Haiti Earthquake Donations Surpass $2 Million

CRWRC Newsroom | February 4, 2010

The needs of families, like those living in this camp, will continue for many years. Photo by Paul Jeffrey/ACT Alliance

 

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 CRWRC.

“There is an outpouring of concern for Haiti’s people from around the world, especially from the faith community,” says Ken Little, a senior relief manager for the agency. “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 early 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 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. 

Thank you to the many people who have already supported CRWRC’s Haiti earthquake response.  These gifts have made CRWRC’s emergency response possible. Please remember  that the needs of the Haitian people will continue for the next several years.  If you have not yet given, or feel compelled to make an additional gift, your funds are still urgently needed. Every dollar makes a difference.

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.

Donate online:  US | Canada

Checks, marked “Haiti Earthquake 2010” can also be sent to:

 

 

 

 

 

by Beth DeGraff, CRWRC Communications