Local And International Groups Offer Opportunities To Benefit Haiti

By Nancy K. Crevier And Shannon Hicks

The earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12 has left thousands in need. According to Mary Lou Larkin, medical director for Haiti Marycare, a Danbury-based organization that assists Haitian communities with health care, education, and infrastructure development, past experience has highlighted problems that occur in that country when disaster strikes.

“We know all of our medical and food supplies to the northern Haitian communities come from Port au Prince. With roads blocked, hunger does become a problem,” said Ms Larkin. Haiti Marycare presently has members on site in cities throughout the country, said Ms Larkin, but as of Wednesday afternoon, January 13, they had not heard from any of the volunteers. “We can’t get through to anyone,” she said. “It is just awful, waiting to hear.” Haiti Marycare is soliciting donations that will benefit Haiti at this time of great need. Visit haitimarycare.org to donate or for more information.

Locally, Newtown Congregational Church is hosting a Haitian Dinner & Reggae Band Night, Saturday, January 23, an event that had been in the planning for a number of weeks. The Gathering, the church’s youth group, organized the evening that, with the Rotary Club of Newtown, was intended to raise funds to purchase goats and provide housing for families in Haiti. Organizers hope that more people will respond to this event in light of the Port-au-Prince earthquake disaster.

From 6 to 10 pm, the public is invited to enjoy live music and refreshments at the church, at 14 West Street. Admission is $10, or $30 per family.

The Skanktones will be performing the music for Reggae Night, performing the original music that has been building a following for the Danbury-based band since 2000. In addition to music from two CDs that have already been released, attendees can expect to hear new music that will be included on The Skanktones’s upcoming release, Room To Breathe.

Reservations are not needed, but additional information is available from the church office; call 203-426-9024.

InterAction, a coalition of US-based international nongovernmental organizations that work to end global poverty and assist developing countries with humanitarian aid, is also responding to the disaster.

InterAction recommends monetary donations that allow relief professionals to get precisely what is needed, and to ensure that donations are suited to the culture, diets, and environment, and which do not use resources like transportation, staff, or warehouse space.

Material donations should be handled through a professional relief organization, such as one listed below, or any of the others listed at interaction.org/how-help. Following is a partial list of agencies seeking donations to assist the victims of the Haitian earthquake. Information on volunteering is also available at each organization’s website.

American Friends

Service Committee

1501 Cherry Street

Philadelphia PA 19102

afsc.org

American Jewish Joint

Distribution Committee

711 Third Avenue, 10th Floor

New York, NY 10017

jdc.org/donation/donate.aspx

AmeriCares

88 Hamilton Avenue

Stamford CT 06902

AmeriCares.org

Catholic Relief Services

PO Box 17090

Baltimore MD 21203

crs.org

Lutheran World Relief

700 Light Street

Baltimore MD 21230

lwr.org/giving

Oxfam America

226 Causeway Street

Fifth Floor

Boston MA 02114

oxfamamerica.org

Physicians for Peace

229 West Bute Street

Suite 200

Norfolk VA 23510

physiciansforpeace.org

US Fund for UNICEF

125 Maiden Lane, 11th Floor

New York, NY 10038

unicefusa.org

World Hope International

625 Slaters Lane, Suite 200

Alexandria VA 22314

worldhope.org