For those who want to help in the relief efforts taking place in Haiti, there are local organizations with long-standing ties to the earthquake-ravaged country.
Full Life Crusades has been based out of Warsaw since 1989 and in operation for 40 years. Its president, Wes Smith, said the organization has done mission work with Haiti for years.
Full Life Crusades has a mission in Jeremie, Haiti, which is 150 miles west of Port-Au-Prince. Jeremie escaped damage.
Smith said Full Life's mission is unscathed, but the organization is working hard to deliver doctors, nurses and supplies to the area.Smith's friend, Lloyd Smoker, has a friend who runs a mission in Port-Au-Prince, and Full Life will work to provide assistance to Smoker's mission.
And the connections run deeper for Smith. He met his wife, Primrose, in college. She was from Haiti and together they started a family and did missions work.
Two of Smith's daughters, Heidi and April, are preparing to head down to Haiti. Both Heidi and April are registered nurses.
Heidi works for Dr. Daniel Loney's office in Warsaw. When she told her co-workers she felt like she'd have to go down to Haiti, the support poured in.
Thanks to Warsaw Family Medicine and Kosciusko Community Hospital, Heidi will be taking down enough medical supplies that it filled Wes's living room.
But they are still accepting donations of medical supplies, food, water, clothes, blankets baby formula and money.
Heidi will meet up in Miami with April, who is a nurse in Saratoga, N.Y. April also has solicited medical supplies and other items to bring to Haiti.
Local pilot Jon Fussle, who runs the Warsaw Flying Club, began loading up supplies and plans on flying them to Haiti soon.
The Smiths have a special connection with Haiti and the people of Haiti.
"They are so warm, very sweet and very kind," said Heidi of the Haitians.
Heidi said that Haitians are resilient, but right now they need as much help as they can get.
"They had nothing before this happened," said Heidi. "On average they make $2 a month. There is 80 percent unemployment."
Wes said they are still looking for other volunteers to either help drive or fly supplies down to the Miami area.
For more information on Full Life Crusades or to donate, visit flc7.com or call 574-267-7546.
Touch Of Life Church
Veronica and Ryan Helser are missions directors for Touch Of Life Church, located on Old 30 in Warsaw.
The Helsers, along with other members of Touch Of Life, have a deep connection with Haiti.
The church formed the Touch Of Life Christian Academy in Desarmes, Haiti. They go on annual missions trips and bring Haitians to the United States.
Veronica's grandfather, John Reid, had an orphanage in Haiti.
"When we were growing up we'd spend our summers and Christmases (in Haiti)," said Veronica.
Veronica's brother, Lenny Neff, who now lives in Warsaw, was born in Haiti and still has sisters there.
Frank Courtois, who was featured in Thursday's edition of the Times-Union, came to the United States because of Reid.
A pastor Touch of Life is working with in Haiti is Yves Regaillard.
Regaillard came to Warsaw on an educational visa and graduated from Warsaw Community High School in 1981. Veronica said Regaillard went back to Haiti to help with ministry.
The church also sponsors a group of children in Haiti.
"We absolutely love the Haitian people," said Veronica. "I don't know anybody who has had to deal with what they have and been so resilient."
Touch Of Life is offering two ways for people to help.
People can donate money by visiting www.touchoflifechurch.com
The Helsers said 100 percent of the money donated will go to people in Haiti.
Also, the church received a donated school bus, which will be used to load up medical supplies as well as food, clothing and even tools.
Veronica said there is no weight limit on the bus and that they would accept donations. Veronica said they were even looking for things like cement mixers to help with repairs.
As reported in the Times-Union Wednesday, Sacred Heart Church is also connected with Haiti through a school and sister parish. They are currently accepting donations at their church offices on Lindberg Street in Warsaw.
World Compassion Network is dispatching Clark Shepherd, the group's disaster relief coordinator, to Haiti through the Dominican Republic.
Shepherd will meet with a group form Feed The Hungry out of South Bend to distribute items such as food, water, blankets and other essentials.
WCN is accepting monetary donations to buy supplies. For more information or to donate, visit www.w-c-n.org or call 574-267-5427.
Shepherd is expected to return Jan. 23.
In Thursday's edition of the Times-Union, it was reported Silver Lake residents Jennifer and Dwight Shepherd were in Haiti.
They have been in contact with family and friends and are currently providing help to earthquake victims.
