We watch from afar the devastation that is wreaking havoc all across Haiti after it was hit with a 7.0 earthquake. Images of death and destruction stream across our television screens. Every story grows more heartbreaking and brings you to tears. One such story hit me hard yesterday and that was of an 11-year-old girl who had been trapped under the rubble, was cut free and later died from her injuries.
CNN Correspondent Ivan Watson shared her story (video). He had visited the site where she was trapped with her leg pinned under the rubble and at one point she held his hand and said, “don’t let me die.” Those exact words she would say again right before she died. Heartbreaking.There are thousands of similar stories unfolding all across Port-au-Prince, Haiti because there isn’t enough medical care to treat the injured. So many who survived the earthquake are dying now from their injuries due to a lack of medical care. There just aren’t enough doctors and medical facilities to handle the thousands in need of care.
Help is pouring into Haiti from all over the world and we all need to do our small part to help those in need. All of us can’t be part of a rescue or medical team or other type of team offering aid going into Haiti, but we can financially support them. Whether it be the Red Cross, your church, local gym or other place that’s offering aid to Haitians, you can get involved through donations and supporting companies and individuals offering aid.
Red Cross Red Velvet
There are thousands of individuals, companies and organizations offering relief aid to Haiti. Yesterday, my favorite cupcake maker, Sprinkles Cupcakes, donated 100 percent of its proceeds from the sales of its special Red Cross Red Velvet cupcakes.
Clinton Haiti Relief Fund
Even Chelsea Clinton is helping in a unique way by teaming with SoulCycle in New York City with a 90-minute cycling fundraising session on Thursday, January 21. 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Haiti through the Clinton Haiti Relief Fund.
Zanmi Lakay
For my SF Bay Area friends, if you’re up for some yoga on MLK day then head on over to Bernal Yoga in San Francisco. Yoga instructor Debbie Steingesser is doing a Haiti Relief Donation class with live music by Marla Leigh. 100 percent of the proceeds will go to Zanmi Lakay, a Bay Area-based “non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for current and former street children in Haiti by providing educational and economic opportunities and resources to help these children while they are on the streets and to help build a life for them off the streets.”
Jen Pantaléon who runs Zanmi Lakay will be on hand at Bernal Yoga on Monday sharing documentary photos from Haiti and answering questions. Jen and her husband Guy, who is Haitian, are heading to Haiti on January 26 for a trip that had been planned prior to the earthquake. Obviously, their trip’s focus has shifted and now more than ever they can use donations to aid in the relief efforts and continue their work in helping Haitian children.
To donate to Zanmi Lakay visit their site here. And for more information about the Haiti Relief Donation yoga class visit Bernal Yoga.
Comments