Local Residents Continue Relief Efforts In HaitiIt's been nearly four months since an earthquake ravaged one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere.
Conditions remain tenuous on good days and worse on bad days.
A Warsaw Community High School graduate has been front and center in trying to bring relief to his people and his church.
Pastor Yves Regaillard was recently back in Warsaw trying to raise money to rebuild his church in Petit Goave, Haiti, about two hours south of the Haitian Capital of Port Au Prince.
More than 26 years ago, barely out of high school, Regaillard built the church with support from Warsaw residents. Now after the earthquake, he's back at it."The church is the center of the city," said Regaillard in an interview last week. "It's a gathering place where all people, of all religions, can go."
The church also housed a 12-room school.
"In 35 seconds we lost everything," said Regaillard.
Regaillard first came to the United States as a teenager through Touch Of Life Church in Warsaw.
He is a 1982 WCHS graduate with many ties still to the community.
Along with World Compassion Network's disaster relief coordinator, Clark Shepherd, Regaillard is looking for some assistance.
WCN, along with Winona Lake Grace Brethren Church, has come up with funds to provide much-needed food, water and supplies to people in Haiti.
The groups have sent and will soon send again thousands of pounds of food as well as water and fuel.
In June, another container of supplies will be sent from Warsaw. That container will also include tents and generators.
Shepherd said he hopes that local schools can get kids to donate backpacks at the end of the school year so they can be sent to kids in Haiti.
"They're slowly starting to re-open schools but they have nowhere to teach, and teachers aren't being paid," said Regaillard.
He painted a bleak picture of how most people, whose living conditions weren't ideal before, are living now.
"You arrive to Haiti and you drive away from the airport," said Regaillard. "And along the roads you will see all these tents where families are living in. The sight is not a good scene."
Regaillard also said that it's heartbreaking to see the high number of amputees in his country.
"It hurts to talk about," said Regaillard
And when Regaillard talks about tents, they are not camping tents. For the most part, they are cloth and blankets strewn together.
Shepherd said he's hoping that when they send supplies in June they can send big, durable tents for families to stay in.
"One hundred dollars purchases a tent that can provide a family of five to live in," said Shepherd.
Shepherd said it was important for Regaillard to be in town to share his story with a community he still considers a home away from home.
"He can say you were with me 26 years ago," said Shepherd. "And I need you here again."
To donate or get more information, visit w-c-n.org or mail checks to P.O. Box 1152, Warsaw, IN 46581; by phone 574-267-5427 or 574-527-0103.
Checks should have Haiti in the memo line.
World Compassion Network's office is located inside Silveus Insurance at 1021 Mariner Drive, Warsaw, near North Pointe Cinemas.
