CRWRC Donations for Haiti Top $2 Million
Just three weeks after the January 12 earthquake, compassionate and creative donors across the U.S. and Canada have given more than $2 million to fund emergency relief efforts in Haiti through the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (www.crwrc.org).
"There is an outpouring of concern for Haiti's people from around the world, especially from the faith community," says Ken Little of Burlington, Ontario, a senior disaster response project manager for the CRWRC. "Teachers are organizing 'rock-a-thons,' chefs are donating five-course dinners, and school sports teams are hosting bake sales. The destruction of Port au Prince is massive, but our capacity for compassion is bigger."
Little flew out of Haiti's capital of Port-au-Price earlier this week after two weeks assessing needs, coordinating CRWRC's response, and establishing distribution points in both Port- au-Prince and the Dominican Republic. Currently, CRWRC is working with long-time partners in Haiti to provide emergency aid, including food, water, shelter tarps, and blankets to quake survivors. The organization is also gearing up for a multi-year recovery and reconstruction program that will last at least 24 months.
"The team has identified six villages in Leogane for the next phase of our response," said Jacob Kramer, CRWRC disaster response director, about the community 20 miles west of Port au Prince and the epicenter of the January 12 quake. "We are working with village leaders to begin surveying needs of each family."
CRWRC's work in Leogane, a community outside Port-au-Price that was at the epicenter of the quake, will likely include construction of transitional and permanent housing, re-establishing livelihoods, providing for psycho-social needs, forming community groups, and providing for children. It will also include rebuilding infrastructure such as wells and latrines.
If Canadians give a donation to the Haiti Earthquake victims through CRWRC by February 12th, it will double in impact due to a generous contribution from the Canadian Government.
Checks, marked "Haiti Earthquake 2010" can also be sent to:
CRWRC-US
2850 Kalamazoo Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49560
Ph: 1-800-55-CRWRC
CRWRC-Canada
3475 Mainway
P.O. Box 5070 STN LCD 1
Burlington, Ontario, L7R 3Y8
Ph: 1-800-730-3490
Donations to support CRWRC’s work in Haiti can be made by calling 1-800-730-3490, visiting www.crwrc.org, or by sending cheques to CRWRC, 3475 Mainway, PO Box 5070 STN LCD 1, Burlington, ON, L7R 3Y8.
To arrange an interview with CRWRC senior project manager Ken Little upon his return from Port au Prince call 1-800-730-3490.
