Bloomington Officer Plays Key Role In Relief Efforts

Via Peter Iversen – Bloomington Salvation Army Corp

Lt. Jonathan Fitzgerald has eclipsed his half-way point in Haiti, and international generosity has been keeping him busy.

Spending most of the day ensuring supplies are shipped to the area of greatest need, Lt. Jonathan and his team of local Haitians, the U.N. and the United States military are the link between the cargo plane and the residents of tent cities. Arriving on enormous pallets, The Salvation Army ships meals, medical supplies, tents and other necessary items. From there, the supplies are trucked to multiple centers of aid throughout the country.

The largest center is in Port-au-Prince where The Salvation Army oversees the wellbeing of 20,000 Haitians living on the grounds of what used to be a soccer stadium. Lt. Jonathan spent some time walking through that tent city and what he saw was encouraging. People were smiling and going about their lives as best they could. As someone who has travelled throughout the country before, Lt. Jonathan notes that life is returning to a degree of normalcy. His presence in Haiti as a young officer who speaks the language and understands the culture makes recovery a more relational process and Haitians appreciate the work of The Salvation Army.

The Salvation Army has been in Haiti since 1950 and was able to immediately respond to the earthquake. That response is ongoing as the shipments, which Lt. Jonathan and his team oversee, are still arriving in large numbers because the need is still great.

The Salvation Army’s efforts to feed and care for these families in Haiti depends on your donations. Please consider sending a donation today by using the Haiti donation button located in the upper left-hand corner of our website, or by texting “Haiti” to 52000 and $10 will be added to your monthly bill.

Bloomington Officer Making Progress in Haiti

Via Peter Iverson in Bloomington – Lt. Jonathan Fizgerald, the Bloomington Corps Officer, works in the brutally hot heat of Port-au-Prince where he is in charge of logistics and distribution for food and other supplies in the tent city of 20,000 that The Salvation Army oversees. Helping the local economy, he hires local Haitians to assist. The security is provided by the United States military, which makes the distributions run smoothly.

Beyond food, Lt. Fitzgerald and other relief workers are helping to prepare the region for the upcoming rainy season. With so many people living on a soccer field, the health and property risks are great. So, The Salvation Army will distributed tarps which will replace the tents made of sheets. The Salvation Army is also working on improving the sanitation for those living in the tent city.

The Salvation Army has been hard at work since the earthquake hit and in the first month of the disaster delivered 558,000 pounds of relief supplies for the suffering people of Haiti. “The logistical precision of this operation is amazing,” remarked Major George Polarek, Assistant Director of The Salvation Army’s World Services Office.

To date 2.6 million meals, nearly 3,000 tents, and 8,710 pounds of medical supplies were delivered to Haiti. In addition to Port-au-Prince where Lt. Jonathan serves, service sites are located in Petit Goave and Jacmel and distribution sites are in Croix-des-Bouquets (6 mi east of PAP) and Balan (18 mi east of PAP). Its medical clinic continues to treat more than 250 people a day on-site, with several transfers daily to the hospital.

Donations are still needed to continue with the relief efforts in Haiti. For online donations, visit salvationarmyindiana.org. You can also text “Haiti” to 52000 to make a one time $10 donation which will be added to your phone bill.

Welcome Home From Haiti

For four weeks Jerry Larsen and Capt. Geff Crowell lived and worked amongst a nation of desperate, hungry, injured and dead. They were part of an international team originally sent to Haiti on a two-week rotation to assist with logistics and food/water distribution. Those two weeks turned into four when it became apparent that their skills were urgently needed for that additional time. It meant being  separated from their spouses, children and grandchildren for longer than had been anticipated. “It was the longest we’ve ever been apart”, said Capt. Crowell. How timely then, that flight arrangements called for the men to return home to their families on Valentine’s Day!  When the men arrived this afternoon at Indpls. International Airport, they were met with flowers, a handmade banner and plenty of hugs and smiles.

While glad to be home and excited to see their loved ones, Capt. Crowell reflected, “There is still lots of work to be done.” Over two million meals have been distributed by The Salvation Army in Haiti, as well as 500,000 gallons of water, tents and other aid. “Having been in Haiti for 60 years and having a footprint there has allowed the Army to make a lot of progress post- earthquake” added Capt. Crowell. “It felt a lot calmer than when we arrived. The people are starting to get back to normal. They’re in survival mode.”

 

Both Capt. Crowell, and EDS Director Jerry Larsen have served in other worldwide disasters. In comparison to those previous experiences, Larsen says, “I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s the worst I’ve ever seen. They’re going to be dealing with it for a long time.”

Exhausted from what was certainly an emotionally and physically draining time in Haiti, both men described their time with the people with obvious compassion. When asked about his assessment of the spirit of the people in Haiti, Larsen teared up as he stated, “The resilience of the people was amazing…just amazing.”

Local Disaster Service responders will continue to be deployed to Haiti during the recovery period. This week, Lt. Jonathon Fitzgerald from the Bloomington corps left for Port au Prince on a 30-day deployment. The Salvation Army continues to meet needs in Haiti not only with meals and water, but also by treating an average of 300 patients a day at their clinic, which is being staffed by an international team of doctors and nurses.  At the Salvation Army clinic, staff and volunteers were able to witness the first baby being born after the earthquake, and most recently provided the initial treatment for the man who survived 28 days buried in the rubble.

A comprehensive collection of photos of  The Salvation Army’s relief efforts in Haiti can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/salvationarmyindiana/. For further information on The Salvation Army’s work in Haiti visit salvationarmyusa.org.

American Legion aids in Haiti cause

The Salvation Army received $2,000 from the American Legion on Feb. 10, 2010 to help in the relief efforts in Haiti. Four American Legion members came to present the funds.

American Legion Commander Dan Gates from the Broad Ripple post 3 said that they were donating to The Salvation Army “because of their reputation.”

Gates remembers The Salvation Army helping soldiers while serving in Burma.

Rees Morgan, an American Legion member, talked about why they chose The Salvation Army as the organization to receive their funds. “One of the main reasons is because you’re dependable,” he told Salvation Army Divisional Commander Richard Amick.

The American Legion representatives presented the check to Major Amick who expressed great appreciation for the needed funds. “We will not let you down,” Amick said upon receiving the check.

Bridge Center raises money for Haiti

The Indianapolis Bridge Center charged an extra dollar per game for members to play during the week of January 24 through 30, and not because they were looking for a profit. Every extra dollar was donated to The Salvation Army’s relief effort for Haiti. The funds, equaling $815, raised in this week will go directly to Haiti to help bring much needed assistance to the earthquake victims.

Board of Directors Ron Hobbs thought of the idea to raise money for Haiti and it was quickly agreed upon by members. “Everyone wanted to do something [for the Haiti relief],” says club manager Sharon Austin.

The Indianapolis Bridge Center has at least one game going on every day and the members play for points, not money. The points are for recognition and everyone who played the week of the fundraiser earned extra points for playing.

Around 600 people participated in the fundraiser, some donating more than just the extra dollar required to play.

The Indianapolis Bridge Center often has charitable events such as this one to help in different causes. “Feel free to call on us in times of need,” says Austin.

The Salvation Army in Haiti: Bringing Wholeness, Healing and Hope

Update 2/06/10 Source: Captain Tawny Cowen-Zanders, SAWSO Haiti Incident Command Team, Public Information Officer

The Salvation Army continues to be a beacon of hope for individuals and families whose lives were devastated by the earthquake. While the Haiti Relief Team maintains support and provides assistance for 20,000 individuals in an area adjacent to their compound in Port-au-Prince, they have reached out to other areas of the country – diligently meeting needs at the point of need at the time of need. There has been a steady, marked improvement in the overall situation in the four weeks since the earthquake. Our own operation has been refined with improved local logistics, communication, accommodation. In addition, better coordination of air traffic means transportation for freight is improved, as well. Relief ministries include the following:
· The Salvation Army Relief Team has established service compounds in three communities – Port-au-Prince, Petit Goave (Satellite), and Jacmel (Satellite). In addition, services are provided to the communities of Croix-des-Bouquets (6 mi east of PAP) and Balan (18 mi east of PAP).
· After being alerted by personnel from the Canadian Military, The Army’s Jacmel Assessment Team investigated Decouze, which is a rural site between Port-au-Prince and Jacmel. The team discovered 500 families who had been completely without outside help since the earthquake. The community was clearly in shock but grateful that, finally, “someone from a foreign land had noticed their plight.” A determination of future service will be made in the coming days.
· The Salvation Army is being recognized internationally as an expert in effectively and efficiently handling this crisis. WORLD Magazine published an article on February 2nd highlighting this phenomenon. Excerpts include the following: “The UN estimates that as many as 1 million people are homeless, and UN emergency coordinator John Holmes acknowledged that aid delivery remains painfully slow. But in other parts of town, private aid groups are quietly getting work done…[The Army distributed] an estimated 552,000 meals [in] less than four hours…While the UN grapples with the maddening conditions of delivering aid in Haiti, groups like The Salvation Army are proving a point: Some of the best aid is coming from the groups with long standing connections on the ground…Despite the damage, within days Salvation Army staffers formed a plan to be the lead group providing care for a crowd nearing 20,000 people near their compound. At a UN meeting last Monday, The Salvation Army was one of just five non-governmental organizations with a concrete plan for managing a camp.”

· In order to increase efficiency, a UPS Trackpad Project is being developed. The Trackpads, provided by UPS, are laptop/handheld scanner/laminated ID cards with barcodes, which will monitor which families receive food at the Point-au-Prince distribution point. This project is expected to begin within the coming weeks.
· The Salvation Army distributed food, blankets, kitchen sets, plastic sheeting, and hygiene kits to 600 families from the Jacmel compound.
· In collaboration with World Concern, The Salvation Army distributed hygiene kits at the Port-au-Prince distribution point.
· Well over 200 people being treated each day.

THE SALVATION ARMY PRESENCE IN HAITI (PRE-EMERGENCY)
The Salvation Army has been officially working in Haiti since 1950. Our present assets in the country include:
· 63 Commissioned Salvation Army Officers
· 161 Employees
· 39 Corps and 23 Outposts (Worship and Community Centers)
· 5 Social Institutions (Clinics, Children’s Homes)
· 46 Schools with 443 Teachers

INITIAL EMERGENCY PRIORITIES
The Salvation Army’s initial Emergency Assessment has confirmed the following priorities, in order of immediate importance:
1. Water – Safe drinking water
2. Nutrition – Food
3. Medical Assistance – Medical supplies and treatment
4. Shelter
5. Trauma, grief, and spiritual counseling

SHORT TERM RECOVERY
Once the initial needs have been met, the next step will be to provide sustainable solutions to make necessities available to the affect population:
· Repair/reestablish local water sources
· Provide water filtration capacity
· Provide assistance to local population to rebuild permanent, more earthquake resistant housing
· Develop strategic plans for long term Salvation Army Program and Facility Reconstruction

INTO THE FUTURE
The Salvation Army was active in Haiti before the earthquake. We will rebuild our damaged faculties, while continuing our already well established programs. We are committed to standing by the Haitian people as they move into the future.
· Medical clinics
· Education
· Long Term Relief and Reconstruction
· Community Development Projects / Income generation / Child Nutrition / HIV/AIDS
· Advocacy

Haiti Disaster Statistics as of February 6, 2010
FOOD TOTAL
Numama Rice delivered 2,041,400 meals
MEALS Ready Eat delivered 6,900 meals
Bottled Water 20oz delivered 23,328 servings
Jugs of Water delivered 6,720 gallons
Water Filtration Systems 30,000 gallons/day
Total Water Supplied 500,000 gallons
SHELTER
8×8 Tents delivered 2,900 tents
Cots delivered 480 cots
MEDICAL
Patients Served 16,110 individuals
MASH Tent delivered 1 tent
Medical Supplies delivered 8,710 lbs
Hygiene Kits delivered 1,500 kits
MISC
Rubbermaid Coolers delivered 480 coolers
Duffel Bags delivered 310 bags
Canvas Tote Bags delivered 10,000 bags
SHIPMENTS
Cargo Flights 10 flights
Cargo Items 556,000 lbs

Monetary donations and prayer are the two most critical needs as supplies and personnel are mobilized
· The Salvation Army had raised more than $9 million for relief efforts.
· Donors can text the word HAITI to 52000 to donate $10 to The Salvation Army’s relief efforts via their phone bill. It is important for donors to confirm their donation with the word, “yes.”
· Monetary donations can also be made through:
· www.salvationarmyusa.org and via PayPal
· 1-800-SAL-ARMY
· The Salvation Army World Service Office
International Disaster Relief Fund
PO Box 630728
Baltimore, MD 21263-0728
*Please note that your donation is for Haiti Earthquake relief*
· Even before donations are processed, The Salvation Army is committing and spending money on relief efforts in Haiti. Donations are critical now and also help ensure that the long-term needs of the Haitian people are met.

Food Used to Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking Threat to Haitians

While Salvation Army aid workers and volunteers have loaded, unloaded, and handed out millions of meals to combat the rampant hunger plaguing Haitians, these boxes of food contain another form of aid less obvious than the nourishing beans and rice they hold.

Haiti is a nation chronically plagued by extreme poverty and lack of just law enforcement, leaving citizens vulnerable to all sorts of threats both physical and abstract. But with these existing circumstances being further exacerbated by last month’s earthquake, conditions are ripe for Haiti’s already substantial human trafficking problem to increase exponentially. To combat the issue, The Salvation Army is mounting an anti-trafficking awareness campaign advertised even on the food Haitians are eating! Through food labels and fliers, we are trying to educate as many people as possible on the dangers of and ways to prevent human trafficking from breeding during the earthquake’s aftermath and in their communities long term. Though trafficking may be a less visible threat than starvation or dehydration, it is certainly no less dangerous.

The Salvation Army has actually been working for years to educate Haitians against trafficking, teaching prevention awareness to the 14,000 students enrolled in our schools across the country, to families to help them prevent losing their children, to young adults so that they are not deceived by scams luring them with false promises of lucrative work abroad.

In fact, Haiti’s human trafficking problem is so serious that the U.S. State Department denoted the country as a ‘special’ case in their 2009 Trafficking in Persons Report. Though some estimates report a quarter million children are trafficked every year in the country, accurate numbers are difficult to pinpoint. The Report discusses factors that contribute to Haiti’s inability to address the issue (for more detailed background, read about Haiti in the 2009 Trafficking Report here):

“The Government of Haiti’s ability to provide basic services and security for citizens, and to control rampant crime in the capital, Port-au-Prince, continues to be compromised by limited resources, an untrained and poorly equipped police force, entrenched government corruption, and perennially weak government institutions… Haiti remains a Special Case for the fourth consecutive year as the new government formed in September 2008 has not yet been able to address the significant challenges facing the country, including human trafficking. .. Haitian law also does not specifically prohibit trafficking in persons, which limits its ability to punish traffickers and protect victims.”

But after working with Sri Lankan communities devastated by the 2005 tsunami, Director of Special Projects for The Salvation Army World Service Office’s (SAWSO) Lt. Col. Helen Starrett said The Salvation Army realized there needed to be an immediate response following catastrophic disasters to prevent human trafficking. From this conviction came the idea to print and attach warning labels on food for Haitians, a sure way to spread information to as many people as possible. With the help of American volunteers, 500,000 labels printed in English and Creole have been placed on distributed meals provided by Numana and packaging of beans and rice rations. The human-trafficking alert has also been printed on 5,000 fliers that are displayed in clinics, schools, and shelters around Port-au-Prince, and large posters are brandished on Salvation Army water towers. They read:

BE ALERT! WATCH FOR SCAMS!

NO ONE can force you to work or have sex.

1. Beware of people offering jobs in foreign countries.
2. Beware of people offering money, food, shelter, or drugs in exchange for sex.
3. Know where your children are.
4. Know who your children are with.
5. Be cautious of sending your children away. Be sure a VERY trusted relative or friend goes with them.
6. If you are threatened or being controlled seek help from the nearest Salvation Army Comfort Center.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 46:1

Numana will begin printing the warning messages directly on food packaging starting with the next meal distribution so that labels will not need to be added.

Lt. Col. Starrett says Salvation Army personnel in Haiti also have a one page sheet of information regarding signs of and prevention tools for human trafficking so that they may remain vigilant among the population of Haitians with which they work every day. Serving as lead agency for some 20,000 displaced Haitians temporarily housed in a soccer arena and plaza in Port-au-Prince, The Salvation Army is tasked with registering the occupants. Not only does this help with receiving food and aid supplies from the UN, it also enables disaster workers to keep track of children and vulnerable individuals, helping to ensure that they are accounted for.

The campaign is also intended to educate Haitians so they are empowered to police and protect themselves. Lt. Col. Starrett says that while other organizations are working to combat human trafficking in Haiti, she believes The Salvation Army’s long standing history and involvement in the area (we’ve been present in Haiti since 1950 and have 700 personnel permanently stationed there) has given us a “great capacity to have eyes that other organizations might not have,” meaning in addition to our first hand experience with the country, there is also a trust held by Haitians through their relationship with The Salvation Army that allows them to feel more comfortable bringing forth information about suspicious circumstances possibly related to human trafficking.

In addition to increasing awareness, providing alternative solutions is also integral in the fight against trafficking since desperation for survival may sometimes overshadow what is moral. And The Salvation Army does provide a positive alternative through the millions of meals that we have and will continue to distribute in order to sustain individuals and families, as well as other forms of aid and services that are provided through our disaster workers and full time personnel living in Haiti. This includes offering education in our schools, providing medical assistance in our clinics, and giving guidance through spiritual counseling and worship services.

Lt. Col. Starrett recognized that the problem is not a simple open and closed case, saying, “As long as there is evil in the world, we are going to have human trafficking…” Of course, her observation was not one of defeat, but rather a reason to persevere all the harder in the mission to combat the problem. She continued, “But we’re going to do our very best to help as many people as we possibly can.”

For more information on what The Salvation Army is doing to prevent human trafficking, visit our national website.

Elementary students help with Haiti relief

In a weeks time, students at the Shenandoah Elementary School in Middletown, Indiana raised over $5,600 for The Salvation Army’s Disaster Services Relief for Haiti through their fundraising campaign Drinking Water for Haiti. At noon Feb. 3, 2010 at Shenandoah Elementary, the students presented the funds to The Salvation Army’s Major Brenda Pittman and Development Director Jeff Stanger.

Drinking Water for Haiti was put into affect by every teacher in the school buying enough water bottles for each student in their class. The students were allowed to drink the water in school and were reminded when they drank that the people in Haiti didn’t have this luxury.

The students took their empty water bottles home to be filled with spare change and cash, then returned with the water bottles to school. The result was a generous donation to The Salvation Army, who takes 100 percent of their raised funds to be added directly to the relief effort.

Amber Kinsey’s fourth grade class raised the most, a grand total of $387. “We were just floored,” said Kinsey about the amount they had raised.

Another fourth grade teacher Laurie Boykin headed the fundraiser. She’s been to Haiti before on mission trips and really felt compelled to help after the earthquake. She never thought that the fundraiser would be so successful.

“We were hoping to get $1,000,” said Boykin.

Thanks to the teachers and students at Shenandoah Elementary, and a special thanks to First Merchants Bank who it took three hours to count out all the change, Haiti will be receiving much more needed assistance.

Shenandoah Elementary has been active with The Salvation Army’s causes before, by ringing bells and adopting families during the Christmas season.

Go Fly a Kite – A Story From Haiti

Richard Deris and Wasnel Samuel Guirand are living temporarily in a tent outside The Salvation Army Haiti Divisional Headquarters in Port-au-Prince.

It’s a breezy day in Port-au-Prince, and its boring in their tent. For centuries a breeze anywhere in the world has attracted children and their kites, and these kids are no exception. But, Richard and Wasnel had no kite and no money with which to buy one.

So, they made their own.

Using a discarded garbage bag, strips of cloth salvaged from the near-by trash canal and stripping the middle spine of a coconut palm leaf, they fashioned small kites that catch the wind and provide hours of play and relief  from the boredom of their present circumstances.

What a simple, beautiful way to remind oneself that in the wake of a terrible natural disaster, joy and a little fun can still be found in the sun that continues to shine and the breeze that continues to blow.

Haiti Update: January 31, 2010

Port-au-Prince, Haiti:  While the situation in Haiti continues to be very
serious, The Salvation Army Relief Team is providing massive amounts of
food, water and other relief materials to the people in Haiti.

• The team in Haiti received a shipment of 18 pallets of food (representing 213,840 meals) along with 4 pallets (over 5,100 individual  bottles) of water on Saturday.
• A subsequent delivery of 35 pallets of food (415,800 meals) was in route with a scheduled Sunday arrival time in Port-au-Prince. These meals were  accompanied by 8 pallets of water which provided over 1300 gallon jugs of water for distribution.
• Team members were coordinating with the US Army 82nd Airborne to arrange  a food delivery of over 174,000 meals to a particularly hard hit  neighborhood in Port-au-Prince which had not received any major food distributions before now.
• Meetings were held and partnerships continued to be forged as The
  Salvation Army convened meetings in its role as Camp Managers for the  approximately 20,000 displaced people now finding whatever shelter they can in the Delmas 2 neighborhood.
• Critically important issues being addressed is water and sanitation, the provision of medium-term shelter, various NFI’s (non-food items) including kitchen and cooking kits, etc.,  and, of course, regular and reliable deliveries of food.
• On-going  medical services and the timely restoration of education programs for  displaced children are also priorities.
• This weekend was also a transition time for the team as some members  transitioned out of Haiti and new team members began arriving.
• International emergency personnel continue to provide support and
  assistance for our Haitian Salvation Army Officers and staff who have
  been working heroically and self-sacrificially ever since the earthquake.
• Medical services continued seamlessly this weekend despite the arrival  of a new team of doctors, nurses and support staff to replace outgoing  medical personnel.
• Massive community packaging events are being conducted (with more in the  planning stage) in communities around the USA. This continues to be a  critical link in the supply chain that has allowed The Salvation Army to deliver well over 1.3 million meals already and will ensure that these life-saving deliveries continue until local systems can be restored.
• Early estimates are that The Salvation Army will be required to supply
  over 1 million meals per week for at least the next six weeks in order
  to sustain displaced families until regular and sustainable UN
  deliveries of food can be put into place.