Collision Solutions Network was looking for an avenue to help those devastated by the recent earthquake in Haiti. After considering various agencies, they chose to direct their $10,000 donation through Extreme Response. ER was a good fit for their philosophy of helping others. CSN members are active in their communities, seeking ways to help their neighbours. Extreme Response wishes to thank CSN and their members for this generous donation.

John Goodlet, General Manager Simcoe Collision Centre CSN , Larry French, National Director of Sales CSN Corporate, Paul Cripps Extreme Response Canada

submitted by Paul Cripps, Director Extreme Response Canada

The earthquake in Haiti has the world scrambling to help. I (Jerry) have been inundated with phone calls and e-mails from friends, churches, and from people I’ve never met asking if we are sending teams that they can join, or if we will be accepting donations of food, water and clothing.

I have spoken with our partner, Lemuel. They are in need of funds for food, water, rebuilding their own facilities as well as staff housing. They, of course, want to help the people of Haiti survive the current crisis, rebuild their lives and homes.. They have asked that we do not send teams any time soon because they are having hard time surviving themselves let alone having to worry about visitors who do not speak the language, don’t know the country culture, safety issues etc.. The unknowns of day to day living are overwhelming right now. They have asked for donations so they can purchase supplies locally. Prices may be high but purchasing locally will help to re-stimulate their economy and at this time many of the supplies that have arrived at the airport are stuck there because of the logistical problems with all the damage of the roads and building.

Yesterday we got word from them that all but one of the boys they work with in Port-au-Prince were alive.

ER rep Jean David was scheduled to fly from Quito to Haiti yesterday. We have not heard if he arrived or not. The current plan is that he will assist with the distribution of aid alongside the Ecuadorian military…. more details to follow.

We are accepting donations that will be distributed in Haiti at the discretion of our partners. If and when they are ready to host work teams we will begin planning and sending teams. My guess is that it will take 3 to 5 years for them to rebuild to the pre-quake situation which was not good by any standard. We will have plenty of time to send teams when the rest of the world had forgotten and moved on to the next disaster. This is a long term project. Right now it’s the crisis - recovery and first-response efforts. Much will need to be done with this phase has ended. Thank you to all that have already donated.

Jenny from House of Hope Orphanage writes…
Today was another busy day, trying to connect people with their loved ones. Again some good and some bad endings, but we are glad to be able to help. We communicated with Dr. Boucher, and he sounded much better today. We are still trying to get our kids out of PAP and up here. We have received numerous requests to keep people who have survived and have no place to go. We are happy to do so, and so are waiting for them to start showing up. We imagine our family growing quite a bit over the next few days, and we are happy to be able to help out in this way.

The hospital we are connected with(CMB) is starting to fill up with wounded that have been able to make it out here. We’ve sent all our extra medical supplies to them because they will run out quickly (dear friends at Simcoe {Extreme Response Canada}– your medical supplies are being put to good use!). Dr. Mozart was exhausted this morning, so you could pray for him and the other Dr.’s and nurses as they treat these wounded. They were told they’d get some extra nurses from the government, but so far we haven’t seen them yet.

Please give toward to the ongoing relief efforts in Haiti

Donations towards HAITI RELIEF
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Today Extreme Response President Jerry Carnill met with representatives from Lemuel (ER partner project in Haiti) to discuss immediate and future relief needs. The Lemuel building in Port-au-Prince was damaged, but not destroyed. They still have not received word on the status of their people in the capital. Extreme Response is collecting funds (see donate button below) to partner with Lemuel in a relief effort. These funds will be used as Lemuel begins to assist their “neighbors” after the current initial recovery mission begins to subside and long-term assistance is ready to begin.

Extreme Response is also sending a representative to Haiti to help with the relief efforts there. Jean David is a Haitian that is currently living in Ecuador. Jean David is scheduled to go with ER partner HCJB Global to help with translation and logistics for a medical team that is currently trying to get into Port-au-Prince. Today he was also asked to assist the Ecuadorian military in transporting 50,000 rations of food and water. Because of the chaos at the Port-au-Prince airport, the HCJB medical team is waiting in Miami and the Ecuadorian military plane is still in Quito. Jean David is scheduled to leave Quito on an Air France flight Friday afternoon. We will keep you informed as new information comes in.

Today’s update from Jenny at the House of Hope orphanage in Haiti says…
One of our kids, Carl, wasn’t at school (in Port-au-Prince) day before yesterday as he had finished his exams and had a few days off (he was supposed to come up here today on the bus, go figure). He said his school was ripped in two, and all the students who were there were buried underneath and they’ve not been able to get any out. It was such a God thing that he was at the Boucher house when the earthquake happened, because he had to rush in to get their middle boy out. He got hit on the shoulder, but saved the boy’s life!……One piece of good news we got today was that someone has spoken with Miss Marie Ange. She was our last young adult in PAP that we hadn’t heard from. So all of our kids who live there are alive and accounted for..

Please give toward to the ongoing relief efforts in Haiti

Donations towards HAITI RELIEF
Enter Amount $

The worst earthquake on over 200 years has left massive destruction in Port Au Prince, Haiti. Thousands are presumed dead. This morning we have heard from both Extreme Response partners in Haiti. The Lemuel project and staff in the Plateau in the Northwest region of Haiti were not affected by the quake (Manis, Judy & staff), but they have not heard anything from their project people in Port-au-Prince. They are fearful for the safety of their people there, but cannot contact them due to all phone service being down. We will keep you updated as we receive information.

We have also heard from Jenny at the House of Hope Orphanage also in Haiti…
Just a quick note to let you know we are safe. We felt the earthquake here, and both the aftershocks. We thought it was just a local thing, you can imagine how much all our kids were scared, and we’ve spent the whole evening telling and retelling our experiences (some of our kids were still in school, and had to fight to get out of the buildings – it was a bit scary for them). We’ve heard of just a bit of damage around here, and the hospital had at least one case that we know of. It was a little girl who was under a wall that fell down, she has a broken arm.
By now we’ve heard how serious it was in and around PAP, and so we are very concerned for all our friends, family and colleagues who live there. We can’t use our phones at all, but thankfully our internet it working. Thank you to everyone who expressed their concern, we do appreciate your prayers.

Extreme Response is working with our partners to begin relief efforts in the country. If you would like to give toward this effort, please designate your gift (online through this website or by check) for “HAITI RELIEF”

Donations towards HAITI RELIEF
Enter Amount $

Gustav, Hanna and Ike have all hit the small country of Haiti in recent days. Extreme Response is working to help through our partner Lemuel located in the plateau area of the country.

Extreme Response partnered with MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) and Lemuel to bring in much needed food for distribution. MAF is flying in loads of food to the devastated area where the people lost their gardens and water source when Hanna swept through, and now have lost their animals and homes. All food sources have been destroyed, including off-shore fishing. One of the ladies that received food from the distribution on September 7th had not had a meal in 10 days - she had been living off pieces of bread and salted water. She is just one example of many.

If you would like to help cover the cost of purchasing and transporting more food to those affected, please contact us at info@extremeresponse.org.