HOPE FOR HAITI
APRIL UPDATE -
- TVP team to MNA Carrefour had a tough week, but were able to get much accomplished and came back excited about the ministry opportunities and the people they got to know. More teams are scheduled soon.
- R3I has been asked to build 40+ of our Transitional shelters in the mountains between Leogone and Jacmel by June 1. This makes a very busy several weeks, and we appreciate your prayers. We will also be looking for teams to help the Haitians build.
- MTW continues to send medical teams.
- MedAir has received a much bigger grant than ours and is running at full steam to get the work done in Jacmel. Pray for Tabitha, Clarice, Roger, and all involved. Pray that they will find solid churches to partner with in Jacmel.
- HAFF is working on building homes for the hundreds of people who fled PaP after the quake and headed to the Central Plateau.
- Kyle Talley is now with Samaritans Purse, and they are also heavily involved in shelter construction in the Leogone area.
Back from Haiti
We have returned from Haiti and thank you for your prayers. There is a great deal of work to be done in Haiti, and we will be busy in the upcoming months trying to support the work there as much as possible.
We delivered the tents, and were able to visit with a community that desperately needed them. The looks on their faces was something I will never forget. We also visited other ministries and potential team sites and got a good feel for what is happening there.
One of the big things we see as a need is to support the efforts to get transitional shelters. These are steel framed, tarp covered units that are bolted onto the existing foundation, and can eventually be converted into permanent housing. They can be purchased for $700.
On Tuesday 2/16, R3I Director Brian McKeon and Assistant Director David Peck will be heading to Haiti to deliver some of the tents collected and network for continued long term response.
UPDATE 2/10
Haiti needs:
- We are wrapping up the drive for tents and need help packaging them for transport. We could use a number of people to come on Saturday to the warehouse in Hixson (5325 Old Hixson Pike Hixson, TN 37343) from 10am to 2pm. This will also be the last opportunity to bring tents or supplies.
- The first team is tentatively scheduled for March 6-13. This will be an intense physical labor trip, under difficult conditions. The team will be remodeling a structure just outside Port au Prince for MNA to use to run teams for the long term response. This trip will be limited to those with disaster/military training or experience, and the work skills that are needed. We particularly need electricians, plumbers, and other construction skills. All team members will need to attend a training session and be approved. The cost for the trip will be about $1200, a valid passport is required, as well as the proper vaccinations (Hep series, Tetanus, Typhoid). If you think you are interested and meet these qualifications, please contact me. If you do not, but are still interested, please wait for the teams that will come after this. There are also some other opportunities listed below.
- MNA has other teams, both medical and short term, going to Haiti to work in other areas. Please see their websites: http://www.pca-mna.org or http://www.gcanet.org/ or http://www.esmihome.org/
- MTW is also sending teams, medical for now and possibly reconstruction teams in the near future: http://www2.mtw.org
sleeping in a field - in the rain. An organization there has a plan for
transitional and long term housing, but there is an immediate need for
tents. We have offered to collect 650 tents and deliver them to
Jacmel within the next week. We need your help. Please consider
donating a new or unused 2 pole 3-4 person tent, along with $10 to
help cover shipping. Tents can be delivered to us or to New City
(2412 E.4th St,Chattanooga TN 37404). Checks can be made out to New
City, with Haiti tents in the memo. If you are unable to send a tent,
please consider sending $50 to cover the cost of a tent.
We need to move quickly!
Set up blog for Hope For Haiti, please check it out:
chattanoogahopeforhaiti.blogspot.com
See update below 1/22
R3I is involved in setting up and helping run the Tennessee Valley Presbytery's Mercy Committee's response to the Haiti Earthquake, called HOPE FOR HAITI. Brian will be doing whatever he can to support these efforts, as well as the response from MNA ( www.pca-mna.org) and MTW ( www2.mtw.org).
Jonathan is also very involved in helping lead the efforts from his area, and all of our people are gearing up to do all we can.
FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS: All funds given to R3I will be used to support R3I as they help with response to the Haiti Disaster. Donations can be sent through the normal R3I channels or by sending checks to 1st Presbyterian Church, Hope For Haiti Fund, 554 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga TN 37402 or any local area PCA church, designated Haiti.
Both MNA and MTW are also accepting contributions. See links above.
MEDAIR is responding, and our friend Tabitha Kapic is heavily involved with their response: http://www.medair.org/en/metanav-bottom/united-states/haiti/
SCAM ALERT: There are many scams and false reports out there, which is sickening. We recommend giving through local churches as one of the best ways to get the highest percentage of your money to the people on the ground, those that really need it. If you are unsure, please feel free to contact us and we will do some research for you.
Update:
First: Thank you all for your desire to serve by being involved with
teams to Haiti. The needs are great, which should drive us all to our
knees in prayer. I want to encourage you to think long term. Many of
you are itching to go and want to be there now, but we will need
people on teams for the next two years. Now is the time for the
rescue workers and security forces to do their thing, then our turn
will begin. I will keep you all posted as things develop and let you
know when we begin scheduling teams. The first few will likely be
limited to experienced professionals.
Second: If you are interested in going on a team you will need to have
a valid passport. This can be a lengthy and expensive process, so
begin now. You will also need to be up to date on the required
vaccinations. Check with your doctor or the CDC website to see what
you need. Last if you have not been to a training you should use this
time to prepare. MNA and MTW both have disaster response training
coming on the next few months. If you do not have construction
experience, get some - volunteer somewhere.
Third: At this point we are trying to gather funds to support our
efforts and the ministries on the ground in Haiti. We are also
gathering supplies to ship down, and we would like to fill a truck by
the end of next week. Please use your contacts to gather supplies.
They can be brought to New City, First Pres, or Covenant Pres here in
Chattanooga. Saturday morning, 10am, we will be at the warehouse
(5325 Old Hixson Pike Hixson, TN 37343) if you are available it could
be a good time to talk further.
Contacts:
Checks can be made out to First Presbyterian Church, 554 McCallie
Avenue, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402 with Hope For Haiti noted in the
memo.
MNA: http://www.pca-mna.org/disaster/index.php
MTW: http://www2.mtw.org/home/site/templates/mtw_splash.asp?_resolutionfile=templatespath|mtw_splash.asp&area_2=public/Opportunities/Short%20Term%20Ministry/2%20Weeks/Disaster%20Response/HaitiResponse
MedAir: http://www.medair.org/en/metanav-bottom/united-states/haiti/
HAFF: http://www.haff.org/
Supply List:
Buckets, Blankets/Sheets, Garbage/StorageBags, Non-perishable foods (canned or MREs) Toiletry sacks (containing a washcloth, soap, tooth brush, tooth paste, deodorant)
Tarps/tents Hand tools Batteries
Dressings - sterile and unsterile Lidocaine Sutures
Neosporin/antibiotic ointment Ace bandages Ibuprofen
Oral rehydration salts Betadine wipes and sticks Hand Sanitizer
Gauze Diclofenac – (injection and oral) Tylenol
Motrin Multivitamins (children and adult) Zantac
Benadryl Hypertension medications Blood pressure medications
Cough medications Anti-diarrheal Antibiotics
Alcohol pads Band-Aids Blades – sterile only
Bulb syringes, stub adapter; no loose/single units; spinal Needles Casting supplies
Compression stockings Gloves: all sizes, sterile/non-sterile Gowns – (surgical and patient, head & shoe covers; goggles, masks)
IV supplies - tubing in sterile packages only IV Serum Needles – butterfly, angio catheter
Pediatric supplies Scalpels Splints – for legs, ankles and arms
Sponges - surgical Surgical towels- cloth/paper Syringes
Tape - all types Thermometers Tongue depressors
Buckets Blankets/Sheets Garbage/StorageBags
Non-perishable foods (canned or MREs) Sandals or flip-flops Toiletry sacks (containing a washcloth, soap, tooth brush, tooth paste, deodorant)
Tarps/tents Hand tools Batteries
Dressings - sterile and unsterile Lidocaine Sutures
Neosporin/antibiotic ointment Ace bandages Ibuprofen
Oral rehydration salts Betadine wipes and sticks Hand Sanitizer
Gauze Diclofenac – (injection and oral) Tylenol
Motrin Multivitamins (children and adult) Zantac
Benadryl Hypertension medications Blood pressure medications
Cough medications Anti-diarrheal Antibiotics
Alcohol pads Band-Aids Blades – sterile only
Bulb syringes, stub adapter; no loose/single units; spinal Needles Casting supplies
Compression stockings Gloves: all sizes, sterile/non-sterile Gowns – (surgical and patient, head & shoe covers; goggles, masks)
IV supplies - tubing in sterile packages only IV Serum Needles – butterfly, angio catheter
Pediatric supplies Scalpels Splints – for legs, ankles and arms
Sponges - surgical Surgical towels- cloth/paper Syringes
Tape - all types Thermometers Tongue depressors