Howdy Champlain College Community:
I am writing to you all, on behalf of a Champlain College student Stephanie Felix, regarding the devastated damages that occurred in Haiti as a result of Hurricane Matthew. For those of you who may not know Hurricane Matthew hit Haiti on October 4, 2016 and destroyed a lot of towns in Haiti’s southwestern region. This hurricane has hit home for us as well, because we have a student from one of the areas severely damaged during the hurricane.
As a community we have an opportunity to help a student, her family, and the people of Haiti hit by Hurricane Matthew. Stephanie Felix and her family here in the United States are working to get aid and supplies sent back to her town and others that were hit by Hurricane Matthew. Please read her letter below and if you can help in anyway please do so; she is a member of our community looking for aid.
Greeting:
My name is Stephanie Felix. I am a sophomore at Champlain College in Burlington VT, studying Business Administration with a specialization in Legal Studies. I am currently a permanent resident of Vermont pursuing a higher education abroad; I moved in the wake of the devastating 2010 earthquake, but I have been a Haitian all my life.
As you know, Hurricane Matthew made landfall in southwestern Haiti on October 4, 2016, sweeping through the regions of Jeremie, Des Cayes and Camp Perrin. Because of Haiti’s geographic location, it is a constant victim of natural disasters. Combined with being the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and sporting a weak government infrastructure that cannot adequately support its citizens, these disasters are exponentially more devastating than they otherwise would be in most countries.
My family is from the region of Jeremie, which has been almost completely destroyed by the hurricane. I still have many relatives living there whose houses have been completely destroyed. One of the few homes left standing belongs to my grandmother, who has been lodging nearly everyone in her neighborhood since the storm.
My older brother Matthieu is a civil engineer who is currently staying in Vermont to visit. While here, he planned to collect aid and gather volunteers from his colleagues, family and friends in order to return to Jeremie and distribute aid to the people there. Other family members living in the United States have already left to aid the southern towns of Jeremie, looking to bring supplies and rebuild homes. Most of this material came as donations from coworkers and friends.
I too want to help my people, but I cannot do this alone: I need some helping hands to help me reach out to those in need. The people of Jeremie have no homes or crops to speak of and their financial situations have been crippled. I am asking for my community here in Vermont and at Champlain College for your help, to give whatever you can so we may ease the burden of a few people in the Jeremie, Des Cayes and Camp Perrin regions of Haiti. I am working with the Swap Shop through Champlain College’s The Center for Service and Sustainability to collect resources; any aid, big or small, that you can provide would help. Any monetary contributions please email or call me to set up payment.
Jeremie was the most beautiful province in Haiti, but this is no more. Returning residents cannot even recognize their hometown. Please help us restore the living conditions of southwestern Haiti.
Very Respectfly, Stephanie Felix
stephanie.felix@mymail.champlain.edu
Link, for monetary Donation: www.venmo.com/Stephanie-Felix-6