The concern, the prayers, the fundraising and the relief efforts on the ground all continue around the Haitian earthquake disaster.
Just one example of the activity going on here at home, Robert F. Hall Secondary School in Caledon raised $17,000 for the victims of the natural disaster. An article came across my desk celebrating the generous work of the staff and students at that school. Thank you and congratuations to the school community there.
Also, for anyone interested in learning more about the Catholic Church's response on the ground, I recommend checking out the websites of our partners at Development & Peace and Caritas - they are being updated daily with sobering but inspiring reports of the work being done and the slow progress being made in Haiti.
Our prayers continue for those affected by the quakes, and those dedicated to helping the victims.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Update on Haiti...
A short update on the activities of Caritas in Haiti. Remember that our ShareLife partners at Development & Peace are the Caritas Internationalis agency in Canada - they are actively involved in funding and on-the-ground work in Haiti.
Caritas Haiti has begun to deliver almost 100 tonnes of food to Port-au-Prince this week to feed at least 50,000 people in one of the city’s biggest camps, Petionville Club. Working in a joint response to the earthquake of almost two weeks ago, the Caritas agencies have already brought food, water, medical and other supplies to more than 25,000 people. But the needs remain great, and logistics, communication and security have been serious challenges. The public has donated over US $60 million (Euro 45 million) so far to Caritas members worldwide.
Before this disaster, Haiti had very poor infrastructure. Caritas says it was not possible to have the amount of resources required to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of people overnight. But Caritas Haiti had stocks that were already pre-positioned in their warehouses, which enabled them to respond to the crisis within a short matter of hours. They were also able to bring in at least 40 truckloads so far from neighbouring Dominican Republic, and receive supplies via a severely damaged port. Almost two weeks after the devastating earthquake, people are becoming more desperate for food, but the constant flow of helicopters carrying crates over the city show that aid is getting through. (more...)
Caritas Haiti has begun to deliver almost 100 tonnes of food to Port-au-Prince this week to feed at least 50,000 people in one of the city’s biggest camps, Petionville Club. Working in a joint response to the earthquake of almost two weeks ago, the Caritas agencies have already brought food, water, medical and other supplies to more than 25,000 people. But the needs remain great, and logistics, communication and security have been serious challenges. The public has donated over US $60 million (Euro 45 million) so far to Caritas members worldwide.
Before this disaster, Haiti had very poor infrastructure. Caritas says it was not possible to have the amount of resources required to meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of people overnight. But Caritas Haiti had stocks that were already pre-positioned in their warehouses, which enabled them to respond to the crisis within a short matter of hours. They were also able to bring in at least 40 truckloads so far from neighbouring Dominican Republic, and receive supplies via a severely damaged port. Almost two weeks after the devastating earthquake, people are becoming more desperate for food, but the constant flow of helicopters carrying crates over the city show that aid is getting through. (more...)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Match Point!
Many parishioners continue to call our office with questions related to the federal government's "matching program" in relation to Haitian disaster relief. (Yes, contributions to ShareLife are eligible for matching programs in the same manner as other approved organizations.)
HOWEVER, we're excited here at ShareLife about a new matching program as well!
An extremely generous donor has offered us all a challenge and an opportunity: any new or increased gift to the ShareLife Campaign in 2010 will be matched 100%! Gifts coming from new donors to the campaign will be essentially doubled. For previous donors, any increase in their contribution from last year will be matched as well.
The impact of this generous gesture could be incredible for the ShareLife campaign. More importantly, it could be incredible for the thousands of people who receive support from ShareLife agencies.
Spread the word far and wide!!! Let everyone know - we're certainly going to do the same here!!!
HOWEVER, we're excited here at ShareLife about a new matching program as well!
An extremely generous donor has offered us all a challenge and an opportunity: any new or increased gift to the ShareLife Campaign in 2010 will be matched 100%! Gifts coming from new donors to the campaign will be essentially doubled. For previous donors, any increase in their contribution from last year will be matched as well.
The impact of this generous gesture could be incredible for the ShareLife campaign. More importantly, it could be incredible for the thousands of people who receive support from ShareLife agencies.
Spread the word far and wide!!! Let everyone know - we're certainly going to do the same here!!!
Friday, January 22, 2010
A little bit of business...
While we continue to focus a great deal of our resources on the humanitarian relief efforts for Haiti, a short note today on another ShareLife activity:
Check out today's Page 10 of the Globe and Mail, Ontario edition . You'll find a quarter-page ad from ShareLife (space graciously donated by The Globe) thanking the donors to our 2009 Corporate Campaign. Our agencies are an integral part of the community and it's great to see the placement reflecting that fact, square in the middle of the Toronto city section.
In other corporate campaign news, our annual golf tournament is on the move, with a new date, a new course and a new sponsor. CIBC will be our presenting sponsor for the 15th annual ShareLife Corporate Gold Tournament. We are grateful for their sponsorship and look forward to bringing the tournament to a new level with their support. We have secured Monday, June 7, 2010 as the date for this year’s event. Make sure to mark your calendars. And, after three successful events at Deer Creek Golf & Banquet Facility, we’ve made the strategic move to Lionhead Golf & Country Club in Brampton - a high-profile tournament course central to all parts of the GTA.
While our prayers and efforts continue for the people of Haiti, we try to maintain our focus on support our Catholic social service agencies here at home.
Check out today's Page 10 of the Globe and Mail, Ontario edition . You'll find a quarter-page ad from ShareLife (space graciously donated by The Globe) thanking the donors to our 2009 Corporate Campaign. Our agencies are an integral part of the community and it's great to see the placement reflecting that fact, square in the middle of the Toronto city section.
In other corporate campaign news, our annual golf tournament is on the move, with a new date, a new course and a new sponsor. CIBC will be our presenting sponsor for the 15th annual ShareLife Corporate Gold Tournament. We are grateful for their sponsorship and look forward to bringing the tournament to a new level with their support. We have secured Monday, June 7, 2010 as the date for this year’s event. Make sure to mark your calendars. And, after three successful events at Deer Creek Golf & Banquet Facility, we’ve made the strategic move to Lionhead Golf & Country Club in Brampton - a high-profile tournament course central to all parts of the GTA.
While our prayers and efforts continue for the people of Haiti, we try to maintain our focus on support our Catholic social service agencies here at home.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Haiti relief update
As the world reacts to the ongoing disaster in Haiti, please know that relief donations to the ShareLife office are making a difference on the ground.
Our partners at Development and Peace have two staff members on the ground in Haiti, assisting the Caritas Internationalis team there. (CCODP is the Caritas representative agency in Canada.) You can follow their activities as they coordinate the distribution of food water and supplies to the residents of Port-au-Prince. "Caritas organisations have sent 200,000 blankets, 15,000 tents, water cans and purification tablets, as well as food water and hygiene kits. Twenty trucks of aid arrived in Port-au-Prince on Sunday."
Please remember that there is a special second collection happening in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto this weekend. Also, a prayer of the faithful will be read in solidarity with the people of Haiti. (more...)
To date, more than $115,000 has been donated through our website alone. Thank you for your generosity as we collectively extend a hand to our Haitian neighbours in need.
Our partners at Development and Peace have two staff members on the ground in Haiti, assisting the Caritas Internationalis team there. (CCODP is the Caritas representative agency in Canada.) You can follow their activities as they coordinate the distribution of food water and supplies to the residents of Port-au-Prince. "Caritas organisations have sent 200,000 blankets, 15,000 tents, water cans and purification tablets, as well as food water and hygiene kits. Twenty trucks of aid arrived in Port-au-Prince on Sunday."
Please remember that there is a special second collection happening in parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Toronto this weekend. Also, a prayer of the faithful will be read in solidarity with the people of Haiti. (more...)
To date, more than $115,000 has been donated through our website alone. Thank you for your generosity as we collectively extend a hand to our Haitian neighbours in need.
Monday, January 18, 2010
mea culpa + Haitian relief update
Well, I would like to apologize to everyone who checks in on this blog. I've been woefully behind in updating. Please forgive me and give me a chance to redeem myself.
Haitian relief efforts have been underway since Wednesday morning, as you can imagine. A prayer for the victims was read throughout the diocese last weekend and will be again this weekend. Most significantly, there will be an unprecedented second collection for Haitian relief in all parishes across the diocese this coming weekend.
Working through the Catholic Church’s official international relief network, Caritas Internationalis, the funds we receive are being channelled to Caritas Haiti, which runs 200 medical clinics in the country. ShareLife does not apply any administrative fees to humanitarian relief contributions, ensuring as much money as possible is directed toward assistance of those in crisis. Donations will help provide food, shelter, clean water, and medical and cooking supplies for those affected by the earthquake. Catholic partners will be present in both the short and long term, assisting with the rebuilding efforts that will continue for months and years to come.
I'll be in touch every day this week, to catch up on all that is on the go.
Haitian relief efforts have been underway since Wednesday morning, as you can imagine. A prayer for the victims was read throughout the diocese last weekend and will be again this weekend. Most significantly, there will be an unprecedented second collection for Haitian relief in all parishes across the diocese this coming weekend.
Working through the Catholic Church’s official international relief network, Caritas Internationalis, the funds we receive are being channelled to Caritas Haiti, which runs 200 medical clinics in the country. ShareLife does not apply any administrative fees to humanitarian relief contributions, ensuring as much money as possible is directed toward assistance of those in crisis. Donations will help provide food, shelter, clean water, and medical and cooking supplies for those affected by the earthquake. Catholic partners will be present in both the short and long term, assisting with the rebuilding efforts that will continue for months and years to come.
I'll be in touch every day this week, to catch up on all that is on the go.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year
Just a short note to wish you and you're loved ones a safe and joyful New Year. May we find greater generosity in our society and less need for it. Remember, when foodbanks began, they were intended as a temporary measure...
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