Presbyterian Disaster Assistance responds to Haiti with help from across the church
“Hope is alive” amid the tragedy and overwhelming destruction in Haiti, reports Carlos Cardenas, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) staff and PC(USA) mission co-worker on the ground in Port-au-Prince.
Already more than $400,000 (including $100,000 from the One Great Hour of Sharing special offering) has been distributed for food and water distribution sites, tents for homeless survivors, an electrical generator and supplies at Holy Cross Hospital, and staff who are working with ecumenical and local partners in the initial response and assessment. Paul Jeffrey, who works with the ACT Alliance (one of PDA’s partners), created a great video about relief work on the ground in Haiti. Watch it on YouTube.
So many people want to help. However, our ecumenical and international partners in Haiti are urging restraint in sending teams in at this time, since they may strain the few resources available. A time will come when teams will be welcomed and valuable in the long-term recovery. If you are interested in volunteering, please register online.
The best ways to help right now are to:
Give: Presbyterian response to the earthquake in Haiti has been amazing and is much appreciated. To date, more than $2 million has been received to support the work of Presbyterian Disaster Assistance. You can continue to donate money online; by phone at (800) 872-3283; and by mail: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700. Churches in Carlisle Presbytery can send their gifts as designated mission making checks out to the "Presbytery of Carlisle marked DR000064-Haiti. Please use the Remittance Form.
Act: Assemble “Gift of the Heart” hygiene and baby kits. More than 35,000 hygiene and baby kits have already been sent and the stockpile is depleted. More kits are needed.
Pray: Continue to pray for the people of Haiti and those assisting them.
Thank you for your compassion and generosity; your actions are making a difference for the people of Haiti. For regular updates on PDA’s work in Haiti, see the PDA Web site or subscribe to the PDA Rapid Information Network, Presbyterian News Service and the PC(USA) press releases.
While the world’s focus is on Haiti, PDA continues its work helping Katrina survivors rebuild their lives. Read a blog entry entitled, “A Tour of Katrina’s Legacy” featuring PDA Gulf Coast hurricane manager Frank Vardeman. Also, check out the work of Carlisle Presbytery's disaster response ministry, Lend A Hand, which continues to work with PDA on Katrina rebuilding as well as other disaster recover efforts nationally.