Healing Hands for Haiti Update
February 16th 2010Here’s an update from Georgetown’s Healing Hands for Haiti:
It has been more than two weeks since the devastating magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti and damaged our medical, rehabilitation and prosthetic fabrication facilities in Port-au-Prince. We are very relieved to report that all of our 45 local staff have been accounted for, although many lost family members and most lost their homes. Healing Hands for Haiti International has established an emergency relief fund to support them. Unfortunately, it has been confirmed that 80 per cent of our facilities have been destroyed or damaged. Only the guesthouse, which needs structural repairs, remains as a hopeful starting point for a temporary headquarters. Our plans to build Haiti’s first Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Institute in line with national strategic priorities, have been accelerated.
The Handicap International emergency response team which includes members of Healing Hands for Haiti International and Team Canada Healing Hands, arrived within the first week and has since worked tirelessly assessing and treating victims at hospitals throughout the city, even transporting spinal cord injured to hospitals in the U.S. Several of our Haitian board members who are orthopaedic surgeons operate continuously from their hospitals. In the first two weeks after the earthquake more than 2000 amputations were performed in Port-au-Prince and many more are inevitable. Post-surgical care, rehabilitation and prosthetic fabricating and fitting for these victims are part of our mandate.
By the end of week two, we had landed a second group of 12 senior Healing Hands for Haiti medical volunteers in Port-au-Prince. They are part of a group of 130 medical and construction personnel with a plane load of equipment and supplies, organized and donated by the Salt Lake City Utah Hospital Task Force. A make-shift clinic with power and water was immediately set up on our property and opened to the public the next day; 175 patients were treated. Our team will continue to add medical staff from the Utah County Hospital group and expand services of this clinic as numbers are expected to grow daily and will include patients with many disabilities. The main Utah Hospital Task Force construction team will help clean up, ensure site safety and start guesthouse and perimeter wall repairs.
Our organization is integrating with a larger consortium including Handicap International to help provide acute rehabilitation facilities and services at the major hospital initiative near the airport. A number of Healing Hands for Haiti physical therapists and prosthetists will be temporarily hired by Handicap International for this purpose. This will provide part of our staff and families with immediate security. Healing Hands for Haiti will be joining a collaborative group to include Physicians for Peace, Handicap International, US–ISPO, Medishare and others to address the rehabilitation and prosthetic/orthotic needs of the Haitian disabled population including coordination of human resources, equipment and materials from outside the country to equip physical therapy and prosthetic fabrication facilities.
Healing Hands for Haiti was launched 10 years ago to deliver physical medicine and rehabilitation services to Haitians with disabilities. The scope of our mandate is one of the widest in public health because there are so many forms of mental and physical disability. Prior to the earthquake, January 12, there were more than 800,000 adults and children living with a wide variety of disabilities in Haiti, according to Pan Pan American Health Organization. That’s a very high seven or eight per cent of the population. The next day the number was much greater and in the weeks and months to come it will grow substantially, and so will the need for our services.
Cranberry Resort’s Fundraising Event for Haiti
February 11th 2010Here’s more news about efforts to benefit Haiti, this time from Collingwood:
On Saturday, Feb. 6, 2010, Cranberry Resort opened their doors to help World Vision and Salvation Army with their quests to help the thousands of the misfortunate from the country of Haiti.
With only a few days, preparation (originally a dance was planned for Valentine’s Day, but the Government matching program ends on February 12, 2010), staff and volunteers from Cranberry Resort were able to organize 10 bands to play during the evening and many fabulous silent and live auction gifts.
“We’d like to thank Nancy Ludlow (sketch portrait), Chef Ron Lumsden from Black Opal Catering (Chef for a Day), 4 men 4 Hire (McIntyre Brothers, Gas King and CMC Contracting), and Interval International (1 week world wide), for their generous donations to our live auction,” stated Susan McIntyre, director of sales. “Also to all the companies in the Georgian Triangle who helped support our fundraiser with a donation for our Silent Auction.”
Through the generosity of the community Cranberry Resort was able to raise over $5800.00! Owner of Cranberry Resort, Larry Law, has agreed to match this figure, which will bring the total to $11,600.00. With government matching funds, a grand total of $23,200.00 will be split between World Vision and Salvation Army.
“I am so pleased that Cranberry Resort is able to help the people of Haiti. We here at Cranberry support many worthwhile causes locally, and it was wonderful to see everyone come together so quickly to put this fundraiser together. I am very proud to be able to match the monies raised from Saturday’s event,” states Law.
Swim Meet for Haiti this weekend with local Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club
January 28th 2010Here’s another Escarpment-area group that is raising funds to help Haiti:
Golden Horseshoe Aquatic Club has more than 200 young people in their swim club who practise at swimming pools around the city of Hamilton. Head Coach Grey Fairley and his coaches have put together a last-minute fundraiser to help the people of Haiti. This recreational swim meet will be held for anyone in the club, their families and friends. The children are very excited about being able to help Haiti while doing something they love. There could be 200 or more people swimming and each swimmer will donate a minimum of $10 to the St. Joseph’s Hospital Health System Haiti Relief Fund. The viewing area at the McMaster Pool is open to the public.
Date: Sunday, Jan. 31
Location: McMaster University Swimming, Ivor Wynne Centre
Time: 12 pm to 2 pm
What are the kids that you know doing for Haiti?
Georgetown Choral Society Sings for Haiti in New York
January 22nd 2010
Georgetown Choral Society (GCS) participated in a combined mass performance at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center, New York City, on January 18. Some of the night’s proceeds are going to relief efforts in Haiti. Here are more details about this exciting concert and great honour for the GCS, sent to us by Iris Derke, General Director, Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) of New York City.
On January 18, the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra International and Distinguished Concerts Singers International, comprised of more than 400 auditioned chorus members from across North America, including the Georgetown Choral Society (A. Dale Wood, director), presented the Inaugural concert of DCINY’s 2010 Season at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, home of the New York Philharmonic. Featured soloists included Erica Powell, Cherry Duke, Adam Russell, Mark Watson and Geraint Llyr Owen.
Under the baton of DCINY principal conductor Jonathan Griffith, the Distinguished Singers/Orchestra International performed two pieces by world-renowned living composer Karl Jenkins, in a celebration of peace commemorating the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Both pieces, Requiem and The Armed Man, were set with film accompaniment, and were dedicated to the victims of the crisis in Haiti, with a portion of the night’s proceeds being donated to the relief efforts.
The audience enjoyed the opportunity to reflect on Dr. King’s vision of peace, and what we all must do to help others in their time of need. The performance was memorable for audience members and performers alike, and the occasion was more than well celebrated with a standing and enthusiastic ovation at the end of each work.
DCINY would like to congratulate the Georgetown Choral Society and looks forward to inviting them to participate in future concerts on the DCINY Concert Series.
This must have been a spectacular performance and is sure to be a lifelong memory for everyone who took part. Now GCS singers can answer the question “How do you get to the Lincoln Center in New York?” by saying “Get invited.”
Habitat for Humanity Halton Supports Haiti Relief Efforts
January 20th 2010We’re happy to pass on this news about Habitat for Humanity Halton (HFHH) and their work in Haiti. They want to emphasize that donations from individuals until February 12 will be matched by the Canadian Government.
HFHH will provide support to the disaster response efforts of Habitat for Humanity International to help low-income Haitian earthquake victims with immediate and long-term shelter solutions. Donations to the Habitat fund from individual Canadians will be matched by the Canadian government up to February 12.
“Habitat for Humanity will mobilize all available resources to address shelter solutions for low-income families affected by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti,” said Torre Nelson, area vice president of Habitat for Humanity International’s Latin America and Caribbean office.
Habitat’s early response to the earthquake is threefold, with the extent of the interventions depending on the amount of support that they are able to mobilize:
1) Cleanup: This involves mobilizing people to clear the way for shelter construction and home rehabilitation;
2) Shelter Kits: Habitat will distribute building materials and tools in shelter kits; and,
3) Transitional Shelter: Transitional housing can be built quickly and provide permanent base structures that can be expanded over time. These shelters will include the provision of water and sanitation, and will include hurricane- and earthquake-resistant features.
Consistent with the Habitat capacity-building approach of giving a “hand-up, not a hand out,” Habitat International’s approach will engage local residents in the rebuilding process.
“I feel privileged to have joined an organization that focuses on helping the 6.5% of Halton residents who live in poverty, while also helping our community respond to the gut-wrenching need that we all feel to help Haiti at this time of trauma,” said Anne Swarbrick, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Halton.
Habitat for Humanity has been at work in Haiti for 26 years and will use its local expertise and mobilize resources as part of the rebuilding efforts. Habitat has provided more than 2,000 Haitian families with housing solutions through a variety of initiatives including new home construction, developing local construction skills, and disaster mitigation. Habitat works in coordination with community and government agencies.
To make a donation that will be matched by the Canadian government up to February 12, or to get more information about the work being done by Habitat for Humanity in Haiti, visit www.habitathalton.ca – or visit ReStore at 1800 Appleby Line, Burlington.
About Habitat for Humanity Halton
Habitat for Humanity Halton is a community-based, non-profit organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Founded in 1999, it is a member of Habitat for Humanity Canada, and part of a worldwide network that spans 100 countries. With 10 homes completed and three more currently underway, Habitat Halton provides low income families with a hand up to home ownership to break the cycle of poverty.
For more information, visit: www.habitathalton.ca
About Habitat for Humanity Canada
Habitat for Humanity Canada is a national, non-profit, faith-based organization working for a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live. Their mission is to mobilize volunteers and community partners in building affordable housing and promoting homeownership as a means to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Habitat for Humanity Canada was founded in 1985, consists of over 50,000 volunteers and 72 affiliate organizations from coast to coast, and is a member of Habitat for Humanity International, which spans 93 countries and has built over 350,000 homes worldwide, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1.75 million people.
About Habitat for Humanity’s Disaster Response
Habitat’s Disaster Response focuses on the housing needs that arise from natural disasters and humanitarian emergency conflicts. Habitat offers expertise in technical information; program design and implementation; and disaster response policies, protocols and procedures. They also provide support and informational resources for disaster mitigation and preparedness; helping communities in disaster-prone areas protect themselves against future threats.
How to Help Haiti After the Earthquake
January 13th 2010There’s a Niagara Escarpment community connection to Haiti. Georgetown is the location of the Canadian offices of Healing Hands for Haiti International Foundation Inc., which provides physical medicine and rehabilitation programs to Haitians with disabilities.
Eric Doubt of Georgetown is the executive director. Marnie Hughes of Georgetown shares this information: “Last November I had the privilege of being project coordinator for the International Conference of Healing Hands for Haiti in Toronto. I was fortunate to meet many individuals from Haiti, Canada and the U.S. who have dedicated the past 10 years to providing rehabilitative medicine and education to the disabled of Haiti. After yesterday’s devastating earthquake, what is left of their facility will be put to use helping, where possible, even more vulnerable Haitians. It would mean a great deal if you would consider directing your help to http://www.healinghandsforhaiti.org/. Thank you very much for considering this.”