AFYA in Haiti
AFYA is a local non-profit organization that collects health care supplies from medical facilities and distributes them to hospitals and clinics in impoverished areas in Africa and the Caribbean. AFYA works with Partners In Health and similar agencies to bring modern health care to third world communities. They have experience dealing with many of the problems that exist in getting these supplies to areas such as Haiti, which is a huge part of the battle.
AFYA has been working around the clock to collect medical supplies and they have now also broadened their collections to include essential non-medical supplies. They are collecting the following items (in clean and good condition please): Clothing - adult and children sizes, Closed toe shoes - adult and children sizes, Sheets,
Blankets, Sleeping Bags, Towels, Bottled Water, Small water buckets and water bottles, "Ensure" or any liquid food supplement and baby formula, Personal care items -- soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, feminine hygiene items, diapers, hand sanitizer, etc., Equipment for rubble removal (wheelbarrows, shovels, etc.)
You can deliver to AFYA Foundation directly: 510 Nepperhan Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10701, 914-338-7034 or, if Yonkers is out of your range, a woman in Pound Ridge is collecting for delivery to AFYA for Northern Westchester-ites. Ask for Kathy at 914.764.0109 to organize a delivery to Pound Ridge.
If you can`t find anything in your closets, monetary donations of any size are beyond helpful as they have to pay to ship these items and get the supplies down to Haiti -- donate here. And if you want to help even more, they`d love your time. They welcome anyone (including families) to come to the warehouse to help them sort donations, package their shipments, etc.
Anything you can offer, please do. Visit www.afyafoundation.org for more information.
From Senator Vincent L. Leibell
As you may know, earlier this week a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti and its capital, Port-au-Prince. The death and devastation are unimaginable, and the people of Haiti will need the assistance of people all over the world, including Americans, to recover from this tragedy.
A number of aid efforts are now underway for those who wish to provide help and support. In order to ensure the prompt delivery of needed relief, I encourage local residents to consider contacting the American Red Cross, which is helping to lead the effort to meet immediate needs for food, water, temporary shelter and medical services. To make a donation on-line, please visit their website at american.redcross.org.
For those who wish to donate by text message, simply text: "HAITI" to "90999" and a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts. The donation will appear on your cell phone bill.
New Yorkers have a long and proud tradition of providing aid and relief to those in need, and communities across our state are now pulling together to lend a helping hand during this time of great need. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti in the wake of this devastating tragedy.
Sincerely,
Senator Vincent L. Leibell
Share Joy Foundation
Dear Friends,
As the sad news continues to pour in from Haiti, it is heart warming to see the global effort that has been set in motion. Even in our small but generous town, the emails and the phone calls that have come into Share Joy International asking if people could help has been a great encouragement.
Many have asked about our dear friend, Bonite Affriany. (For those of you who may not know her, she has a mission in Jacmel, Haiti that feeds 225 children daily and is a tremendous support in many ways to the town of Jacmel. In the past you have donated cars, clothing, food, Christmas toys for the children and more to help her efforts in Haiti). Bonite is here in Brooklyn where she was asked to come and speak about a week ago and stayed on b/c of appointments that she was taking care of. However we have learned that Jacmel, Haiti was devasted by the earthquake. The one hospital was destroyed and buildings that have been in Jacmel since Bonite was a young girl were all destroyed. At this time we do not know if the mission is still standing. Thus far she has only been able to speak to two people and her daughter, Myrlande who also has been able to speak to another few as well. They have learned of some good friends that have been killed. Some of the homes that the mission, Christ Love Center, has helped build have been destroyed as well. Many are homeless and living in the streets with no food or water.
We have another friend that has a mission in Port-au-Prince. She was actually on the phone with someone when the earthquake hit. She screamed and the call was then disconnected. No one has heard from her or her mission. You can only imagine these two missions that feed hundreds per day are not in operation right now. This devastated country that has so much poverty now has people with no place to live and no visible means of support.
Below are some of the ways that we as a community can help:
What can we do as a community? The most immediate help is monetary, medical and food. Myrlande, through her organization called Angel Wings International, can accept on line donations that will be used 100% in this relief effort. You can donate by logging onto http://www.angelwingsinternational.org/main.html and click on Donate Now. Your donation should go to Angel Wings International/CLC, (Christ Love Center). This is done via PayPal. Any donations sent directly to Share Joy International, should be marked "Relief Effort for Haiti" or "Earthquake Relief". All donations will go 100% to Haiti.
Should you like to donate food you can do so by logging onto www.unitransfer.com. When you go on the website you need to register, (it`s located on the upper right hand corner). Just fill in the information requested. Once you`ve done that, you can proceed to make a purchase:
Click on New Transfer. Fill out the Beneficiary information which as follows:
Beneficiary: Bonite Affriany, Christ Hope Center No. 6 Impasse Leroy, Cyr Enface Kindergarten l`espace vert, JACMEL, Phone: 509-370-3783
Where it says Products, go into food items and goods. Then click items, it will give you a list of items. The items are written in creole...riz (rice), HUILE (cooking oil), pois (beans), Add the quantity. They will ask you for a credit card. Once you place the order, they will contact you to verify the information.
You can also order milk, codfish, sugar, and more. Should you decide to order food, please notify Share Joy International so that we can keep a list for Haiti letting them know what food has been donated. This food will be delivered as soon as they resume deliveries. Food and water are vital.
As to medical support, Angel Wings International, AWI, is mobilizing doctors and nurses who hope to fly there within a few days along with medical equipment. Any donations to AWI will help with medical relief as well.
Bonite is scheduled to return this coming Friday. Should the flight take off as scheduled, she needs to make sure she will be able to find transportation from Port-au-Prince to Jacmel. Share Joy International has been in constant contact with her and others in response to this disaster. We will see if our physical help is needed. We will keep everyone posted as this situation develops. We will also organize clothing/shoes/any type of building relief that we can to help in the rebuilding as soon as we know that we are able to begin to send these items. Right now we are responding to the most immediate needs. However you can only imagine that everything will be needed.
Again, with any questions, please never hesitate to contact us. Thank you so very much for all the calls, emails, and prayers. God bless you all!
Many blessings,
Isabel & Jonathan Chase, 58 Crescent Drive, Ridgefield, CT 06877, 203.431.8531, sharejoyinternational@earthlink.net