Haiti Earthquake Blog

We are currently working with an organization called Choose Life Children's Organization in Haiti directed by Robert and Melissa Dietrich. Melissa and her family are from Haiti and are currently on the ground developing plans to help their country.

Currently, the Dietrich's are in the process of trying to collect 1300 tons of medical supplies, food supplies, building supplies etc. for transport to Les Cayes, Haiti. Once the supplies arrive in Haiti they will be delivered to/picked up by local non-profit ministries and organizations from all around Haiti. From the time the boat leaves its current port in Miami, Florida it will only take three to four days for the supplies to be in the hands of the people that need them most.

Arrangements are already made for smaller boats to meet the ship just off the coast. Those small boats will take the supplies to trucks already poised to take the supplies through the country. This process is similar to how they get concrete from ships to shore during delivery. It is well tested and very reliable.

We have already sent five full tractor trailers full of medical supplies, food and 1500 necessity back packs for children. That is approximately 90,000 lbs. We have also been able to connect a ministry in Baltimore with Choose Life that was looking for someone to take thousands of dollars of building supplies to an orphanage as well as a church that donated thousands of pounds of medical supplies to be delivered to 12 doctors on the ground in urgent need of the supplies. What has been such a blessing for us and the Haitians is that this ship will be taking the supplies to Haiti at no cost to us. Had it not been for this ministry our shipping cost would have been tens of thousands of dollars, an amount we would not have been able to raise keeping needed aid from Haiti.

God has blessed...
• He gave us the 10's of thousands of dollars in SUPPLIES for free.
• He gave us thousands of dollars in TRACTOR TRAILER TRANSPORTATION from Philadelphia to Miami for free.
• He gave us 10's of thousands of dollars of CARGO SHIP TRANSPORTATION from Miami, Florida to Haiti for free.
• And He connected our 1500 Back Packs with an orphanage that has 1500 children. Praise God!

I am writing to you to see if you can help us with the expenses associated with keeping this ship at sea. Robert shared with me that it cost $85,000 to make one trip from Miami to Haiti with 1300 tons of donated supplies. Any help would be greatly appreciated but time has cost life's. The sooner we get to $85,000 the more life's will be saved. Thank you for your prayerful consideration of this matter.

And while you are praying please pray that the Lord will lead as we try to connect a ministry that has 50 tons of supplies with Robert for transportation of the items to Haiti.

I heard of story today about an orphanage that had 1000 children in it when the earthquake struck. All but ONE child died. The dead were never retrieved from the rubble. They and the destroyed building were simply pushed to the side of the road by a bull dozer. They need help. Please help us help them.

Last Monday morning at 9 am I received a phone call from the Director of Missions International of America. They have multiply schools and an orphanage 100 miles north of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. She shared with me that while their school and students were unharmed they and their community had been cut off from supplies and were in need of food. She shared with me that they had a plane in Montego Bay, Jamaica with a doctor on board headed for Haiti. She also shared that they have room on the plane for 1000 lbs. of supplies to make bread-could we help in getting those supplies. Within the hour we were in contact with a bakery in Montego Bay that would provide the supplies we were in need of. By 4:30 that same afternoon the supplies were at the school in Haiti.

Since this last Monday the situation has worsened. Not only are the schools and surrounding community in need of more food but a refugee camp has been set-up just down the road. As of today the camp was housing 1200 people. The one doctor on site has been doing 15 amputations an hour. And everyday 5 buses bring more refugees to this camp.

The doctor on site has made the following request. We were wondering if you would be able to help us in some way.
While food needs are huge, the doctor felt the following list is most important.

• Orthopedic Surgeons
• Good Topical Antibiotic Ointment
• Cleocin Lotion
• Silvadene for Burns
• Dressing
• Roller Gauze
• Telfa
• Adaptic
• Disposable Scalpels
• All Types of Absorbable and Non Absorbable Suture
• Paper Tape
• Cloth Tape
• Injectable Antibiotics
• Tons of IV Solutions
• Spikes
• Syringes with Needles for IM and Admixture
• Dilutent
• Penrose Drains
• I can´t help with surgical items, if someone is trying to help. Tell them that I have nothing and am starting over, I don´t have drapes for the surgical table (a door on blocks) so think from the bottom up and get us surgical suites
• Casting Supplies
• Plaster
• Padding Under Padding
• Cast Saws
• Digital Thermometers
• General Meds in Bulk-IM, IV and Oral and Peds Antibiotics
• PAIN Relief-Ultram, Narcotics, Tylenol
• Betadine
• Hibiclens-the powder that makes water sterilizing fluid
• Cydex
• Sterilizing Trays
• Sterilizers
• Bleach, Sheets, Mops, Mop Heads and Mop Buckets
• Plastic Glasses for Water
• Most of the people coming off the trucks have empty hands. Give me back packs full of beanie babies, matchbox cars, small balls, as the kids look really pretty toasted. Then put in rope and a small tarp, under wear for everyone (as no one ever donates that) and socks. Sun glasses, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste. We will be sending 1000 of these packs.
• Money for fuel for the airplane. Each run from Jamaica cost $2000 in fuel. They are leaving excess fuel in Haiti.
• Walkie Talkies - high quality, long distance, not cell-based.
• Portapottys and the equipment to drain them and the trucks to haul it
• Generators
• Tents
• Tarps and Rope
• Propane and a Large Grill
• Jerry cans for water and fuel.

Money for the Following

• Flour
• Brown Sugar
• Low Fat Dry Milk
• Peanut Butter
• Spaghetti
• Baking Powder
• Powdered Eggs
• Rice
• Beans
• Cooking Oil
• Tomato Products
• Canned Meat
• Protein
• Beef Sticks
• Cinnamon

Financial donations can be made at www.shorttermtrips.org. 100% of each donation will go to help in Haiti.

We have a minimum of 9 more flights going into Haiti. We can get supplies and doctors in and house them, we just need help purchasing the supplies or linking with people able to make donations.

Hello Again,

Yesterday I sent you an email passing on a request that was made to us by several organizations serving in Haiti for food and airplane fuel.

I have an update for you.

I received the phone call requesting 1000 lbs. of food at 9am yesterday morning. By 4:30pm that same day 1000 lbs. of food was delivered to the orphanage in Haiti. PRAISE THE LORD! In a day where every news cast was talking about the slow response of help for those in need we see our God work a miracle.

The situation is still desparate.
• 1000 lbs. of food will not last very long.
• A refugee camp is being established at the orphanage.
• Currently 200 injured Haitians are at this camp all waiting for doctors that can amputate the injured part of their bodies.

Your prayer and help is needed.
• Medical professionals are needed. We can get you there.
• Medical supplies are needed.
• Funds are needed for food, airplane fuel and supplies.

If you can help please make your check out to USCWM to Box 558, Southeastern, Pa. 19399 with Haiti marked in the memo section or go to www.shorttermtrips.org to donate with your credit card. All gifts are tax deductible and 100% of your gift (minus any typical credit card processing fees) will be sent to aid those in need in Haiti.

Thank you again for your prayers and help!
The Wrights

Hi Friends,
I want to pass on a request that came to us this morning from two different ministries in Haiti. Your prayer and financial help is needed.

The Director of a School and Orphanage in Haiti called looking for help with supplies. While their school has not suffered any significant loss of property or live as a result of the earthquake, they have been cut off from supplies. They have water for their month and a day bread maker but no ingredients. Usually, they provide food and water for their village but without these ingredients they can't.

As this email is being written a plane is sitting on the runway at the airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. It will be leaving for Haiti and the orphanage at 1:30 this afternoon with 1000 lbs. of flour, sugar, yeast, baking powder and rice that we have been able to acquire from a local bakery in Montego Bay.

Great Commission Air is the ministry providing the pilot and plane for this trip. In addition to transporting the supplies they will be taking a doctor connected with the orphanage into Haiti to help with the injured earthquake victims. They have shared that any help we can provide with fuel cost would be fantastic.
To help with the fuel shortage for planes in Haiti they will be siphoning any spare fuel from their plane to be used in other mercy flights.

This provision helps but more will be needed.

Any financial help you can give will make a hugh difference. $400 was able to cover the expense for the 1000 lbs. of food on the way.
You can send a check made out to USCWM to Box 558, Southeastern, Pa. 19399 with Haiti marked in the memo section or click this link to donate with your credit card. All gifts are tax deductible and 100% of your gift (minus any typical credit card processing fees) will be sent to aid those in need in Haiti.

Thank you again for your prayers and help!