Thurs. Jan. 14, 2010: Several Haitian organizations have activated relief plans to help those devastated by the 7.0 earthquake of Tuesday Jan. 12 in Haiti.
While the death toll is expected to be in the tens of thousands, organizations across the U.S. are pitching in to round up donations and supplies to help those who miraculously survived the catastrophe.
In Philadelphia, the Haiti Relief Collaboration along with the Vivant Art Collection and Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia say they have secured a private jumbo jet to transport supplies to Haiti.
The plane is set to leave in the next 24 – 48 hours and the groups are asking for volunteer doctors, nurses and donations to help those affected by the tragedy.
Vivant & HPP are currently coordinating with The Haitian Coalition of Philadelphia, the Haitian Clergy of Philadelphia, Beyond Boarders, the Mayor`s Office, Temple Haitian Student Association, University of Pennsylvania Haitian Student Association, Congressman Brady`s office, Philadelphia Young Democrats, political officials and other Haitian organizations in the surrounding area to devise a plan to provide assistance to Haiti.
Financial support can be made to the Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia`s Haitian Relief Fund via Paypal. All funds will go towards purchasing of items such as cots and tents that will be instrumental in providing temporary shelter to those who have been displaced.
Medical supplies such as band aids, alcohol, peroxide, water and non-perishable food items, diapers, baby clothes, wipes and bottles, generators and industrial supplies for building are also needed.
Frequent updates will be made to the site www.hphilly.org and www.vivantartcollection.com/events.
In New York, Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees, Lakou New York, and MUDHA (Movement of Dominican Haitian Women) are also organizing an immediate delivery of first aid relief. MUDHAwill be traveling to the Dominican/Haitian border and tax-deductible donations are encouraged to: IFCO/Haiti Relief, 418 West 145th Street, New York NY 10031.
Those wishing to donate other items can choose from bandages, gauze pads, bandage & tape, water purification tablets and rehydration salts, antibiotic and antifungal creams, anti-allergy medication (Benadryl), Tylenol; children`s Tylenol, cold and cough medicine, diarrhea medication, eye drops, insect repellent, hydrogen peroxide, skin disinfectant spray, Toothpaste and tooth brushes, soap and deodorant, sanitary napkins, brand new underwear nutritional bars, fruit & nut bars, cereal bars, tea Light candles and quality batteries.
Evening drop-off hours are Monday and Wednesday, 6:30-8:30 P.M. at the Haitian Women For Haitian Refugees, 335 Maple Street, 2nd Floor, Brooklyn, NY. Use rear entrance on Lincoln Road between Nostrand and New York Avenue and enter through St. Francis Church parking lot. Daytime drop-off hours are Mon. - Fri. 11 – 4 p.m. at the Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project, 208 Parkside, 2nd floor, Brooklyn, NY 11226.
Through his Yele Haiti website and foundation, singer Wyclef Jean, was collecting donations for his homeland with 100 percent billed to go towards the relief efforts on the ground. In an open letter, Jean wrote, `We are asking those interested to please do one of two things: Either you can use your cell phone to text `Yele` to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund.` Donate at https://co.clickandpledge.com/advanced/default.aspx?wid=23093
In Indiana, humanitarian agency Church World Service says it is sending initial funding to its local partners in Haiti and is prepared to provide kits and blankets for those in need.
`We`re continuing to assess the situation,` said the agency`s Emergency Response Director Donna Derr. `CWS staff here in the U.S. and in the region are attempting to contact our long-time partners in Haiti, Service Chrétien d´Haiti, Christian Aid SKDE, and the Ecumenical Foundation for Peace and Justice (EFPJ).
Derr said preliminary information they`ve received indicate that EFPJ`s House of Hope day school in Port au Prince, which CWS supports, is damaged.
`Some EFPJ staff are trying to determine the well-being of the children and other staff members, but we just don`t know yet. The communications are still very difficult, very spotty,` he said.
Contributions to support Church World Service emergency response and recovery efforts may be made online at www.churchworldservice.org/donate; by phone (800) 297-1516; or sent to Church World Service, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515.
And in North Carolina, the Hope for Haiti Foundation, which works in Haiti through educational, medical and spiritual efforts, held a prayer vigil in Cary last night, urging donations for Haiti at its site http://hopeforhaitifoundation.com/online-donation.html.
In New York City, Mayor Mike Bloomberg is encouraging anyone interested in offering assistance for the victims of the Haitian earthquake to make monetary donations to the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City on line at https://www.nyc.gov/html/fund/html/donate/donate.shtml or by calling 311.
These funds will be distributed to humanitarian organizations that will provide direct assistance to victims. Non-monetary, that is canned foods, toiletries, medical supplies, water, etc., are not being collected.
