Haiti Clothing Drive
By Post Tuesday, February 09, 2010, 10:18 AM EST
Our Efforts In Haiti
What happened in Haiti is almost beyond words. The combination of a devastating 7.1 earthquake and Haiti’s already deeply dysfunctional and incredibly challenged situation has left as many as 200,000 dead and as many as 1 million Haitians homeless. My long piece written the week after the earthquake on the subject of Haiti gives perspective on how difficult rebuilding will be http://blog.wellsmountainfoundation.org/. However, difficult problems require redoubled efforts.
As the first response efforts to save lives, provide food and medical care continue, it is important that those who care deeply about Haiti also focus on the longer term needs of clothing, shelter, and family support. WMF can do little about the first response needs and leaves this to others. However, we think we can help in other areas. Thus, we are deeply engaged working on two second response projects, a very big clothing drive and the rebuilding of the Port au Prince branch of the YMCA d’ Haiti.
The Clothing Drive
Together with partners, DO Something, Inc. located in New York City and the World Service Committee of the Ridgewood YMCA, we are gathering clothes --- lots of clothes. Collection boxes are now out or soon will be in schools, stores, and bank branches from Vermont to New Jersey. The clothes are coming from everywhere. Individuals and families are donating! Several WMF Scholars at Bergen Community College have organized a tee shirt drive. Astoundingly large numbers of jeans are coming in from the national Aeropostle Jeans for Teens program. Paramus Building Supply at 50 West Century Road, Paramus, has volunteered its warehouse as our major collection point.
How Can You Help?
Want to collect clothes? We can supply you with collection boxes and posters. When you are finished, you will need to get the clothes to the Paramus warehouse.
Warehouse Help
With so many clothes coming in, we need help stacking and unpacking boxes onto pallets. Can you or your organization help? Let us know.
Sorting and Packing. By late February, we will be sorting and packing clothes at the Paramus warehouse.
Donate
We presently estimate that we will have fifteen 40 foot cargo containers that will go to Haiti. Yes, that is a lot of clothes! Rough value of all these clothes ----- more than a half million dollars. We have some great shipping companies helping us working to get the clothes to Haiti at the lowest possible cost, but we believe it will still cost about $60,000 for all this shipping (Think very big containers and very big ships!). If you can help on this cost, by all means please send us your check. Many companies and individuals are already stepping up to this challenge, but we need every dollar.
Come to Haiti to help on distribution
This is not for the faint-hearted. The YMCA d’Haiti is going to handle distribution of the clothes. This will likely not be until the end of April. This will be hard, dirty and possibly even dangerous work. It should be deeply gratifying as well. If you would like to be part of this group that will be going to Haiti to help in the effort let us know.
New YMCA
The YMCA d’Haiti needs a new home in Port au Prince. The present building is in ruins. We are presently looking for a location and then will need to build a facility. We will start with a tent or other temporary structure. This is another great cause to donate to, to be part of the longer term solution in Haiti. Lots more news will be coming on this.
If you can help in any way, please contact Tom or Carol Wells at WMF at (802) 453-4065 or twells@wellslaw.com. Checks can be sent to WMF at 25D Main Street, Bristol, Vermont 05443. If you contribute, label your check either "clothing drive” or “New Y,” if you would like.
Thanks for caring. Little steps, made with commitment, will eventually cover any distance!
What happened in Haiti is almost beyond words. The combination of a devastating 7.1 earthquake and Haiti’s already deeply dysfunctional and incredibly challenged situation has left as many as 200,000 dead and as many as 1 million Haitians homeless. My long piece written the week after the earthquake on the subject of Haiti gives perspective on how difficult rebuilding will be http://blog.wellsmountainfoundation.org/. However, difficult problems require redoubled efforts.
As the first response efforts to save lives, provide food and medical care continue, it is important that those who care deeply about Haiti also focus on the longer term needs of clothing, shelter, and family support. WMF can do little about the first response needs and leaves this to others. However, we think we can help in other areas. Thus, we are deeply engaged working on two second response projects, a very big clothing drive and the rebuilding of the Port au Prince branch of the YMCA d’ Haiti.
The Clothing Drive
Together with partners, DO Something, Inc. located in New York City and the World Service Committee of the Ridgewood YMCA, we are gathering clothes --- lots of clothes. Collection boxes are now out or soon will be in schools, stores, and bank branches from Vermont to New Jersey. The clothes are coming from everywhere. Individuals and families are donating! Several WMF Scholars at Bergen Community College have organized a tee shirt drive. Astoundingly large numbers of jeans are coming in from the national Aeropostle Jeans for Teens program. Paramus Building Supply at 50 West Century Road, Paramus, has volunteered its warehouse as our major collection point.
How Can You Help?
Want to collect clothes? We can supply you with collection boxes and posters. When you are finished, you will need to get the clothes to the Paramus warehouse.
Warehouse Help
With so many clothes coming in, we need help stacking and unpacking boxes onto pallets. Can you or your organization help? Let us know.
Sorting and Packing. By late February, we will be sorting and packing clothes at the Paramus warehouse.
Donate
We presently estimate that we will have fifteen 40 foot cargo containers that will go to Haiti. Yes, that is a lot of clothes! Rough value of all these clothes ----- more than a half million dollars. We have some great shipping companies helping us working to get the clothes to Haiti at the lowest possible cost, but we believe it will still cost about $60,000 for all this shipping (Think very big containers and very big ships!). If you can help on this cost, by all means please send us your check. Many companies and individuals are already stepping up to this challenge, but we need every dollar.
Come to Haiti to help on distribution
This is not for the faint-hearted. The YMCA d’Haiti is going to handle distribution of the clothes. This will likely not be until the end of April. This will be hard, dirty and possibly even dangerous work. It should be deeply gratifying as well. If you would like to be part of this group that will be going to Haiti to help in the effort let us know.
New YMCA
The YMCA d’Haiti needs a new home in Port au Prince. The present building is in ruins. We are presently looking for a location and then will need to build a facility. We will start with a tent or other temporary structure. This is another great cause to donate to, to be part of the longer term solution in Haiti. Lots more news will be coming on this.
If you can help in any way, please contact Tom or Carol Wells at WMF at (802) 453-4065 or twells@wellslaw.com. Checks can be sent to WMF at 25D Main Street, Bristol, Vermont 05443. If you contribute, label your check either "clothing drive” or “New Y,” if you would like.
Thanks for caring. Little steps, made with commitment, will eventually cover any distance!
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