Orcas Island Community Church: Help for Haiti
A massive, 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti near the capital of Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, January 12th. The damage to buildings is extensive and the number of injured or dead is not yet calculated, but is catastrophic. Please pray for, and donate if possible to, relief efforts in Haiti.
Three Northwest-based organizations are involved now:
Northwest Medical Teams sent a very experienced team of six people to Haiti on Thursday. The team will be carrying medicines and orthopedic supplies – enough to help 12,000 people for a week. An orthopedic specialty team is scheduled to depart today. CNN has reported that the “Haiti earthquake could trigger possible medical ‘perfect storm.” Your continued prayers and financial support are essential as they strive to prevent a further catastrophe. Doug Boyden from Orcas Island Community Church serves on the Puget Sound leadership team of this organization.
Donations: Medical Teams International, PO Box 10, Portland, OR 97207
World Vision has been working in Haiti for more than 30 years and had 370 staff members in Port-au-Prince when the quake hit. Although World Vision’s office in the capital sustained significant damage, all staff were confirmed safe and are initiating a response to the devastation. Financial donations are urgently needed to continue and escalate this response. There are three ways you can help:
1) Please keep in prayer the children, families, and communities left devastated by this disaster in Haiti. Pray also for God’s protection and guidance upon those who are responding with emergency assistance.
2) Donate now to World Vision’s Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. Your gift will help our staff members rush emergency assistance to those in greatest need following the disaster — like food, clean water, blankets, tents, and more.
3) Sponsor a child in Haiti. Your love and support for a child in need will help provide basic essentials and help him or her be better equipped to cope with disasters like the recent earthquake.
Donations: World Vision Phone: (888) 511-6443 P.O. Box 9716 Federal Way, WA 98063-9716
On Thursday World Concern reported that 80 of the 112 staff in Haiti have been accounted for, yet the situation of our staff’s families are not known right now as they may be dealing with their own crisis as well. World Concern’s disaster response team is responding to the major earthquake in Haiti. Their primary office in Port Au Prince is still standing, but the building next to theirs has collapsed, as have many buildings in Port Au Prince. World Concern is already providing blankets, plastic sheeting and emergency supplies of water.
Donations: World Concern, 19303 Fremont Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98133. 1-800-755-5022 (8 a.m.-5 p.m. PST).
Orcas Island Community Church ~ 176 Madrona Street Eastsound, WA 98245 ~ 630-376-6422