WCN Employees Discuss Haiti, Seek DonationsIt has been almost two months since a 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on Jan. 12, 25 miles west of Port-au-Price, Haiti's capital.
However, it is still on the hearts and minds of three World Compassion Network employees to provide aid to the devastated country.Josh Grill, WCN missions coordinator; Joe Wilkey, WCN executive director; and Clark Shepherd, WCN disaster relief coordinator, previously traveled to Haiti in January and February to assist with Haiti's earthquake relief efforts.
They are currently seeking the community's support in raising additional funds to help pay for food needed for the Haitians.
WCN held a community fundraiser in February in Warsaw. About $10,425 was raised to provide meals for the victims of the earthquake.
The funds raised allowed Feed My Starving Children, a Minnesota relief effort organization, and WCN to partner together to provide 270,000 meals for those housed at an orphanage in Haiti.
Shepherd said Warsaw residents, local schools and businesses have been very supportive in raising funds to help provide meals for Haitians. However, work to assist the Haitians who lost homes and families is never done.
Packages of fortified rice, dehydrated vegetables and vitamins and minerals specifically designed for malnourished children were purchased through funds raised locally, Wilkey said.
Shepherd was the first of the three WCN employees to visit Haiti Jan. 17-22.
Shepherd laid down an infrastructure plan to deliver food from the Dominican Republic over to Haiti.
Wilkey said WCN's goal is to have a process to best meet the needs when a disaster strikes.
Shepherd said WCN purchased food from the Dominican Republic that was taken to the Haitians, and WCN distributed the food in Haiti.
While Shepherd was in Haiti he partnered with Feed The Hungry, a disaster relief organization in South Bend, to assist feeding Haitians.
Shepherd returned to Haiti with Grill Jan. 25-29 to deliver food, and returned for a third time Feb. 15-22.
Wilkey visited Haiti Feb. 19-22 and met Shepherd in Port-au-Prince to help with food delivery.
Grill, Wilkey and Shepherd bagged food such as rice, beans and sausage that was distributed to Haitian families. They also distributed water.
WCN has served more than 130,000 meals in Haiti since the beginning of January, Shepherd said. That does not include the 270,000 meals of fortified rice that were provided.
Shepherd said when he heard the Haitian people hadn't eaten in nine days, he could tell the desperation.
"We try to reach the unreached and to go into these areas where people have not seen relief," Shepherd said.
Shepherd said he recalls being in the back of a pickup truck in Haiti and seeing people sleeping on the streets because there was no where else to go. They either lost their home in the earthquake or didn't trust the home's structure.
At a Haiti food distribution center they were only able to give out 75 percent of food before people were climbing the wall and taking over the distribution center because they were desperate for food.
"They weren't trying to hurt us, but they saw the food for their starving children and they were five feet away from it," Shepherd said.
Shepherd said there is still a need for funds to be raised to help the Haitians and the desperation is still there.
"There is still someone praying for food and shelter and praying that their mom and dad is still alive," Shepherd said.
Shepherd encouraged the community to join with WCN to reach the unreached in Haiti.
"Funds that are donated are allowing us to go in and be the hands and feet of Christ," Shepherd said.
Grill said the suffering is everywhere in Haiti.
"What people saw going on a month ago in Haiti is still going on now," Grill said. "The needs are overwhelming and there are single moms who have no way of providing for their young children."
Grill said they were in the city of Port-au-Prince that looked like complete disaster and was disoriented and there was rubble.
"People of Haiti at some level had adjusted to the situation out of requirement, but it was a surreal feeling when we were there like we were in a war zone," Grill said.
Shepherd said he plans to return to Haiti in approximately three weeks pending financial donations.
WCN is seeking financial donations to continue its efforts in feeding Haitians. People can mail financial donations to World Compassion Network, P.O. Box 1152, Warsaw, IN 46581.
Tangible items needed include generators, tents and water-proof tarps.
To donate tangible items, call WCN at 574-267-5427. Visit the organization's Web site at www.w-c-n.org to see footage of the work that was done in Haiti.
