On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake, centered just 10 miles from Port-au-prince, crippled Haiti. This is the strongest earthquake to hit the area in over 200 years. Communication and infrastructure networks have been severely disrupted but the widespread devastation of this disaster is being revealed by the hour. Mayor René Varela and the Lake Worth City Commission last night met with many Haitian community leaders to devise a community based approach to bring relief to its sister city, St. Marc. Many in attendance stated that their desire is to ensure that a solid plan is formed so that the relief supplies and resources go directly to Haitian people with the highest need. For this reason, a consensus was reached to establish a list a recommended non-perishable goods for donation (below), multiple drop-off locations for supplies within the city, a list of volunteers, and a resident committee named Lake Worth Haitian Relief. This new committee, led by Dr. Aurora Francois the principal of Barton Elementary School, will develop a plan for coordinating middle and long-term post-earthquake relief efforts on behalf of the residents of Lake Worth. Dr. Francois can be contacted at 561-540-9101 or francoa@palmbeach.k12.fl.us. In the immediate term, the Mayor recommends that residents make monetary donations to the following organizations: The Red Cross (text "HAITI" to "90999" and $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross, charged to your cell phone bill) or (http://www.redcross.org/), Helping Hands Mission, Inc. which is based in Lake Worth (561-433-8123, 561-502-4775), or Doctors Without Borders (http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/), all of which have relief personnel on the ground in Haiti and need financial contributions to reinforce their efforts. Additionally, the city and community have established thirteen drop-off locations for nonperishable goods (below). The continued generosity of the people of Lake Worth will be the life changing difference that will bring hope to Lake Worth’s friends in Haiti.
Recommended Supply Donations & Drop Off Locations | ||
| FOOD & SUPPLIES Cereal Pop Tarts Sardines Can Goods Carnation Mild Powered Milk Diapers Wet Naps Tents Sleeping Bags Flash Lights & Batteries Candles, Matches Clothing Plastic Flatware Powdered Drinks Construction Gloves Construction Rags Umbrellas | MEDICAL SUPPLIES Band Aids Gauze Pads Medical Tape Hydrogen Peroxide Pads Alcohol Pads Antibacterial Ointment Toilet Paper Latex Gloves Tampons Sanitary Napkins Aspirin Surgical Mask Asthma Inhaler | Recommended Drop-off LocationsP. Agneau Georges (561-424-6102) Pastor Leonce Estimable (561-201-3470) Barton Elementary School, 1700 Barton Road (561-540-9101) |
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