What Haiti really needs? Money

Credits: Chris Hondros, NewYorkDailyNews.com

An excellent piece in the New York Times begins this way: “Don’t send shoes, send money. Don’t send baby formula, send money. Don’t send old coats, send money.” (Click here for Stephanie Strom’s full article.)

In the article, Strom references the blog, Good Intentions are not Enough written by Saundra Schimmelpennig. The bottom line is to send money to organizations that you trust, that have existing infrastructure. Considering supporting the far less immediate task of rebuilding Haiti.

The media coverage will probably begin to wane this weekend. George Clooney and Haitian-born Fugees star Wyclef Jean host a televised benefit on Friday, January 22, featuring over 40 celebrities and performers including Bono, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys and Sting.

This will signal the official end of the front page story. But the struggle will continue for years.

Here are some local groups that you could really use your money now:

New Life for Haiti

New Life for Haiti was formed in 2005 to touch the lives of the people in the rural villages of the Grand’Anse River Valley south of the city of Jeremie. This organization is a respected part of the community whose primary work involves building schools and medical clinics, and enabling sponsorships of children so they can attend school and achieve a better hope for a good future.

International aid is being quickly mobilized to assist in recovery efforts in Port-au-Prince, but chances are, the rural villages in the Grand’Anse River Valley will be largely ignored by this international effort. Your contribution will be making a tangible person to person difference.

Their organization is run entirely by experienced volunteers, which means that nearly all of each dollar donated ends up in Haiti, funding these valuable programs.

Click here to stream Pastor Leeman’s interview on WBEZ’s World View.

Water Mission International

Water Purifying System from Water Mission International

We have learned so clearly in this crisis that water is life. Water Mission International began in 1988 as a response to Hurricane Mitch in Honduras.  Co-founder George Greene said, ”Water treatment isn’t rocket science. Let’s figure it out.”

Thanks to the efforts of caring volunteers, ministry partners and WMI staff members in Haiti,  on January 18th,the first water treatment system has been installed in Port-au-Prince. The system, which purifies up to 10 gallons of water each minute, was set up at the Haiti Baptist Mission. It is capable of providing enough drinking water for 5,000 earthquake victims. By the end of the day today, WMI plans to have five more water systems up and running.

New Trier Haiti Project

Since last spring, a group of New Trier faculty and staff have been developing the Haiti Project in anticipation of launching a fundraising effort and service learning project this March to help rebuild a school in Petit-Goave, Haiti. The project began with two staff members, Maurice Bonhomme and Jean Cayemitte, who work as security guards on New Trier’s Northfield Campus.

The mission of the Haiti Project is now being expanded to help with the relief effort in Petit-Goave, which is located just 5 miles from the epicenter of the earthquake.  They know the damage done to the town has been extensive and St. Joseph School is only one of many buildings that have collapsed.  It is clear that this already impoverished area has been further ravaged by this tragic disaster.

For more information on other groups, click on this list from WBEZ.