The president of Caritas Internationalis, Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, visited Haiti yesterday to assess the situation there. Of course, some political leaders, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper, have done the same.
The cardinal's visit was timed to deliver aid and spiritual solidarity to the Haitian people and their church. He indicated that, after a two-month campaign focused on relief, Caritas will begin a reconstruction program focused on housing, education and livelihoods, which will last up to five years. In all $234 million has been dedicated to the Caritas Internationalis Haitian relief effort by private individuals and governments.
More on the visit can be found on the Zenit news services site and additional updates on the Caritas work being done on the ground can be found on the Caritas site.
Though our fundraising for Haiti is for the most part over, the work of rebuilding the physical and social structures of the country will continue for years to come.
Showing posts with label Haiti earthquake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Haiti earthquake. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Haitian Relief - $3.7 million raised!
The parishes, schools and businesses of the Archdiocese of Toronto responded to the Haitian earthquake disaster with incredible generosity!
As of February 12, the deadline for gifts to qualify for the federal government's matching program, contributions to the Archdiocese had reached nearly $3.7 million!!! Thank you very much to everyone who contributed to this true demonstration of support and care for the Haitian people in their time of need. This total represents more than 25% of all funds collected across Canada by Development & Peace for the Caritas Internationalis efforts in Haiti.
On the ground, Caritas teams continue to help. "There are 322 camps spread throughout the city that face the enormous challenge of sheltering nearly all those left in the city. Sanitation is a concern, the threat of disease looms large, and the dark clouds of the rainy season will soon be rolling in from the sea," according to the D&P website. Your funds are making a practical and important difference as Port-au-Prince and the Haitian nation struggles to recover. (You can find regular updates here.)
Our thoughts and prayers continue for all the victims and for the thousands of people on the ground helping the country rebuild.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Inspiration at work in Haiti
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.
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.
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...)
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.
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