By now you are well aware of Hurricane Matthew, a storm that left destruction from the Caribbean to the United States. Hardest hit was Haiti, the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
From the Food for the Poor website:
According to Reuters the death toll in Haiti has risen to over 1,000, with Haitians burying some of its dead in mass graves. Haitian officials are estimating that at least 350,000 people need assistance, with 28,000 homes damaged.
This loss of life and property is a tremendous tragedy, and the starvation to follow due to the loss of crops and the extreme shortage of food could prolong this tragedy dramatically, particularly for the children.
I’ve written about Haiti before and how it has been rebuilding itself after past earthquake destruction through its talented artisans. I’ve featured Heart of Haiti on this blog and featured the Artisan Business Network (ABN) in my book, Simple Giving: Easy Ways to Give Every Day.
Today I wanted to share with you some ways in which you can help Haiti. My friend Nat, director of the ABN, suggested three organizations that are doing critical work on the ground in Haiti right now. She also shared with me how the ABN and HAND/EYE Fund are working together to help artisans get back on their feet. Please read more, click on the links and donate if you can.
Sow a Seed
Sow a Seed’s mission is to bring hope, reduce hardship and promote sustainable change in the lives of impoverished children, placing a special focus on orphans in the Caribbean. The organization provides assistance to a network of over 150 orphanages, schools and hospitals in Haiti. The most urgent and efficient way for you to help right now is by donating funds, allowing them to directly make an impact to those affected by Hurricane Matthew. You can donate here and follow updates here.
Food for the Poor
Food for the Poor provides food, housing, emergency relief and much more to the “poorest of the poor” in the Caribbean and Latin America. The organization is asking for donations to help them purchase, ship and deliver emergency supplies to help those areas in desperate need. You can donate here.
Project St. Anne
Project St. Anne has a mission of feeding the less fortunate, serving them with dignity, and providing them the opportunity to experience what so many of us are fortunate enough to experience when we sit to share a meal. The organization is currently sponsoring 140 kids in their education program based in Camp-Perrin, an area that was severely devastated. It is estimated that 95% of homes, schools, hospitals, religious establishments, offices and more have been damaged and are, for the most part, unrepairable. You can read more and donate here or contribute to the GoFundMe campaign.
HAND/EYE Fund
The ABN has partnered with the HAND/EYE Fund to offer emergency and long-term support to Haitian artisans affected by Hurricane Matthew. The two organizations will be providing emergency relief packages with daily essentials, including clean water. They will also look at longer term needs like housing, tuition for children and ongoing food security. These funds will help artisans living from order to order get their businesses back on their feet so that their families and communities can keep working. You can read more and donate here.
