By Owen Boss and Kristin Palpini
Staff Writers
NORTHAMPTON - In the aftermath of a devastating earthquake in Haiti, Valley aid groups familiar with the Caribbean nation are trying to figure out how best to help the island's beleaguered people.
The most pressing need in Haiti is medical, local relief volunteers said Wednesday, but those capable of providing it said it is unlikely planes are landing in Haiti.
"The natural instinct for Americans is to rush in there, roll up our sleeves and do our thing," said Mark Bigda, an Easthampton doctor who has been making regular trips to provide free medical treatment to Haitians for years.
"But I'm afraid the ability to get in the country right now is probably extremely limited," he said.
Less than a day after the magnitude 7 earthquake that has toppled much of the nation's capital and surrounding towns, Valley residents were talking about raising money to pay for water, medical treatment, food and construction efforts in Haiti.
In the days to come, area aid organizations said they expect to form action plans to help Haiti.
Dave Entin, chairman of the First Churches in Northampton peace and justice committee, said the church would soon discuss how best to meet Haiti's need. Pauline Bassett, a committee member, said parishioners will be asked for donations. How donations will be used to aid Haiti must still be decided.
"We're eager to have that discussion," said Entin, who noted Sunday's sermon would be dedicated to Haiti. "They're going to need the help."
Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, with 80 percent of the population living under the poverty line and 54 percent in abject poverty, according to the CIA. In recent years, Haiti has suffered devastating floods and hurricanes.
Adrien Tofighi, a University of Massachusetts student and member of P.E.A.C.H., a student group dedicated to aiding Haiti, said he plans to contact the university's Haitian-American student association to help organize a food drive or collect medical supplies.
"I want to be effective, but I'm not trained as a nurse or a medic," Tofighi said. "I know I can do something.
The mood inside Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst was a somber one Wednesday night as several parishioners held a prayer service and candlelight vigil for Haitian citizens, especially those living at a church-sponsored school and ministry in Saint Mathieu De Bayonnais, a small town about four hours from Port-au-Prince.
"I'm sure there is going to be an effort down the road to gather donations, but at the moment we are giving donations to Episcopal Relief & Development, a religious organization we work with," the Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas said. "We typically work through the agencies there."
Annie Scarff, a Grace Episcopal parishioner, said she attended the vigil because a visit to the country less than a year ago left her with firsthand knowledge of the deplorable conditions that many Haitians endure.
"It is hard to imagine how things in Haiti could get any worse, but I'm sure they are now," Scarff said. "The electricity pretty much didn't go on at night before, and there probably is a lack of power, water and the basics."
According to Bullitt-Jonas, area residents looking to help can donate to Episcopal Relief & Development by visiting the Web site: http://www.er-d.org.
Another resident who will be collecting donations in coming days is Mariaelena Garcia, of Amherst, who said her daughter's husband, a native of Haiti, was desperately trying Wednesday morning to locate family members who still live on the island.
"I spoke with someone there, and she said that when she walked through the streets she saw little hands coming out from underneath concrete slabs, and without heavy machinery no one there was able to lift the concrete off of them," Garcia said. "This is all about helping the people who are still surviving."
Garcia, who plans to fill a 16-foot truck with assorted goods, said people can come by her home at 74 N. Whitney St., between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday to drop off any items they would like to donate to survivors. Then, Garcia said, after collecting more goods Tuesday morning, she will take the truck to Boston, where she will help fill a reserved container heading for Haiti.
"People should remember when they donate that these people lost everything and absolutely anything they can bring by will be a huge help," Garcia said.
Garcia said anyone interested in donating or volunteering their time can call her at 413-222-1001.
Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com
No comments:
Post a Comment