Thursday, January 14, 2010

Change of Plans

I had been planning on writing a post about some fun little gifts that I had received from my brother and his family in Tanzania. Somehow, after the total devastation in Haiti, that seemed hollow and trivial. Don't get me wrong, the gifts are wonderful and I will share them later but right now my heart and mind are elsewhere.
My HEART HURTS for HAITI.
My family, thru my brother , has a strong connection to Haiti. My brother, Peter, went to Haiti in the 1980's to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer. To say that this experience changed his life and thus the lives of his immediate family, would be a massive understatement. In Haiti, Peter worked with people in the mountains on reforestation projects and agriculture. He had a merry band of Peace Corps Volunteers who were in the country with him and he established bonds with these people that have only grown stronger thru the years. As far as I know, every one of these people has remained in service to others throughout their careers. Peter married one of these wonderful people. Elise, my amazingly talented sister in law, worked in Port-AU-Prince in the nutrition clinics serving women and children. I know that as they are now living and working in Tanzania, Peter in the hills and Elise in the US Embassy, their hearts and minds are in Haiti.
I did a very quick search on google to see what I could find for Help For Haiti. Below is a very short list of sites where we can go to make donations to help with this massive effort. Click on a link or do a search of your own, but
DO SOMETHING!! GIVE SOMETHING- Whatever you can!!!!

As I am sure that you know, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. We have turned our eyes away from this huge need for too long and it has taken a massive disater to turn our hearts and eyes back in Haiti's direction.
Won't you please join me in making a donation to the efforts in Haiti and make it a lasting project to lift the country out of the abject poverty that is swallowing these wonderful people!
Turn this massive disaster into an OPPORTUNITY for HAITI!!! DON"T LET THE WORLD AVERT THEIR EYES AGAIN.
This group has long been active in haiti and they are currently sending out moto bike squads to deliver food and water to those in most desperate need
Habitat For Humanity- Designated Donations for SHelters and food
White House.gov-A list of organizations that are taking donations as well as other ways to help
Oxfam make monetary donations from $5000 to $35 dollars and even less.
EDE- Endeavor to Develop Education less than $1 a day can get a poverty stricken child an education.
Humanity First-make monetary donations for Disaster Relief
Save The Children Long involved in Haiti and with your donation can act immediately to help.
Get involved- Stay involved!
Change Lives and Enrich your own life!!!!

6 comments:

Beena said...

Wouldn't it be something if instead of spending our money on sending troops to Afghanistan we were to spend it on help for Haiti? I think Americans should refuse to pay taxes to support war, and insist the tax dollars be spent on much worthier causes. Haiti certainly fits the bill.

gaylenona said...

Thank you Elizabeth for encouraging all of us to do our part. Another fine organization is Samaritan's Purse which responded quickly to send in relief supplies.

Elizabeth said...

Thank you Gaylenona for adding the link to our list of places to help!!!
Not sure why others are not leaving comments??????
We all need to do what we can!!
Hugs!

Michelle said...

Amen and thank you for the suggestions of places to donate ... if we all join together we can make a difference!

ariel freeman said...

Thank you Elizabeth for your "call to action". I too posted links on my blog regarding donations to Haiti. Warmest, Ariel

Julie said...

People do seem to be less motivated by this appalling tragedy than by others like the Tsunami or Katrina or even the Italian earthquake last year. I don't know why either, maybe people don't identify so easily with Haiti. Your post has encouraged me to get on and send my donation. I chose Save theChildren as their website says they have an existing presence in Haiti.

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