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Crisis in
Haiti |
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Haiti, all updates will appear on our Facebook Page - We hope you
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Project Rennwish, Inc.
on Facebook January
18th - 15:01
This afternoon, we have our
first small victory for those in Les Cayes. Today, we
were able to get some money there, and have started purchasing
medicine and food and those much needed goods will be distributed
to:
-
One of the local
hospitals;
-
A village that is
hosting many refugees from PAP which is now out of food; and
-
And a smaller orphanage
outside Les Cayes that is in dire need.
We are fortunate, as many
are still struggling to get any money "in country". We have done so - and we will continue to do
so as the funds sent today will only last a day. While
it is one small step - we are indeed moving forward. My
thanks to all of you... John.
January
18 - 14:08
Hi folks,
THANK YOU!!! I know I sound like a broken record - but...
As few have mentioned - Rennwish has had many donations from friends of many of yours in this forum simply because they helped get the word out.. Every dollar right now is critical - as all you know... A few have asked what more than can do aside from donate - and that's simply help us "network" out to our friends...
As an aside, it appears that the local article about Rennwish
was picked up by AP - and then this AM, Rennwish and all of yo had a mention on the air on a CNN broadcast..? I didn't see it - but, a few questioning e-mails I get are do we have some "staff" (no) - or do we take a percentage (no) - or the "nuts and bolts" as to whether we are a 501c3 (and an EIN, articles, etc.) (YES!)..
Anyway - I'll update totals later, but here is the situation in Les Cayes. I had the chance to finally get through to Adrien last evening via phone (and I snuck in a brief conversation with Shasha - one of the young girls in our care)...
Critical needs: Medicine, food and fuel. Without fuel, there is no electricity. No electricity means the banks and transfer stations don't open. No banks means no money. No money means that basic can't be acquired...
So - I was supposed to hop a flight Sunday with a Military/tech Search and Rescue - BUT - that deployment is delayed.. So - I'm looking at any and all alternatives - and hope to have an update later.. If anyone has any suggestions - please post, OK?? If I can get down there - I can acquire what the estimated 1,500 at the two hospitals need - including food and medicine.
Anyway - just thank you.... Please, let's keep this rolling, OK??
My best always,
John
January
17 16:21 I just
finally got through to Adrien again in Les Cayes again - this time
by phone (YEA - my Haiti Digicel works for now!!!). I wanted to pass
on a couple of things he mentioned....
He wants to tell all of you - "thank them in the US, your friends
- for all that they do for us...". He is trying to get an e-mail
out to me, but, since there is no fuel, there is no electricity,
Since there is no electricity, there is no power. Since there is no
power - there is no Internet...
As well - in Cayes, food, medicine and fuel are the immediate
crisis. Fuel - if you can buy it - is at about $15 (US) per litre.
Rice has gone - for a small bag - from $100 Haitian to $250 HD in
the past few days. Since these come from PAP, and nothing is coming
through - we expect that these prices are also going to increase -
which is unbelievable given that no one BEFORE the quake could
afford much anyway.
I could go on and on - but I won't... However - the highlight for me
personally was that when Adrien called, he was with one of the
children in one of our foster programs - Shasha. I had the chance to
talk to Shasha briefly... I'd write about that conversation, but.. I
can't.. Ummm... She, her brothers and sisters are OK - and that's
enough for now. She did ask me to "hug and ask them to make a note
to remember her and her friends and village to the people in the USA
and say "mesi" to them.."... Shasha's picture is below - from a week
or two ago..
Finally - the two rides I had into Haiti in the past days still
haven't happened (military/rescue and another as a translator) -
given the situation in PAP. I will get into Cayes - and I'm working
on another way to get in country in the next few days. If I do -
I'll have Jen post - and if I do - we'll get that medicine, food,
and your thoughts into the right hands - those hands that need them.
Finally - I want to again - just say "thank you".. To all of you...
We can - and we will - get this done. Your support is amazing. You
notes are amazing... And while there is no "staff" at Rennwish.org,
no national publicity, no TV ads - we are just, well "getting it
done"...
And oh - this is Shasha and her bother and sisters during happier
times a week or so ago.. I was going to use that picture to update
the Rennwish "Family to Child" program - but, well - right now, our
family is a lot bigger then we ever expected. It's a village,
hospital, community and city...
January
16th - 17:35
Apparently there are a number of copies of this
thread in the various forums and sites, so I apologize to all of you
is you have read this post in one of those threads as well... You
see....
I just came home from work - and while I'm trying to prepare to get
into Haiti as part of a rescue, if we get clearance, I wanted to say
this...
You folks - all of you - are amazing. I am humbled, speechless - and
a lot more than a little proud to be your voice to so many in Haiti
who have no voice. In short - what we are trying to do - and will do
- is actually "adopt" a hospital for the next few weeks and give the
children, men & women (I believe there are about 1500 in dire
medical need at that hospital as I write this) - the medicine they
require, food, water - and most importantly - simply *hope* that we
- or rather YOU - have not forgotten nor forsaken them... I don't
really know anymore the right words to say. I do know that those in
Haiti do not have the right words, either - to express to all of you
their thanks. If you doubt that - please read Adrien's e-mail posted
earlier, OK?
As well - on to the "nut-and-bolts"...
In the past 28 hours - Rennwish has raised approximately $23,000 for
this effort alone. The prelimary figures are:
$14,267 - PayPal
$8,100 - Committed as "checks in the mail";
$700 - eChecks not cleared but in process
I shake my head in disbelief, because - just like you - I find it
amazing that so many could care so much...
And we have just started on attacking that $75,000 goal. I know - we
will "just get it done" - as you and Rennwish has so often in the
past...
To the number of folks that asked if they could defray the PayPal
processing expenses, my thanks - but the answer is "no". It's been
our "mantra" that if you give "$1" - then "$1" goes to that Rennwish
Program. Jen and I have traditionally offset any PayPal or wire
transfer or bank expenses from our end. We will continue to do so -
as I made that guarantee that your "$1" reaches the children and the
people intact and in full. It's what we do and will continue to
do...
A few have asked how we intend to get the funds into Haiti to
acquire the supplies, etc... That's easy... We need to get some
funds immediately into those purchasing the medical supplies
- so they can get them into the hands of the hospital and the folks.
So, we'll send enough via instant wire services to make the initial
purchases for the first few days. At the same time - we will
bank-wire direct into the Haitian financial banks the major portion
of your funds, but it typically takes those funds about 4-5 days to
clear within Haiti.
So - in short - we'll start getting your supplies into Haiti as a
trickle, while the major banks clear the majority of the assets -
which will insure the funds, medicine, food and necessities of life
continue to flow... This is all being done from "within Haiti"
itself...
Finally - here and an edited private e-mail I sent to a contributor,
who was worried if he'd done enough...
....Honestly? I am so overwhelmed by you and others - I am
speechless... Since the earthquake - in private - I've been a mess.
I've lost some "friends" - and given the situation, have felt like
"what can we really do?" - which pales in comparison to all the
International Aid, syndicated charities, etc... But then - as I got
in contact with my folks (like Adrien and Marc), knew that there was
so much to do...
All we want to do is get aide to the people who need it... One
person to one person....
Giving an entire hospital - which has been forsaken so far -
medicine, supplies, food, water, - HOPE - is what we do best. In
fact -- it is what "we do"...
That "we" is you and the folks who have contributed - have done.
It's "person to person". That's personal. That is you.
You made a huge difference - simply by choosing to care....
So, my thanks.... My "job" is easy... My "job" is to ensure that
$1.00 donated goes to $1.00 of aid. No newspaper articles. And no
clips on major network TV news... No pictures.... No pat on the
backs....
Just simply - people-to-people.
My thanks for that,
John
January 15th - 18:20
Again, my thanks.... I'd almost run out of
words.. However - I just received this note from Adrien for
Port-au-Prince.. I asked him to go to PAP to check on our friends
and his family. This e-mail from him is NOT EDITED.... It is what it
is - and why we are doing all this.. As you read his note, he has NO
IDEA I would post his comments - and please know this is one of my
guys - who I trust without question.
My dear brother,
The situation in Haiti is very complicated today. Port-au-prince is
broken down and the town should be repaired
Most of the buildings that are broken are the state’s building, like
The palace, laws court and some of the Government representative are
died during a meeting they had at Montana hotel some of our artist
died in Le Flambroyant hotel they had a meeting for the carnival
next February, most of the universities are collapsed with student
who made an examination at that time and most of them still alive
under the ground and they send message text to their family and
close friends. Some die because they can’t breathe and others
because they had hurt.
Now Port-au-Prince is very smell bad because the deaths are
everywhere in the streets they the obliged to dug holes to bury the
deaths, they put them in a dumbstruck to throw them in holes. And a
lot of crying everywhere in Haiti.
What which is hard for some people is because they may be lost a
close and they will not see them anymore.
There is no communication, the way is broken the circulation to go
there is not good.
I have some of my cousins who hurt but not to bad and their houses
are broken.
The people live in the street because they are houseless some who
have houses sleep outside because they are afraid of the houses even
the people in les cayes they sleep in the street for the same
reason.
Even the strangers who come to the country for help, it is true they
help but they more focus on the hotel of Montana where they have
some their own nation as representative in Haiti.
The people in Port-au-Prince are waterless and foodless. Most of
them leave the Capital to go to different places. Now in Les cayes
all the hospital are full with people and we don’t have enough
doctor or medical assistant to take care of them. The representing
we have in les cayes to ameliorate the situation and to welcome the
new comers let the people leave in the soccer field and ask to every
people to come with their help, like to bring water, food, clothes
because some of them escape from the Capital with only one clothe
and most of them are not from in les cayes so, they don’t have any
one here they know they come because they find only the opportunity
to escape the Capital and they profit to leave. Most of them are
died by painful. The situation is very sad.
Now everything is very expensive like thought, like food, gas, even
clothes and for the electricity they only give us power for some
hours and all the institutions is closed like bank, school,
university and all the state’s institution. Now the situation is
very hard, sad and complicated in Haiti.
For the money I could not take it from western union but I borrowed
it from a friend that I used to buy cement and Iron,when I get the
money,I will pay it back.I went to Port-au-prince,I bought
waters,juice,breads and some snacks and brought them to the people
and then I share the rest of the money to them and their
neighbors.They were very happy,they told me thank you and I told
them to thank God and my brother John Dunkle and his wife.
My brother it is very Sad.I took some pictures,the internet
conection is not very good now,I will send you them next time.
I love you Jen and my brother very very much.
Adrien.
------------ My Reply
was:
Hello Brother....
You are not alone - I cry with you for all Haiti is today, after the
earthquake. I cry for the people too. What Jen and I and all of
Rennwish do is so small compared to the hurt of the people there. I
am so sad also to read about what the international community try to
save - but, as I say to you another time, I know they try to save
their own first. that makes me sad...
Today, I start a new program to save the hospital in Cayes. We try
to raise money - and then have Fr. Mark at Espwa buy medical
supplies , food, beds for the Haitians at the hospital in Cayes -
not for our use - BUT for the use for the people of Haiti - the
children especially and those people who are like those who you
mention. Your people, family and friends. I think "our" people.
I think we can do all that - just for the people. Not for the USA or
for the Chinese or for all the countries, alone - but - more
importantly - only for the people in Haiti...
It is OK my brother to cry about all that happens in PAP and Haiti -
and all that you see. All that you live through. It is all OK..
You - and the people in Haiti do not cry alone.
We cry with you.
You are not alone. We are with you. All who support Rennwish...
Please tell people in Haiti who want to give us a hug - all of us
hug them back even more.
And please tell them they are not alone either...
I love you,
Your Brother,
John
January 15th - 16:30
I am about to make this public announcement:
"Buy a Bandage"
What is "Buy a Bandage"? It's a Rennwish (a 501C3) partnership with
Pwoje Espwa, based in Les Cayes, Haiti, to subsidize the Hospital in
Les Cayes, Haiti for emergency medical care, supplies, food, and
basic necessities for its operation and relief of earthquake
victims. As of today - all those items are depleted.
To help - please visit http://rennwish.org
Summary: Again - I wanted to thank all of you for your words,
ideas, support and encouragement. As you know, many of your comments
I've shared with some of our friends in Haiti. They are more
appreciated thank you may know - or, maybe you do know?
Over the past several days - I've been trying to understand exactly
"how" Rennwish can make the greatest impact given our limited
exposure and, well - to be frank - limited resources. From our
previous projects, we have selected programs, which are guaranteed
to directly impact and influence the lives and education of children
within Haiti. We believe we have been successful with our "partners"
in those efforts - namely the children themselves, the villages, and
our more formal partners, such as Pwoje Espwa.
The current crisis and disaster has only strengthened our commitment
to the same credo - do as much as we possibly can to effect
immediate improvement to those children, women, and men who, as I
write this - are suffering unimaginable injuries and trauma.
Therefore, after communicating with Fr. Marc Boisvert - we believe,
that together - you, Rennwish and Pwoje Espwa - can assist those
injured children, women and men who might be otherwise overlooked
immediately by the tremendous International Aid effort underway in
Port-au-Prince, Petionville, Jacmel and some additional regions
The Goal: Immediate Requirement: $75,000 ($21,000
Medical/Supplies and $54,000 Emergency food/relief).
In the last few days, Rennwish has received exactly $5,042.00 in
contributions earmarked for relief, with another $4,550 committed.
All of those monies will be released for their intended purpose
specified below. The remaining roughly $65,000 we hope to raise in
the next few days - and with your help - by gosh - we can and will
do it.
Mission - short term: To subsidize the Hospital in Les Cayes,
Haiti for emergency medical supplies, food, and basic necessities
for its operation and relief of victims. As of today - all those
items are depleted. In short, we will buy and distribute Medical
supplies for the Les Cayes Hospital, re-stock Pwoje Espwa's medical
clinic and provide medicine, food an comfort for many of the injured
children, women and men who are strewn throughout the Les Cayes
hospital grounds awaiting any relief whatsoever.
The Purpose[: All monies will be wired to Fr. Marc Boisvert
at Pwoje Espwa directly into Haiti. As well - that is the same
orphanage we partnered with to construct one of several planned
Technical Schools. I trust Marc and his staff implicitly and since
they are "on site" in the Cayes region - represent our partnership
locally for this huge effort.
As well, Marc assures us that if he had the money to acquire the
medical supplies and food - he has access to them. So - let's get
Marc that money so he can do his part to assist those most in need.
So - here is the deal….
As true to Rennwish's and Pwoje Espwa's legacy - we believe that
getting your donations directly into the hands of those most in need
sends a powerful message. While we could purchase the items outside
of Haiti, pay for packing, pay for shipping, pay for delivery into
Haiti and pay more to get them into Les Cayes - that option becomes
both cost prohibitive and doesn't allow the emergency supplies to
get into the hands that need them most - when they are needed most…
Further, it also dilutes your donations with unnecessary
packing/shipping/delivery charges. Our intention has always been -
and will always be - 100% of what you donate goes to the programs.
This program. "Buy a Bandage" is "one of those programs.
You may also ask that isn't this program outside what Rennwish has
traditionally undertaken? Yes, it is. As you know, in the past - we
have succeeded at building infrastructure in the care and education
of children who can go on and change their own community as they
mature. However, Rennwish has always responded to where there is the
greatest need - which is why we have a legacy of programs in Haiti
today. Today's need in Haiti is both acute and life threatening.
We are obligated to respond to those same needs today. Working
directly with Fr. Marc, his staff, Pwoje Espwa and the hospital in
Les Cayes as they struggle to make a difference in basic human life
isn't an option. It's a requirement of "life" for us, the living.
We must not fail.
It really is that simple.
Our thanks,
John Dunkle
Rennwish.org
Fr. Marc Boisvert
Pwoje Espwa - Haiti January
14th 14:51
Local
coverage of Project Rennwish
- a newspaper article appearing today.
January
14th 11:45 Just
had a conversation with Adrien (he stood in line for 3 hours for
three hours to use a temporary phone that was set up to call
family/friends in the USA). He mentioned the following: There
are vast amounts of people leaving Les Cayes to Port-au-Prince to
check on family and friends. However, there is only primary
road, which, as he understands is not open. There are several
back routes at twice the distance, but he is unsure whether those
are open either either. The
hospital in Les Cayes is desperate need of food, medicine, beds,
dressings and basic supplies. Many remain on the street
waiting for any medical attention at all. I'm sure this pales
by comparison to Port-au-Prince. The
next two to three weeks will be critical. As food, water,
medical supplies are already in short supply - we can further expect
a displacement of people from Port-au-Prince as an influx into Les
Cayes and other outlying cities. This will tax an already
over-stressed region, and given the condition of the infra-structure
in Haiti today, I'm not certain International Assistance will be
able to reach these cities in time with adequate basic supplies.
January
13th 17:10 EDT Finally
- Adrien (one of the Rennwish folks in Haiti) was able to grab an
internet connection... His area has no phones (and since my Haiti
number is tied to that same area - I have no phone into Haiti...)...
So - here are snippets of his long e-mail - but, in short - all our
kids are OK..!!! I'll
share my thoughts I sent to him when he has a chance to reply about
what we need to do to assist those in Haiti...
Thank you all who posted in this read, or read this thread, or have
supported Rennwish...
"Dear Brother
How are you doing? By our side we are fine but yesterday in Haiti we
had an earthquake by 5 pm and it lasted for 1 minute , it did not
make a lot of damage in les Cayes but in port-au-prince it broke a
lot of buildings, a lot of people die. People that leave in les
Cayes are victim because they have their family leave at
port-au-price.
Now in Haiti there are a lot people crying for their close family
they are lose and until now we don’t know the number of death and
Injured people we have. They searchers and the investigators keep
seeking for the death and injured people.
The mothers and the children are doing okay but there is one of the
mother’s has a cousin died in Port –au-prince at that event.
We have many relatives and friends in Port-au-prince so, We don’t
know how many victims we have because we don’t have any way to
communicate, phone does not work.
In our area, there are some wall of some houses that failed down.
There are some deaths in les cayes and a lot of injured people in
hospital in les cayes and there is not enough bed for them.
It is a very sad situation for Haiti.
I love you my brother.
Your brother,
Adrien" January
13th 15:15 EDT Still
no way to get through... I've heard, but can not confirm that
the one main road between Port-au-Price and Les Cayes is
impassable. As well, several Twitter blogs are showing some
destruction in Les Cayes. January
13th 12:34 EDT
From what I can understand,
Port-au-Prince is pretty much a mess, but, like all of you - most of
my news is coming from the press... I had the opportunity to get a
notice from one of the folks at Pwoje Espwa - and all is OK
there... (You
can read Marc's BLOG here..... - and yes, Pwoje Espwa
needs your support, thoughts and prayers as well....!)!
I've been trying since yesterday afternoon/evening using Internet,
phone (land, cell) and some social networking sites Even my Digicel
(my cell phone & # for Haiti) phone won't go through..
OK - mostly - I know nothing.. I've heard that one of the schools we
built is fine - as well as the 600+ children at Pwoje Espwa
(according to Father Marc - the "kids are a little shaken up by
the whole thing" (he has a dry sense of humor 
).... The other two story school, the other orphanage, the villagers
and the children we are support (in our "family to child"
programs) are in other districts - and as of now, I have no news
about..
I suspect downtown Cayes suffered the most damage in that region, as
well as some of the mountain villages in the Petite Riviere area -
but, I have no way of knowing for sure?
While it's been a long night for Jen & I - I know it was a
longer night for those in Haiti..
I will also add this.. I can not tell you how incredible your words
and support means - not really to Jen and I and Project Rennwish -
but rather, to those folks in Haiti who are "living this
nightmare"... Your pledges and financial contributions - each
of them - is gratefully acknowledged and most thankfully received...
More than you may know...
I think it's best to keep that momentum up as, once we find out what
is needed most (food, water, medical, equipment, etc. ) - then and
only then can we decide how to make the largest positive impact
during their time of crisis and the ensuing aftermath...
My sincerest thanks to all....
John.
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