Community Comes Together to Aid Haiti

Though Haiti is more than 1,000 miles away, the aftershocks of the devastating 7.0 earthquake on Jan. 12 has reached the Ramapo Indian Hills School District.

Dr. Pierre Barreau, a French teacher at both Ramapo and Indian Hills, has lost several members of his immediate family, including two brothers, a sister and a cousin. His extended family had lived a few miles outside of Port-au-Prince, where survivors had yet to receive food and water as of Tuesday, when Lynn Bruggemann, president of the Ramapo Association of Parents, Teachers and Students (APTS), spoke with Barreau.

Now, Bruggemann said, all of the clubs in the district's two high schools are working together to come up with ways to help Barreau and his family, both immediately and over the long term.

"Everyone is meeting and trying to decide what to do," Bruggemann said. Right now, there are collection jars in the main offices of both schools. The APTS and the Indian Hills Parent, Teacher, Student Organization also are planning to contribute. "We're waiting to hear. It's all in the planning stages."

Last night, a fundraiser had been planned at the Endless Vine in Franklin Lakes. Attendees were asked to donate cash or checks to be given directly to Barreau to aid his family.

Donations also can be sent directly to the schools. To help, send to Ramapo-Indian Hills Haitian Relief, c/o Ramapo High School, 331 George Street, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417; or c/o Indian Hills High School, 97 Yawpo Avenue, Oakland NJ 07436.

Information about future fundraisers will be posted on the school district Web site: www.rih.org.

"We want to empower the students to come up with ideas," Bruggemann said.

Theo's Work, ARC of Northern New Jersey

The death toll has been estimated to reach approximately 200,000 people. In response to the crisis, many local organizations also are working to raise money to bring supplies and other necessities to the country and to provide additional assistance to groups already established in the country.

"Right now the price of everything is skyrocketing: rice, fuel, medicine, everything," said Bill Haggerty, a member of the Ridgewood A.M. Rotary Club and board member of Theo's Work Inc. Theo's Work Inc. runs an orphanage which houses, feeds and educates about 600 students and employs 300 people in Les Cayes, Haiti, about 70 to 80 miles from Port-au-Prince, Haggerty said. Right now, he said, the whole town needs food and supplies.

The orphanage already has taken in a few children from Port-au-Prince but officials expect more in the coming weeks, Haggerty said.

Haggerty said he has traveled many times to volunteer in the country, which has long been plagued by a weak economy, an unstable government and most recently, a severe hurricane.

On a trip prior to the earthquake, he said he thought things seemed to be improving.

"Every time, they get one step forward, they get whacked two steps back. It's really brutal," said Haggerty, who is  scheduled to address the Wyckoff-Midland Park Rotary Club about the country at 8 a.m. Feb. 18 at the Brick House Restaurant in Wyckoff.

To donate to Theo's Work Inc., visit www.freethechildren.org.

Getting supplies to Haiti is a challenge. Earlier this week, space was limited in the Port-au-Prince airport, making it difficult to unload cargo, according to the American Red Cross. The Port-au-Prince Seaport could be inoperable for as long as three months.

 For the time, the American Red Cross is only able to accept monetary donations and is not able to accommodate volunteers. The Red Cross is working to set up field hospitals and shelter for as many as 1 million people, said Ray Shepherd, CEO of the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey.

 "They need so many things right now," Shepherd said. Because there is limited access, the Red Cross would not be able to get donations of food and clothing to Haiti or have a place to store it, he said.

Monetary donations can be put toward medical supplies and other necessities, Shepherd said. People can donate by check, phone, online or via text.

Checks can be sent to the American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey, 209 Fairfield Road, Fairfield, NJ 07004 with "Haiti" written in the memo line. For phone donations, English speakers can call 800-733-2767 and Spanish speakers can call 800-257-7575. To make a donation online, visit www.redcross.org. By text, send "90999" and write "Haiti" in the text. Donations will appear on monthly statements.

While most organizations agree monetary donations are best, Red Cross representatives warn that people should be careful when donating money. They caution people to research to make sure something is a legitimate charity.

Cedar Hill Christian Reformed Church

Churches have been collecting funds and special offerings to support the Haitian relief efforts. The Cedar Hill Christian Reformed Church is encouraging donations to the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, which has had missionaries stationed in Leogane, Haiti, about 20 miles west of Port-au-Prince.

"They have been in Haiti for a long time now," said Jenny Hutton, Cedar Hill Christian Reformed Church office manager. "We have missionaries that are there to work with the poor people." Fortunately, she said, the missionaries are safe.

To donate to the World Relief Committee, visit www.crwrc.org and select the cause and country by clicking on the "donate" link.

While the earthquake has shifted charities' attention to Haiti, Haggerty said, giving to longer-term sustainable organizations is key. Relief, he said, will take years, maybe decades. But he's encouraged by what he's seen locally. 

"It's heartening to sort of see the response that's happening up here in northern New Jersey," Haggerty said.