I was on the road yesterday so did not follow the news through the day. When I got home and finally saw pictures of the devastation in Haiti, my heart just broke for these dear people and the calamity that has befallen them. I have heard from some folks wanting to know if we knew of a way to get money to the need in Haiti. Unfortunately I don’t know anyone directly who is involved with the people of Haiti.
There are many fine, large organizations intervening in Haiti at the moment. But Sara and I like to give relationally, where the vast majority of the money actually ends up providing for the needs of people, not the administrative needs of the organization delivering it. So we like to give to people or groups that we know firsthand, and who have a relational understanding of God and his kingdom. We don’t have anyone like that in this case.
So we look next for people we know that know people who are involved in this massive outreach. I know others are, too. So I thought I’d tap the readership of this blog to see if they know people or organizations that they know and trust in this situation. If you do, please feel free to post their information in the comment section below and also include any appropriate links for further information about the organization, or how others can help.
This will provide a resource for others who want to explore ways to give to help with those who have been ravaged by this catastrophe. Thanks in advance for anyone who can help us out here.
Hi Wayne:
I completely understand that position. We have a friend, Casey, who grew up Haiti. We went to university together (I believe it’s your alma mater as well – ORU). His family is still there and they run a rescue mission for impoverished and malnourished children. Their website is here and they have a PayPal button. They are now working frantically at the relief effort of course. He has said that Haiti was a humanitarian crises before the earthquake; he can’t even begin to categorise it now. Here’s the website for Real Hope for Haiti Rescue Centre. http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/ They are posting updates there including some very heart breaking photos of what they are dealing with right now.
Thanks for using this space to encourage people. Even if one can’t give money, just leaving a comment, sending an email and praying for them will be a huge blessing, I’m sure.
Thanks,
Sarah
http://donmilleris.com/2010/01/13/an-e-mail-from-haiti/ I don’t know these people personally, but it is an group that is already established in Hati as well. Thanks for doing this….when we give money, we want the money to get to the people who need it, not the running of an organization.
Praying the Lord expands our hearts of compassion,
thanks,
Ro Elliott
Hi Wayne,
This is a great idea! Thanks for doing this!
Chris & Leslie Rollings, missionaries with Clean Water for Haiti (www.cleanwaterforhaiti.org), live near Port au Prince and they experienced the earthquake. Chris was actually in the city when it hit and witnessed buildings collapsing around him, including a school. He was able to rescue one teenage girl, but said many others were killed. He and Leslie share about this on their blog, http://www.rollingsinhaiti.wordpress.com. They continue to assist with rescue efforts and helping the survivors as much as they can, including providing filters for clean drinking water.
I know that any donations will be greatly appreciated and will directly benefit the people of Haiti.
Thank you,
Angela
Hello, Wayne!
Here are a number of links from blogger friends of mine that might resonate with some of your readers. Thanks for offering to share this information:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2010/01/helping-haiti.html
http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/2010/01/help-towards-the-haiti-earthquake.html
http://krusekronicle.typepad.com/kruse_kronicle/2010/01/we-pray-for-haiti.html
I’m sure that there are so many more…but it is good to hear that the Red Cross has already collected over $1 million dollars from their cell phone request!
Blessings,
Peggy
My brother Mike Wehde is the pastor of a church in Palm Coast Florida that is sending people to Haiti almost immediately for relief delivery.
http://lifecoast.org/
They will be purchasing necessities and taking them with them…these people have such a beautiful and soft heart! May Father grant them Godspeed!
This group was highly recommend by a close friend. You may read his recommendation here:
http://www.48days.net/profiles/blogs/people-not-haitians
and then the direct link to the organization is here:
http://www.danitaschildren.org/
Hi Wayne:
I completely understand that position. We have a friend, Casey, who grew up Haiti. We went to university together (I believe it’s your alma mater as well – ORU). His family is still there and they run a rescue mission for impoverished and malnourished children. Their website is here and they have a PayPal button. They are now working frantically at the relief effort of course. He has said that Haiti was a humanitarian crises before the earthquake; he can’t even begin to categorise it now. Here’s the website for Real Hope for Haiti Rescue Centre. http://haitirescuecenter.wordpress.com/ They are posting updates there including some very heart breaking photos of what they are dealing with right now.
Thanks for using this space to encourage people. Even if one can’t give money, just leaving a comment, sending an email and praying for them will be a huge blessing, I’m sure.
Thanks,
Sarah
http://donmilleris.com/2010/01/13/an-e-mail-from-haiti/ I don’t know these people personally, but it is an group that is already established in Hati as well. Thanks for doing this….when we give money, we want the money to get to the people who need it, not the running of an organization.
Praying the Lord expands our hearts of compassion,
thanks,
Ro Elliott
Hi Wayne,
This is a great idea! Thanks for doing this!
Chris & Leslie Rollings, missionaries with Clean Water for Haiti (www.cleanwaterforhaiti.org), live near Port au Prince and they experienced the earthquake. Chris was actually in the city when it hit and witnessed buildings collapsing around him, including a school. He was able to rescue one teenage girl, but said many others were killed. He and Leslie share about this on their blog, http://www.rollingsinhaiti.wordpress.com. They continue to assist with rescue efforts and helping the survivors as much as they can, including providing filters for clean drinking water.
I know that any donations will be greatly appreciated and will directly benefit the people of Haiti.
Thank you,
Angela
Hello, Wayne!
Here are a number of links from blogger friends of mine that might resonate with some of your readers. Thanks for offering to share this information:
http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2010/01/helping-haiti.html
http://tallskinnykiwi.typepad.com/tallskinnykiwi/2010/01/help-towards-the-haiti-earthquake.html
http://krusekronicle.typepad.com/kruse_kronicle/2010/01/we-pray-for-haiti.html
I’m sure that there are so many more…but it is good to hear that the Red Cross has already collected over $1 million dollars from their cell phone request!
Blessings,
Peggy
We have supported Partners In Health for about 5 years now. They have been there a long time and are very familiar with how to really get help to the poeple and around the corruption of the government. I think Paul Farmer should have the Nobel, he’s worked harder than any person of our generation. pih.org is their web site.
My brother Mike Wehde is the pastor of a church in Palm Coast Florida that is sending people to Haiti almost immediately for relief delivery.
http://lifecoast.org/
They will be purchasing necessities and taking them with them…these people have such a beautiful and soft heart! May Father grant them Godspeed!
This group was highly recommend by a close friend. You may read his recommendation here:
http://www.48days.net/profiles/blogs/people-not-haitians
and then the direct link to the organization is here:
http://www.danitaschildren.org/
We have supported Partners In Health for about 5 years now. They have been there a long time and are very familiar with how to really get help to the poeple and around the corruption of the government. I think Paul Farmer should have the Nobel, he’s worked harder than any person of our generation. pih.org is their web site.
Mennonite Central Committee http://www.mcc.org has had people working in Haiti for years. You can read about what MCC is doing here;
http://mcc.org/stories/news/mcc-staff-ground-waiting-larger-relief-efforts-begin
MCC works for so much good. Poverty relief, justice issues, peace advocacy, education, HIV AIDS work, disaster relief. We’ve been impressed with how much this little organization can pull off. Caring for the restoration of people and their planet for the kingdom is primary for them. We’ve supported them over the years and been to the corporate offices. Nothing fancy, no big salaries, just caring people all doing kingdom work.
Blessings,
Nate
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) uses 100% of it’s donations towards the cause. Here is a link http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/emergencies/ongoing/haitiearthquake/
Mennonite Central Committee http://www.mcc.org has had people working in Haiti for years. You can read about what MCC is doing here;
http://mcc.org/stories/news/mcc-staff-ground-waiting-larger-relief-efforts-begin
MCC works for so much good. Poverty relief, justice issues, peace advocacy, education, HIV AIDS work, disaster relief. We’ve been impressed with how much this little organization can pull off. Caring for the restoration of people and their planet for the kingdom is primary for them. We’ve supported them over the years and been to the corporate offices. Nothing fancy, no big salaries, just caring people all doing kingdom work.
Blessings,
Nate
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) uses 100% of it’s donations towards the cause. Here is a link http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/work/emergencies/ongoing/haitiearthquake/
I have copied an article about a student from Haiti that attends our high school Grace Prep. If someone would like to help they could send funds through the school http://www.graceprep.com
Smith Paul, 19, grew up in Haiti and has been attending high school in Centre County for the past four years on a visa. He stays with the family of Cindy Way, a State College resident and teacher at Grace Prep High School in Ferguson Township, where Paul’s a senior. “It’s just been a heavy weight,” Way said of the news of the earthquake. “Our school was very solemn today. There were just a lot of kids praying with Smith.”
“My heart just broke,” said Paul, who doesn’t know what’s happened to friends in Port-au-Prince.
As for his family, they live in Cap-Haitien, on the north coast of the island, about 150 miles from Port-au-Prince. Although Paul has heard reports that Cap-Haitien didn’t sustain severe damage and he suspects his family may be fine, he has not been able to contact them directly.
“That kills me … I’ve been trying to call,” said Paul. “The phone won’t even ring. Apparently, the earthquake took out all communication.”
Paul moved in with the Way family in 2006, after a chance encounter on a cruise ship. His father, Aleus, was a crew member on the ship, and he told Way that he dreamed of sending his son to school in the United States. Her family ended up taking in Paul and another Haitian man so they could attend school in Centre County. Now, Paul views Way as a mother and his opportunity as a blessing.
“I think God wanted me to come,” said Paul, “because so many great things have happened.”
Grace Prep is a small Christian school, with about 65 students. There, Paul has become captain of the soccer and basketball teams and involved with student government.
For Way, the experience has been eye-opening, teaching her about hardships in Haiti, such as the high unemployment, corrupt government and limited access to basics such as electricity and water.
“If anything good can come from this, it’s that more people can realize what’s going on with Haiti, and try to help,” she said.
Through Penns Valley Community Church, Way set up a nonprofit that works closely with the Starthrower Foundation, a Canadian nonprofit that focuses on providing academic opportunities in Cap-Haitien. In August, Way traveled to Haiti on a mission trip with a Grace Prep student and stayed with Paul’s family.
Paul wants to go to college next year in the United States, but he does not know if that will be possible.
“I want to be successful and then go back to Haiti and help,” Paul said. “I’m just going to trust God.”
He expects to return to Haiti in June. Before the earthquake struck, Paul had been organizing a fundraiser for a July service trip that would focus on abstinence education in Haiti. Way and about seven Grace Prep students plan to travel to his hometown for that service trip.
A fundraiser will take place 6 p.m. Saturday at Christ Community Church, 1606 Norma St., State College. The event will feature musical performances by students.
Someone else sent me this possibility by email:
https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10
**If you do make a donation to them, please email Terry at info@ywamhaiti.org and let them know what you’ve donated or are sending (there’s a mailing address below).
For more information on their organization and their efforts, see the email copied below and/or http://www.ywamhaiti.org .
I have copied an article about a student from Haiti that attends our high school Grace Prep. If someone would like to help they could send funds through the school http://www.graceprep.com
Smith Paul, 19, grew up in Haiti and has been attending high school in Centre County for the past four years on a visa. He stays with the family of Cindy Way, a State College resident and teacher at Grace Prep High School in Ferguson Township, where Paul’s a senior. “It’s just been a heavy weight,” Way said of the news of the earthquake. “Our school was very solemn today. There were just a lot of kids praying with Smith.”
“My heart just broke,” said Paul, who doesn’t know what’s happened to friends in Port-au-Prince.
As for his family, they live in Cap-Haitien, on the north coast of the island, about 150 miles from Port-au-Prince. Although Paul has heard reports that Cap-Haitien didn’t sustain severe damage and he suspects his family may be fine, he has not been able to contact them directly.
“That kills me … I’ve been trying to call,” said Paul. “The phone won’t even ring. Apparently, the earthquake took out all communication.”
Paul moved in with the Way family in 2006, after a chance encounter on a cruise ship. His father, Aleus, was a crew member on the ship, and he told Way that he dreamed of sending his son to school in the United States. Her family ended up taking in Paul and another Haitian man so they could attend school in Centre County. Now, Paul views Way as a mother and his opportunity as a blessing.
“I think God wanted me to come,” said Paul, “because so many great things have happened.”
Grace Prep is a small Christian school, with about 65 students. There, Paul has become captain of the soccer and basketball teams and involved with student government.
For Way, the experience has been eye-opening, teaching her about hardships in Haiti, such as the high unemployment, corrupt government and limited access to basics such as electricity and water.
“If anything good can come from this, it’s that more people can realize what’s going on with Haiti, and try to help,” she said.
Through Penns Valley Community Church, Way set up a nonprofit that works closely with the Starthrower Foundation, a Canadian nonprofit that focuses on providing academic opportunities in Cap-Haitien. In August, Way traveled to Haiti on a mission trip with a Grace Prep student and stayed with Paul’s family.
Paul wants to go to college next year in the United States, but he does not know if that will be possible.
“I want to be successful and then go back to Haiti and help,” Paul said. “I’m just going to trust God.”
He expects to return to Haiti in June. Before the earthquake struck, Paul had been organizing a fundraiser for a July service trip that would focus on abstinence education in Haiti. Way and about seven Grace Prep students plan to travel to his hometown for that service trip.
A fundraiser will take place 6 p.m. Saturday at Christ Community Church, 1606 Norma St., State College. The event will feature musical performances by students.
Someone else sent me this possibility by email:
https://www.ywam.org/secure/donations/donate.asp?project=10
**If you do make a donation to them, please email Terry at info@ywamhaiti.org and let them know what you’ve donated or are sending (there’s a mailing address below).
For more information on their organization and their efforts, see the email copied below and/or http://www.ywamhaiti.org .
Hi all. Just wanted to share information about students at my Alma Mater, Oakwood University. The organization is the National Association for the Prevention of Starvation or NAPS. The just landed in the Dominican Republic this morning (Saturday) with medical supplies and will provide medical care and rescue assistance to Haiti.
They are made up of students from the university, a translator, a doctor, and the groups founder. They’ve responded to past disasters such as Katrina and 911, as well as regularly go on mission trips to 3rd world countries to provide medical care and food.
All donations go directly to assist the Haitian people and provide the care they need. They take donations on their website, http://napsoc.org.
One of the students, Jeffrey, has lost contact with his father so this trip has special importance to him. He will look for his father as well as help his countrymen through this crisis.
Hi all. Just wanted to share information about students at my Alma Mater, Oakwood University. The organization is the National Association for the Prevention of Starvation or NAPS. The just landed in the Dominican Republic this morning (Saturday) with medical supplies and will provide medical care and rescue assistance to Haiti.
They are made up of students from the university, a translator, a doctor, and the groups founder. They’ve responded to past disasters such as Katrina and 911, as well as regularly go on mission trips to 3rd world countries to provide medical care and food.
All donations go directly to assist the Haitian people and provide the care they need. They take donations on their website, http://napsoc.org.
One of the students, Jeffrey, has lost contact with his father so this trip has special importance to him. He will look for his father as well as help his countrymen through this crisis.
Hi Wayne,
We work directly with two organizations in Haiti, Living Word Ministries and Army of Christ. These are both effective, kingdom centered works that work on the field with the people they serve. There is very little administrative overhead. Sadly, Barb and Patrick Lataillade, the leaders of Living Word Ministries had their house fall on them. Both are in hospital. Barb has had a foot amputated and Patrick a shoulder. We are obviously very concerned for them. We continue to make information about them and the situation in Haiti available on our website http://www.hope-builders.org. Thank you for your desire to help and for encouraging people to find ways to give that will directly benefit the Haitian people.
Best,
Lance Thollander
In my desire to get this information to you I wasn’t clear about Patrick’s loss of an arm. I should have said his arm was amputated at the shoulder.
Lance
So Wayne,
Based on your criteria where do you recommend?
Dan
…I thought for sure I included this post in my earlier comment, but apparently I didn’t:
http://www.microclesia.com/?p=1139
Recovery in Haiti will be a very long and challenging process. I am trusting Papa’s love and praying that those listening for the Spirit’s leading will hear clearly the tune of this particular dance.
Sorry, Dan, I really don’t want to say because that might skew other folks to do what Wayne did rather than listening to God themselves. We took the list here, and others that we knew about, decided how much God was asking us to give and spread it out among three different organizations whose ability to distribute and whose target to distribute to most matched what was on our heart. This is one of those great times for people to learn to listen to God. Look over the links as you pray, let God nudge you in a direction and then do what he says. Any mistake here is no big deal, because the need is so great and I’m sure any of these groups would be happy to help getting aid to Haiti.
Hi Wayne,
We work directly with two organizations in Haiti, Living Word Ministries and Army of Christ. These are both effective, kingdom centered works that work on the field with the people they serve. There is very little administrative overhead. Sadly, Barb and Patrick Lataillade, the leaders of Living Word Ministries had their house fall on them. Both are in hospital. Barb has had a foot amputated and Patrick a shoulder. We are obviously very concerned for them. We continue to make information about them and the situation in Haiti available on our website http://www.hope-builders.org. Thank you for your desire to help and for encouraging people to find ways to give that will directly benefit the Haitian people.
Best,
Lance Thollander
In my desire to get this information to you I wasn’t clear about Patrick’s loss of an arm. I should have said his arm was amputated at the shoulder.
Lance
So Wayne,
Based on your criteria where do you recommend?
Dan
…I thought for sure I included this post in my earlier comment, but apparently I didn’t:
http://www.microclesia.com/?p=1139
Recovery in Haiti will be a very long and challenging process. I am trusting Papa’s love and praying that those listening for the Spirit’s leading will hear clearly the tune of this particular dance.
Sorry, Dan, I really don’t want to say because that might skew other folks to do what Wayne did rather than listening to God themselves. We took the list here, and others that we knew about, decided how much God was asking us to give and spread it out among three different organizations whose ability to distribute and whose target to distribute to most matched what was on our heart. This is one of those great times for people to learn to listen to God. Look over the links as you pray, let God nudge you in a direction and then do what he says. Any mistake here is no big deal, because the need is so great and I’m sure any of these groups would be happy to help getting aid to Haiti.
You are right Wayne. I went to bed thinking about this and the “relational tithe”. I remember Shane Claiborne speaking about this. He is from The Simple Way in Philly.
Anyway, I woke up with him on my mind. As I thought he had a link for a way to help on his page.
Thanks for reminding me to listen to the Father.
You are right Wayne. I went to bed thinking about this and the “relational tithe”. I remember Shane Claiborne speaking about this. He is from The Simple Way in Philly.
Anyway, I woke up with him on my mind. As I thought he had a link for a way to help on his page.
Thanks for reminding me to listen to the Father.
http://www.mannaglobalministries.org/
This group is heavily involved in missions to Dominican Republic and Haiti. My own cousin (Norm Curington) is connected with this ministry In Haiti they are heavily connected with an orphanage in Port Au Prince. The orphanage withstood the earthquake and now they are supplying food & water to about 100 people daily. Yesterday MGM was available to get 4000 llbs of supplies transported over land from Dominican Republic. 100 percent of donations that are made will go directly to Haiti relief. A frequent email update about what is happening on the ground with the relief team in Haiti is available.
Another possibility:
http://www.hopeforhaitischildren.org
Hope for Haiti’s Children is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization bringing hope to the children of Haiti through child education sponsorship and orphan care. My understanding is that 100 percent of funds donated will also go directly to Haiti relief.
http://www.mannaglobalministries.org/
This group is heavily involved in missions to Dominican Republic and Haiti. My own cousin (Norm Curington) is connected with this ministry In Haiti they are heavily connected with an orphanage in Port Au Prince. The orphanage withstood the earthquake and now they are supplying food & water to about 100 people daily. Yesterday MGM was available to get 4000 llbs of supplies transported over land from Dominican Republic. 100 percent of donations that are made will go directly to Haiti relief. A frequent email update about what is happening on the ground with the relief team in Haiti is available.
Another possibility:
http://www.hopeforhaitischildren.org
Hope for Haiti’s Children is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization bringing hope to the children of Haiti through child education sponsorship and orphan care. My understanding is that 100 percent of funds donated will also go directly to Haiti relief.
My dear friend Julie was in Haiti at the time of the earthquake. She was leading a team there for health education and assisting with Mission Possible schools. Her team is fine and safely back in the US. Mission Possible is now sending medical teams and groupw who can care for those in the hospital. In Haiti, hospital patients must provide their own food, bedding, and other needs. Many of the hospitalized have no one to care for them and/or no resources to buy needed supplies.
Mission Possible runs several schools and hospitals in Haiti and in the Dominican Republic. There are lots of great ideas already posted, but maybe this need will resonate with someone.
Above all, let’s pray. Perhaps this nation, literally broken at its roots can begin to heal and have a new beginning.
The website is: http://www.ourmissionispossible.org.
Wayne:
I just saw this post today. I wondered just what to say that might give a picture of the ministry that many of my friends are involved with in Haiti… Then tonight on Facebook I saw a link to this news story… This is a ministry that my church and community is heavily supporting… I’m sending this link which tells the story better than I can.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34944550#34944550
My dear friend Julie was in Haiti at the time of the earthquake. She was leading a team there for health education and assisting with Mission Possible schools. Her team is fine and safely back in the US. Mission Possible is now sending medical teams and groupw who can care for those in the hospital. In Haiti, hospital patients must provide their own food, bedding, and other needs. Many of the hospitalized have no one to care for them and/or no resources to buy needed supplies.
Mission Possible runs several schools and hospitals in Haiti and in the Dominican Republic. There are lots of great ideas already posted, but maybe this need will resonate with someone.
Above all, let’s pray. Perhaps this nation, literally broken at its roots can begin to heal and have a new beginning.
The website is: http://www.ourmissionispossible.org.
Wayne:
I just saw this post today. I wondered just what to say that might give a picture of the ministry that many of my friends are involved with in Haiti… Then tonight on Facebook I saw a link to this news story… This is a ministry that my church and community is heavily supporting… I’m sending this link which tells the story better than I can.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/34944550#34944550
Here is where I am helping. Shane, is my cousins son in law. They adopted 2 little girls from Haiti a few years ago and have been involved there for some time. He is down there now and will be for sometime. Here is their website http://mercyleague.blogspot.com/. Blessings, Michelle
Here is where I am helping. Shane, is my cousins son in law. They adopted 2 little girls from Haiti a few years ago and have been involved there for some time. He is down there now and will be for sometime. Here is their website http://mercyleague.blogspot.com/. Blessings, Michelle
Our boys are adopted from Haiti (do you remember visiting them a couple years back, Wayne?) and we work closely with the orphanage they came from. The orphanage has been condemned as it has sustained too much damage to be safe to live in. Over 40 children, most under 3 years of age, are living in the backyard under makeshift tents. Some who are already in the process of being adopted will be and are heading to their adoptive homes but many are not spoken for yet. We have a place in the States that they can go to until things are rebuilt in Haiti but there has been difficulties in getting them into the country.
For anyone who is interested…The website for the orphanage for more information or to financially help the missionaries looking after these kids is: http://www.haitichildrenshome.com
Our boys are adopted from Haiti (do you remember visiting them a couple years back, Wayne?) and we work closely with the orphanage they came from. The orphanage has been condemned as it has sustained too much damage to be safe to live in. Over 40 children, most under 3 years of age, are living in the backyard under makeshift tents. Some who are already in the process of being adopted will be and are heading to their adoptive homes but many are not spoken for yet. We have a place in the States that they can go to until things are rebuilt in Haiti but there has been difficulties in getting them into the country.
For anyone who is interested…The website for the orphanage for more information or to financially help the missionaries looking after these kids is: http://www.haitichildrenshome.com