Haiti: Every Contribution Makes a Difference

I can tell everyone that every person counts and every contribution makes a difference when natural disaster strikes. Do something to help the people of Haiti no matter how small or how large.

As a teenager in June 1972, I helped my community recover from a massive flood that resulted from Hurricane Agnes. Wyoming Valley in Northeastern Pennsylvania, was declared a national disaster area and President Nixon and other dignitaries came to visit our area which was on the national and international news. In the end, our valley became known as the "Valley with a Heart" because of the way people worked together to pull the community through this disaster. As a youngster, I was determined to do my part to help my fellow citizens recover.

That summer I was a grill man in a hamburger fast food restaurant. When the flood hit, people lost their houses and had no place to eat. We were selling hamburgers for 15 cents so the whole community came to dine at our restaurant. I never worked so hard in my life. Once the flood hit I worked ever night from 4pm until about 4am. I had one night off from the time the flood hit until I went back to school. It was a long difficult summer, but I was very glad I had the opportunity to help my fellow citizens recover from this disaster. It is the same situation in Haiti today. Every contribution makes a difference so contribute something to the people of Haiti today.

Today Wyoming Valley is doing its part to help in Haiti. Wilkes University conducted a candlelight vigil. Caitlin Czeh said a prayer for the estimated 200,000 people who died in the disaster, for those trapped in the rubble, and for the countless others who are seeking food, water, and shelter. The university is coordinating a fund drive for UNICEF, and is requesting donations at least $2, which is enough to feed one child for one day. Wilkes is also collecting medical supplies and toiletries for Haiti. Needed supplies include hand towels and wash clothes, wide-tooth combs, fingernail clippers (no nail files, emery boards or toe nail clippers), single bars of soap, 3 ounces or larger, toothbrushes (single-wrapped only), and boxes of adhesive, plastic-strip sterile bandages.

Wegmans supermarket is accepting donations that will go directly to the relief effort in Haiti.

The First Church of Christ in Wilkes-Barre is accepting monetary donations for EBAC Christian Academy and Orphanage, a Haiti-run charitable organization.

The Wyoming Valley Chapter of the The American Red Cross is accepting monetary donations at www.wyomingvalley.redcross.org/donate/donate.htlm. One can call at 1-800-REDCROSS or 570-823-7161. Checks can be mailed to The Red Cross, 256 N. Sherman Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702. Checks should be made payable to American Red Cross, and indicate "International Disaster Relief Fund" in the memo. One can text a $10 donation by texting "Haiti" to 90999.

The Salvation Army is accepting monetary donations which can be made at www.salvationarmyusa.org.

Source: Kristen Gaydos, Wilkes Community unites in call for aid, The Citizens' Voice Newspaper of Wilkes-Barre, PA, January 21, 2010.