Haiti Hurricane Relief Appeal
September 11, 2008

by Margaret Trost		print version
		print version (graphics)

Dear Friends of the What If? Foundation,

Aerial photo flood devastation in Gonaives, AP Photo

Many of you have emailed wondering how our friends in Haiti are doing after being hit by Hurricane Gustav, Tropical Storm Hanna, and Hurricane Ike, all in the last three weeks. Thankfully, the community we serve in Port-au-Prince has not experienced the devastating flooding that has been described as catastrophic in many other parts of Haiti, but the situation is still very serious. There are millions of people suffering throughout the country. Dr. Paul Farmer of Partners In Health has written, "I have never seen anything as painful."  

I spoke with Fr. Jean-Juste, the priest of St. Clare's Church, where the food program we support takes place, on the phone today and he described the situation in this way:  

"This is indeed a nightmare. I thank God for allowing me to be present with a suffering nation. At another food program some 8 miles south of our food program, a security guard shot at the crowd who were desperate for a meal. An unconfirmed report said three hungry people died, 12 were wounded. Some small children were crushed within a crowd of starving young men, women and elderly people. The luckiest and very little babies hold onto their mothers or big sisters in the hope of some food.   The Center is closed now. This has brought more people to our food program, which is overflowing with hungry children and their parents. I keep repeating to all: serve with love, no violence, use our heart. We're doing everything we can to feed as many people as possible. The children continue to be fed first, but there are so many, there has been no food left over for the adults. Yesterday, some children had to return home without food because we ran out. Our reserve rice and beans are gone."

The What If? Foundation, which is the only funding source for this meal program, has sent additional money to pay for more food to try to meet the growing need. If you are able to send a donation to help the food program at St. Clare's through this crisis, please do. Between the dramatic rise in food prices over the last year and now the devastating hurricanes, your support and prayers are needed more than ever.

With gratitude,
Margaret

Margaret Trost
President, What If? Foundation

HOW TO DONATE

Click HERE to donate online through our website. 

Or make checks out to What If? Foundation and mail to:

What If? Foundation
1563 Solano Ave., #192
Berkeley, CA  94707

Every amount makes a difference.  70 cents feeds one child a meal. 

Reprinted with the kind permission of Margaret Trost

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Quick Links For More Information

"I have never seen anything as painful": Paul Farmer writes from flood ravaged Haiti

The Haiti Justice Blog:  Hurricane Response- What Can We Do?

"Storm-Hit Haitians Starve on Rooftops"

The What If? Foundation

Providing Hope and Opportunity to Impoverished Children in Haiti

You can read more about Margaret's work with Fr. Jean-Juste in the What If? Foundation Archive at Satya Center.

To donate to the What If? Foundation, make checks out to the What If? Foundation and mail them to: 1563 Solano Ave., #192, Berkeley, CA  94707. Or go to the website to make a donation there.

Quick Links to What If? Foundation website

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Photos & Newsletters courtesy of Margaret Trost & the What If? Foundation.