Greetings,
I am sure you all are aware of the damage Hurricane Matthew caused in Southern Haiti at the beginning of the month, and have donated to one of the many wonderful organizations working in the region. I spent two years in one of the cities, Les Cayes, hit hard by the storm. Many houses were destroyed and in many cases if the structure was left in tact, it was without the roof. Initially after the hurricane, the suffering was rather great do to the massive destruction and the lack of basic essentials such as food and drinking water. The situation has actually deteriorated over the past week due to torrential rains and the major flooding that followed.
If you have yet to donate, I am recommending two organizations that I know and trust that are currently helping the people of Les Cayes who are in extreme need and would greatly benefit from your assistance. They are helping to provide food, essential tarps to combat the heavy rains, drinking water, basic medical assistance, and some economic support to keep children in school (95% of all schools in Haiti are private – education is not free).
The first group is The Notre Dame Mission Volunteers run by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Here is a brief video that illustrates their work before the storm: https://vimeo.com/123042780. The SND order is rather famous in the U.S. for their work with Americorps. I am including below the donation request letter written by Sr. Sissy Corr, SND right after the storm hit:
You have inquired about Haiti and how you might help with the plight of the the people in Haiti. I spoke with Caitlin the Coordinator of NDMV work in Les Cayes on Friday. First, of course, is to say thank you for your prayers. She reported that the storm was terrifying but that the volunteers, Caitlin and Sr. Jeannette all survived the hurricane. and that it appears that most of the people we know survived the horrific storm as well.In regard to helping. I would say the same thing to you as I said to the NDMV Board. We have a bank account there and therefore we can wire $ directly to Caitlin and Sr. Jeannette. Make checks to NDMV and in the memo section write Haiti Emergency. Send to our main office at 5405 Loch Raven Blvd. Baltimore, Md. 21239We are in touch with the pople in Les Cayes and know the needs. Caitlin says: “Immediately, it is food and water. Hopefully some Aid will get through but the impassable roads and the collapsed bridges make it very difficult for the Aid trucks to get through as quickly as they would like. Even now, some supplies can be purchased to help.As a result of the storm devastating their little garden plots and/or their farms, the anticipated cycle looks like this for the people of Les Cayes and most of Haiti. The costs of food will go up since it will need to be imported. As the people need to buy food and at a higher cost, there goes the tuition money for school. Then, children can not go to school and they do not get that little bit of food they get at school. This is their regular challenge intensified by the effects of the horrific storm. So we would need to help with food and water and/or school fees on a level comparable to the devastating effects of the storm. The people of Les Cayes and most of Haiti needed this help before the storm, the hurricane just magnifies their struggle. Notice, I have not even mentioned the emergency housing and health needs….As you can see on TV and the internet reports, many roofs have been lifted off of houses and blown to pieces. Some houses are completely devastated. In regard to health there is concern about cholera.Thank you for whatever you can do to help. There are many ways to assist, I was just trying to give you one concrete way you might help. We work with other groups in the area from Les Cayes to Les Anglais and we will all be working with the Haitian people for the same goals.On another note, we are still working on education programs at the Center and we have begun building the bakery. We will return to working on the bakery in the next few days and next week we hope classes can start up again. As you know, these people have such a rugged determined spirit.
The second organization is Tout Ensemble who specialize in physical rehabilitation. It is the only center of its kind in the South Department of Haiti. Here is their donation website:
Many thanks for taking the time to read this. Please let me know if you have any questions regarding the organizations.
Sincerely,
John