Helping Haiti's Helpless
The Dallas Barnhartvale Community needs your help to send a forty (40) foot container to Help Haiti’s Helpless. The container is in place at the Dallas Barnhartvale Baptist Church at 495 Todd Road. It is labelled “HAITIAN STATION”, and is going to be filled with items needed to help sustain and maintain those in Haiti.
Once filled, the container will be sent to the Wray family in Haiti. Rod and Debbie Wray and their children, originally from Kamloops, have been living and working in Haiti for five (5) years. Rod is a former Royal Inland Hospital employee, electrician and gifted builder. Debbie is a former teacher who has taught throughout School District 73 and a wonderful project facilitator.
The Wrays live in Les Cayes, a community approximately 90 km outside Port Au Prince.They work primarily to build infrastructure and care for young children or peoples affected by AIDS. Their main focus has been to help children through projects of construction; like the building of orphanages, upgrading and expanding a hospital and creating and maintaining a weekly food program that feeds children in need.
Rod and Debbie were given 15 acres of waterfront land before the earthquake. The vision was to feed, house, clothe and love 200 children every week for 52 weeks of the year, operated by Haitians for Haitians. The goal with the container is to complete this dream, creating a haven in chaos. Rod and Debbie are focused on providing a childrens sport camp that will remain to serve children and families long after the effects of this disaster have passed. Monetary donations will be given a tax receipt and can be designated for either shipping the container to the Wrays or for emergency supplies for immediate use.
Donations of goods that will help the Wray family secure this haven for the children of Haiti are being accepted to fill the container. All donations can be made in person at the Dallas Barnhartvale Baptist Church – Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays from 8:30 am to 12:30pm or Sundays 9:00am to 12:00pm or contact 250-573-4413.
Once the container arrives in Haiti it will be left behind to serve as a valuable strong building for the camp. To date, adult running shoes, wheel chairs and crutches have been donated as well as some sporting goods, jerseys, children's clothing and balls.
Suggested Items for immediate and long-term needs:
CLOTHING AND APPAREL FOR CHILDREN Aged 10 -12 years (Can be gently used)
- Shorts
- T-Shirts
- Bathing suits
- Running shoes
HYGENIC AND MEDICINAL NEEDS:
- Tooth brushes
- Tooth paste
- Bars of Soap
- Face Cloths
- Ibuprofen
- Acetaminophen
- Aspirin
GENERATOR: (generators are vital for the Wrays to care for those in their camp)
- Diesel generator around 90 or 100 kw, single phase,12/240 volt.
- Wind generator
- Solar panel(s)
LEARNING MATERIAL AND TOYS:
- Children’s books
- Bouncy balls
- Pencils and erasers
SPORTING GOODS: (can be gently used)
- Shot puts
- Javelins
- Discus
- High jump/ Long jump equipment
- Mats
- Running Equipment
- Hurdles
- Timers
- Tennis nets, balls and raquets
- Ropes for tug-of-war or climbing course
- Soccer nets
- Soccer balls (lots!)
- Soccer equipment including shin guards, cleats etc
- Volleyball nets, balls and knee pads
- Basketballs, posts and backboards
- Ping pong paddles, balls and tables
- Bicycles (any size, mostly suited for children aged 10-12)
WATER SPORTING GOODS: (can be used)
- Kayaks
- Canoes
- Rowing skulls
- Pedal boats
- Dragon boats
- Good Quality Floating toys
*Cash donations would be greatly appreciated, documented and tax-receipted.*
PLEASE NOTE THEY DO NOT WANT ANY ITEMS RELATED TO HOCKEY, BASEBALL, RUGBY, LACROSSE, FOOTBALL or DARTS.
