Haiti Disaster Relief
As everyone in the district is well aware by now, the needs of the Haitian people are very great as up to three million people deal with the aftermath of a 7.0 earthquake in and around the capital Port-au-Prince. Please read on to find out how you and your club can help.....
The city was leveled, a vast number of people killed, and transportation and communication disrupted. The injured are struggling for care as most medical facilities in the capital were damaged or destroyed and people have nowhere to live.
Many of our clubs are asking what they can do. As a district we are suggesting that Rotarians and Rotary clubs who want to help should have a district option. Jos Nolle, Chair of our Disaster Relief Committee has suggested two options.
First, we know that many injured are taken to Hopital Albert Schweitzer in Deschapelles, a town about 40 miles NW of Port-au-Prince. We are fortunate because Roy Sheldrick from the Rotary Club of Ancaster uses Hopital Albert Schweitzer to administer the Haiti Water for Life Program and through them has brought over 1.2 million dollars of wells, piping and latrines to Haiti. Roy has close and regular contact with the hospital administration and they have indicated that their facility is coping with the influx of those injured in the earthquake, but the hospital is fast using up its budget on supplies of medicines, diesel fuel and additional operating expenses.
Second, most inhabitants of Port-au-Prince have lost their homes and shelter and have nowhere to live. The ShelterBox Program keeps a stock of shelter boxes on hand and some of these boxes are already on their way to Haiti. The supply, however, always needs to be replenished.
For these reasons, we are encouraging donations to Hopital Albert Schweitzer and/or ShelterBox.
A trust fund keeps Hopital Albert Schweitzer running. In NY, clubs and individuals are asked to forward donations to The Rotary Club of Kenmore and it will issue charitable receipts. In Ontario, please send donations to The Rotary Club of Ancaster and it will issue charitable receipts. Both clubs will then forward your donations so that Hopital Albert Schweitzer can continue caring for the onslaught of injured. Please make checks payable to Kenmore Rotary Charities and mail to Kenmore Rotary Club, 3200 Elmwood Avenue, Kenmore NY 14217 or Ancaster Rotary Club and mail to The Rotary Club of Ancaster, 3-35 Stonechurch Road, Ancaster ON, L9K 1S5. Please indicate Haiti Disaster Relief as the reason for the check. http://hashaiti.blogspot.com/
Those clubs wishing to support ShelterBox should send funds directly to that organization at either ShelterBox USA, 8374 Market Street #203, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202; http://www.shelterboxusa.org/ or, ShelterBox Canada, 1272 Mysty Woods, Victoria BC, V8Y 3G6. http://www.shelterbox.ca/
Pravin Suchak, District Governor Jos Nolle, Disaster Relief Chair