Here is an update with some of the details of what we have been doing as a part of the coordinated efforts to serve and support our brothers and sisters in neighboring Haiti.

Initial plans were to target at least 2,000 families among the many in despair through close work with local churches and organizations.

To date the Network effort has blessed 3,985 families with food and hygiene kits in over 35 locations (30 within the greater Port Au Prince area) and 5 outside of PAP in areas affected by the disaster. These areas were impacted by the crisis due to the exodus of refugees to smaller towns outside of the capital (as in the case of Velladere). About 200 bedding kits (mattress, mosquito net and sheets) were also distributed in the PAP areas.

DCC has channeled over $32,000 dollars towards the purchase of those aid supplies and transportation costs from Santo Domingo to Port Au Prince. $33,000 dollars in church-based donations will be available by January 30th and approximately $15,000 more in e-giving donations will be available by the following Monday, February 1st.

Distribution:

At the present time, the participants in this collaborative effort have located THREE strategic locations for short-term storage of the relief supplies and points of distribution (see map below):

• Iglesia de Dios, Elias Piña, DR (storage & staging location) and, in partnership with FHI DR, the Haitian distribution site at Velladere, Haiti (15 minutes across the border)
• Delmas #41 (neighborhood in Port-au-Prince) operated by pastors and church movement leaders Geomethe and Jonathan
• Croix de Bouquet and Taberre both coordinated by Pastors Walter Dordt and Raymond Narcius, who have been facilitating the emerging network in Haiti since the summer of 2009.

Relief Kits & Supplies

Through partnering entities and community-based organizations in Haiti (churches, NGOs and other institutions), the DR-based response will help funnel the following aid: bottled water, food items (consumable without cooking or refrigeration), basic personal and hygiene items, emergency healthcare materials and medicines.

Relief Kits: Phase one of our action plan involves distributing relief supplies to those in need through church connections on the ground in Haiti. RdC partner, Esperanza Intl developed the following kits for distribution:

HYGIENE KIT $8.60: A relief kit for families (5) with basic hygiene products which includes: 1 SOAP (1/3 PACK); 1 TOOTHPASTE; 2 TOOTHBRUSHES; 3 DURABLE PLATES; 3 ALUMINUM SPOONS; 1 CAN OPENER; 2 CHLORINE (BLEACH); 5 FACE MASKS; 1 PLASTIC PACKAGING

FOOD KIT $19.18: A family kit with basic food supplies including: 5 SARDINES IN OLIVE OIL (CAN); 3 SAUSAGES (CAN); 1 SODA CRACKERS (20 UNIT PACK); 6 PARMALAT MILK (200ML.); 1 COOKED BEANS; 2 COOKED MIXED VEGETABLES (14OZ.); 1 SWEET CORN (14OZ.); 1 PEANUT BUTTER (12OZ.) 3 PARMALAT MILK WITH OATS (330ML.); 1 PACKAGING IN BOXES (SEALED) PER FAMILY (Hygiene kits are included in the larger box)

BOTTLED WATER $0.70 cents Provided by ADU RdC Network church water systems. (1 GALLON JUG PER FAMILY)

BEDDING KIT $28.47: ** A kit with basic bedding supplies including: 1 SMALL MATTRESS (4"THICK); 1 SHEET; 1 MOSQUITO NET** (Please see the “Other Supplies” section below)

KIT SUMMARY
• Food and Hygiene Kits per family kits total = $27.78
• 1 Gal. Water $0.65
• Bedding Kit = $28.47
• Grand total = $56.90

We are investigating the cost and distribution of work tools for clean up efforts to include two sizes of sledgehammers, picks and shovels, a wheelbarrow, and concrete chisels.

Transportation Needs: One closed cargo truck can fit 1,000 combined food/hygiene kit boxes and 500 gallons of water, and costs $835 dollars to transport door to door (Sto. Dgo. to the PAP or Elias Piña warehouse & distribution site)

Summary:

An investment in one shipment of 1,000 food & hygiene kits, 500 gallons of water, and transport expenses will cost a total of $28,965 dollars.

In the PAP and surrounding areas affected by the earthquake, over 8,000 families are on the lists provided by the connecting churches. In Velladere, pastors have requested another 1,000 kits for the refugee families they are taking care of (they received the first shipment over one week ago).

If we continue this emergency relief operation for another 2 weeks as suggested by the UN’s most recent disaster relief update, we will need to send over at least 6 more trucks. Food packs promised to Esperanza Intl from Children’s Hunger Fund are being shipped to Santo Domingo, but the arrival dates are estimated to be another couple of weeks.

Thank you for supporting these efforts. Because we raise our operating budget separately, all donations for Haiti made through DCC are channeled 100% to this coordinated/networked effort from the DR. Download a PDF with more detailed information about our relief efforts.

Trusting in Christ our rock,

Tom and Dee