Helping Haiti
If you would like to donate items to my 'Helping Haiti' cause please contact me to make arrangements. I am planning another distribution visit to the rural communities of Haiti in January 2010
Haiti is one of the poorest countries on earth. The Haitian people suffer some of the most debilitating and depressing misery of any people in the world. In Haiti orphaned children often experience the worst living conditions in the world. They are left to fend for themselves, often living in the streets and fields with little food and clothing. The incidence of poverty in Haiti takes an especially heavy toll on the rural communities.
I am committed to sponsoring and supporting some of the small rural communities in Haiti that are difficult to access and, as a result, often do not receive the charity that the larger towns and cities receive.
Once or twice a year (depending on the amount of donations) I take donated items to these rural communities and distribute them to the adults and children that need them most. Many of these donated items are things that people have found lying around their house not being used.
Here are some examples of items that are especially helpful.
- Socks for children and adults of all ages
- Underwear for children and adults of all ages (for hygienic reasons please donate new)
- Bras for adolescent girls and women
- Shirts for children and adults of all ages
- Pants for children and adults of all ages
- First aid items: band-aids, anti-bacterial ointment, rubber gloves, bandages, and any other basic first aid necessities
- Sandals and sneakers in all sizes
- Hygiene items: soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc.
- Unfitted sheets
- Light blankets
- Small toys: little cars, stuffed animals, playdough, small balls etc.
- Small musical instruments: harmonicas, recorders, etc.
- Mosquito nets
- School supplies: pencils, pens, note pads, rulers, etc.
- Art supplies: colouring books, beads, crayons, glue, glitter
Many people in Haiti cannot afford food and are forced to rely on a traditional Haitian remedy for hunger-mud cakes. Here is a photo of Charlene Dumas, who eats (and sells to others) mud cakes made from dirt, salt, and vegetable shortening. This is a regular meal for her.
100% of cash donations will be used to buy staple food products
such as corn, oil, salt, wheat, flour, rice, beans, and sugar and will be distributed in the rural community
My goal is to eventually create sustainable systems (e.g. clean water systems, sustainable economic systems, locally run education/literacy program, etc.) in these rural communities that will improve the standard of living in these communities for generations.