Published in The Roanoke Star-Sentinel
January 29-February 4, 2010 Edition
Roanokers Rally to Assist Earthquake Victims in Haiti
Americans have been highly focused on the massive earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12 and not only is the disaster clearly the top news story, approximately 70 percent say it is the story they are talking about with friends, according to the Pew Research Center, a non-partisan “fact tank” that provides information on issues shaping America and the world.
Here in the Roanoke Valley, we continue to see businesses; non-profit organizations and individuals collectively band together to share their talent, money and time towards helping those in need.
“In just the first week of the Haiti response effort, the American Red Cross spent or committed $34 million and those funds were spent on food and water, relief supplies and logistical and support services in Haiti,” said Roanoke Valley Chapter American Red Cross Public Relations Director Amy Whittaker.
“As of 5:00 p.m. last Thursday, $26 million had been collected from individuals donating by mobile texting and more than 60 percent of the donations have come from online giving. The local chapter is the conduit for financial donation and any monies received by them is forwarded to the national organization,” added Whittaker.
The American Red Cross and its partners are currently providing more than 3 million pre-packaged meals, more than 1 million water purification packets and thousands of jerry cans so people can collect and transport clear drinking water. Aid will continue to be pushed through to Haiti over the next several days and weeks and as the international relief effort grows so will the monetary commitment of the American Red Cross. “Right now, it’s important to get relief there as quickly as possible, but also be thoughtful and responsible in how we spend the funds the American people have entrusted to us,” Whittaker emphasized.
For information on how to donate to the American Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-435-7669.
“Angel Missions Haiti is a Christian non-profit group dedicated to helping families obtaining life saving medical care for children. We are trying to get as many medical teams to Haiti as possible,” said the non-profit organization’s President, Tom Carpenter who manages the non-profit organization from a local perspective.
The teams have been made aware of the situation(s) that they face, including working long hours, sleeping on cots and eating available rations. Under normal conditions, medical personnel would see approximately 100 children daily verses 700-800 children daily. “It’s going to be a difficult trip” and those in the medical group are “true heroes,” he added. Carpenter’s wife and founder of the organization, Vanessa Carpenter, is already in Haiti.
A group of volunteer medical personnel from Roanoke and surrounding areas [Medical Mission to Haiti – Helping Angel Missions Haiti Causes] will be departing for Haiti on or about February 13 and will be working together to provide needed medical services to the children of earthquake ravaged Haiti.
Angel Missions Haiti is an organization consisting of all volunteers, which keeps overhead down and enables 100 percent of money donated to go to Haiti. The non-profit organization has partnered with businesses including General Electric, Abbott Labs, Adobe Software Company and Proctor & Gamble.
To donate money to Angel Missions Haiti, visit www.angelmissionshaiti.org or mail a check to Angel Missions Haiti, 4071 Barley Drive, Salem, VA 24153. The organization can also utilize donations in the form of medical supplies and other items that are listed on its website. A donated semi-truck will be parked at West Salem Baptist Church for the next two weeks. When the trailers are filled, they will be shipped to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to their medical Clinics and orphanages. Donations of the needed items will be accepted Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. and Friday from 8:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. For additional information, please contact Beth Richardson at (540) 353-5058.
“WDBJ7 lined up and partnered with other businesses Berglund Automotive, Carilion Clinic, Hometown Bank and Hardees and pledged to match the first $10,000 our community donates to the Salvation Army’s Haitian Disaster Fund and as of close of business last Friday $35,620 not including the $10,000 match, “ said Roanoke’s Salvation Army Development Director Trish Musselwhite.
More than 80,000 pounds of food, water and other emergency supplies have been delivered to The Salvation Army compound with the help of UPS and over 24,000 meal kits with rations sufficient to supply a family for five days have been provided to individuals and families in Haiti. Registration has begun for the estimated 10,000 people who are sheltered in makeshift tents adjacent to the compound in Port-au-Prince. The registration will be helpful, as deliveries of food rations will eventually be tied to numbers of registered people in any given district.
“Because this is for international relief, there are no administrative costs and all donations go for relief in Haiti, “emphasized Musselwhite.
For information on how to donate to the Salvation Army, visit www.salvationarmyroanokeva.org or call (800) SAL-ARMY.
Roanoke’s Commonwealth Catholic Charities anticipates having Haitian children brought in through the Division of Unaccompanied Children Services program and “we are trying to be as prepared as we can trying to get everything as stabilized as we can,” said Adoption Program Manager Marge Savage Thornton.
Children in Haiti previously identified and matched with an adopted family will be coming home more quickly because of the earthquake. Normally, “the process would take more than a year after identification,” remarked Thornton.
For information on how to donate, call (540) 344-5107.
By Susan Ayers