Haiti Earthquake Disaster Update

World Relief Response

The Apostolic Christian Church has enjoyed a long relationship with the Haitian people and serving the humanitarian and spiritual needs of Haiti and its people. Many brethren and friends have spent time in Haiti on work teams and have a love for this country and people. We are deeply saddened by the recent earthquake and destruction that has occurred to this island nation. 

The earthquake epicenter was near the capital city of Port au Prince with the majority of damage sustained in this area. Many smaller towns in the country have also suffered significant devastation.

ACWR has three families and one single sister serving full time in Les Cayes, Haiti, approximately 130 miles west of Port au Prince (click map to enlarge). They comprise the in-country leadership team for our relief efforts, and will work in partnership with the World Relief Caribbean Committee. 

Child Sponsorship Children
Several have called with concerns about the children in the Child Sponsorship Program. We appreciate the outpouring of love and concern to the office in Morton.  We will continue to provide updates on this website as we learn more, so check back regularly.  For the current Child Sponsorship update from Haiti. Click here.

Immediate and Long Term Response
World Relief brethren serving in Haiti will be a central focus in bringing help to the Haitian people. World Relief also has long standing relationships with numerous Haitian ministries that have people and ministries impacted by the earthquake, so we will want to support their relief efforts.  A third area of bringing help will be through an established system of sending medical and construction work teams to Haiti.

We are planning the following strategy:

  • Develop Plan - To download the World Relief Response Plan - Click here.
  • Evaluate - A team of brothers from the WR Board and Caribbean Committee will travel to Haiti as soon as possible to work with our brethren to evaluate the needs and develop a plan for relief.
  • Partner - Meet with leaders of Haitian organizations we work with to develop partnering plans for relief efforts.
  • Humanitarian Aid - Assemble relief materials in the distribution centers to send humanitarian aid when the way opens up.
  • Support - Continue to support international relief organizations that we have supported in the past, in their relief efforts.
  • Opportunity to Give - Open the fund within the World Relief Disaster Program to receive donations from those who wish to contribute to relief efforts in Haiti.

Our efforts will be in three different phases:

Click photos to enlarge1. Relief – emergency aid to reduce the immediate suffering… to “stop the bleeding.”  

2. Rehabilitation – to seek to restore the Haitian people and their communities to the positive elements of their life before the earthquake.

3. Development – a process of ongoing change that moves all the people involved (those helping and those being helped) closer to being in a right relationship with God and others. The goal is to enable the Haitian people to provide for themselves in the future, and then to reach out and help others.


Caribbean Committee Weekly Update
The Carribbean Committee will be providing regular updates for the ongoing work in Haiti.  For the 2/22/10 update.  Click here.

Walking with the Haitian people
One of the greatest needs is funding for those organizations that have an organized plan, and are committed in the long term to work alongside the Haitian people to truly bring the help they need. This assistance will take years, not months. For the World Relief Response Plan for the Haiti earthquake, click here.

First Response
The Distribution Centers have already responded and are shipping food, medical supplies, clothing and other needed commodities.  We have initially committed $50,000 for the relief in Haiti, and anticipate sending more once we know how we can best help.

Clean up and Construction Work Teams
The Caribbean Committee, along with the brethren serving in Haiti, is developing a plan for cleanup and recovery efforts, which will likely include work teams from the States. As plans are developed they will be communicated via the WR website.  A schedule of work teams will be posted along with a listing of skills required and registration will be coordinated on the website. We will send out email updates regarding future work teams as decisions are made.  To keep informed, please sign up for these updates.  Click here.

Medical Work Teams
If you are interested in joining a future medical work team to Haiti, we would like the following information:

  • Name
  • When you are available.
  • How much time you can commit.
  • Your profession and/or skills.
  • Address, phone and email you can be reached at.
  • Which airport you normally fly out of with 2 alternatives.

Please address all correspondence to:

Keith Knepp
kknepp@mchsi.com
Phone: 309-467-3468

A most urgent need
As we have witnessed the devastating impact this earthquake has had on the people of Haiti, we are committed to helping in every way we can. Food and water are essential, as this trauma has disrupted transportation and destroyed the occupations of so many. Medical supplies are urgently needed for trauma victims. Thousands of Haitians are living with their only possessions being the clothes they are wearing. Food, medical supplies and clothing are the most urgent needs.

We will be sending food, medical supplies and clothes for at least the next 6-10 months. Sorting of the clothes and shoes into groups of boys, girls, men and women's would be very helpful. Shoes and under garments are also needed and they should be sorted as well. The clothing and bedding should be for a warm climate.

Label all boxes with the contents. Also, please have like items in a box so the distribution in Haiti is easier. Supplies are most helpful if they are appropriate items, organized and sent through legitimate channels.

Medical Supplies
The need is for supplies to use for trauma victims. Listed below are the items that were requested:

  • Gauze 4 x 4
  • IV supplies
  • Elastic/ace bandages - 4", 6", 8"
  • Kirlex
  • Clean bandages
  • Betadine
  • Plaster bandages for casts
  • Sheet cotton for putting under plaster casts sheets
  • Analgesic injectables - ketamine?
  • Antibiotic injectables
  • IV antibiotics
  • Oral antibiotics.
  • Pain medicines
  • Gloves, sterile and non-sterile

Click to enlargeMedications cannot be outdated and should have at least 6 months before expiration.  Other supplies can be close to expiration.  Please pack like items together.  For example, all dressings in one box and IV supplies in another box.  Label clearly on the outside of the box the items and the number.

If you have supplies to donate, please get them to Goodfield Distribution Center or Bluffton Distribution Center. You may also UPS items to Bob Honegger in Bluffton. His email is rahonegger@gmail.com.

Mailing address and contact informaton:
Bob Honegger
420 N Jefferson Street
Ossian, IN 46777
260-622-4708
rahonegger@gmail.com

Bluffton Distribution Center
1254 S Main St
Bluffton, IN 46714
260-824-5587
For map, click here.

Goodfield Distribution Center
12 Maple Drive
Goodfield, IL
309-965-2860
For map, click here.

For those in Central Illinois, contact your local WR representative to get the items to Goodfield. If you have any questions, please email Cheryl Herrmann at cherrmann@verizon.net or Bob Honegger at rahonegger@gmail.com.

 

  

Medical Supply Coordinator
This new position will help coordinate the medical supply needs in Haiti.  When our medical teams go to Haiti they need specific medicines and supplies to do their work.  The teams will hand carry in the smaller items, but other things will be shipped down in the sea containers that are going to Haiti.  A medical supply needs list from Haiti will be updated on a regular basis and the medical supply coordinator will purchase medical supplies for the medical work teams using ACWR Haiti Disaster Funds.

The Medical Supply Coordinator position has been filled by Bro. Bob Beebe. He would like anybody interested in helping to contact him.

Bob Beebe
65220 Miami Hwy
Bremen, IN 46506
574-276-6748  Cell
robert.beebe1@gmail.com

 

 

Opportunity to Give

Every church will be taking a special Disaster Fund collection for the Haiti Earthquake. The Disaster Fund is used to help relieve hunger and suffering in domestic and international disaster areas. Although grants are usually made three times a year when the World Relief Board meets to consider requests for aid, a disaster of this proportion can’t wait for the next meeting. The World Relief Disaster Program is open to receive donations from those who wish to contribute to relief efforts in Haiti.

Contributions
Donations for relief can be sent through local Apostolic Christian churches or to the national World Relief Treasurer.  Checks should be made out to ACWR and designated “Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief.”
 

Send to:

Nile Bucher
World Relief Treasurer
711 Elm Drive
Bluffton, IN 46714
(260) 824-0780 Home
(260) 820-0825 Cell
nbucher@adamswells.com

 

Contribute Online
Donations can also be made online.  Click here.
Designate “Disaster Funds” in the drop down box.

Email Updates
For email updates on Haiti relief efforts, click here or select “Join WR email list” from the main website menu and enter your email address.

Click to enlarge. Thank you for helping the people of Haiti.A committee of brothers from the US in conjunction with our brethren serving in Haiti will oversee and administer the funds. Plans are being developed for the best possible use of the funds. We ask that you continue to pray for the hurting in Haiti, and that the name of Jesus Christ can be glorified through this work.