Why donate your time and/or money to Haiti?

Items that you throw away can be used. Blankets that have a huge rip down, multiple small tears, stained, wash them and donate. Families of all sizes are at the point where they have nothing to cover themselves with, clothes they have been wearing since January all stained and soiled.

I am going to be collecting items that my coworkers can help deliver to the people on their mission to Haiti. We (AGH SEIU) would like to collect items such as old or new, tents, sheets, blankets, sleeping bags, coats, jackets, socks, underwear, shoes, tshirts, tank tops, sweat shirts, sweatpants, jeans, shorts, soap, toiletries, food, formula, pedialyte, diapers, wipes, towels, feminine products, bags, eye glasses (perscription/non) and of course first aid kits.

Of those people who are fortunate to donate money and or medical supplies we will absolutely accept! Money donations will go to the supplies listed (most likely collected from thrift/second hand shops/stores due to ability to purchase more) and to purchase medical supplies such as (and if available) tube feedings (ensure), pads/chucks, IV tubing, IV solutions, creams, meds, gauze, ace bandages, blood pressure machines, thermometers, alcohol swabs, flushes,- just to name a few.

Everyday at work just by looking at nonspecific supplies it reminds me of those in Haiti. It seems so insignificant to us in the U.S. to throw away extra alcohol swabs, tubing from IVs, IV solutions, and tube feedings and what an impact it would make in Haiti at this time. I know Project Medishare has a lot of supplies and great people who donate but they need more.

Hopefully the volunteers can help to try to get the supplies out to the people of the city. As we collect supplies here and create the travel/donate bags we will be striving to get the supplies to where they are truly needed.

If you have seen from my prior posts of pictures, people are sleeping on cardboard boxes, their homes are made out of a torn sheet, they are filling up buckets for water, and are walking barefoot. Do your part- can’t go to Haiti? No problem, donate your time. Communicate with your friends and neighbors about collecting supplies and money, contact me to find out where you can bring the donations, I will even meet you to get them. Let’s send our volunteers off with supplies for the people (and themselves) so they can fulfull their mission and be successful. As the phrase seems to have stuck in the U.S. (“YES WE CAN”) applies in this situation; Yes, we can make a difference and it starts with you.