Tragedy in Haiti

Devastation everywhere - appears on the TV screen, on my web home page and in the newspapers. A 7.2 earthquake has hit Haiti. It is believed that over 100 thousand people are dead or missing.
Homes and large buildings are a shambles, with people buried beneath the rubble. There is no food, no water nor medical supplies and doctors to help the injured. There are piles of bodies along the streets, which will cause sickness and disease if not buried soon.

The airport has been extremely crowded, along with the harbor, which was almost destroyed making it almost impossible for ships to deliver food and water, medical supplies and other necessary items. Planes have managed to fly into an open area of the airport to deliver desperately-needed food, water and medical supplies.
American military are also in Haiti in large numbers to help distribute supplies and help to recover the injured and dead bodies. Other countries have also sent groups to help with burial of the dead and to recover the injured. At this point in time, medical personnel have arrived and are setting up 'hospitals.' Many people have injuries that need urgent care.

I have never worked or been involved in a tragedy such as this, but my heart goes out to the Haitian people, especially the children. I'm sure they are quite fearful, as I see in every face on the TV, the fear is evident.

When I ring the bell for the Salvation Army in my small town, I feel I am helping people to have a Christmas with enough food as well as gifts. With our current economy, this is so true as many of the bread winners are out of work, and compensation soon runs out for them. The temperatures here in Northern Indiana were severely cold at Christmas, and it was not pleasant standing out in the cold wind and snow. Some people just wouldn't do this because they said it was too cold. I don't mean to brag about my time spent, but I did stick it out for an hour to one hour and a half at a time. In our town, the bell ringers managed to raise well over nine-thousand dollars, which will stay in our county.

Another venue where I felt helpful and also blessed was when I was a hospice volunteer while living in New Mexico. I relieved the caretakers of their loved ones or friends so they could go shopping for food or just to get away for a little respite. I also visited an elderly patient in a nursing home who seldom had other visitors. She was ever grateful, and I helped her celebrate her 100th birthday.

I know these acts of caring for others do not compare with the people who are going to Haiti to help the injured, weak and homeless. I was so blessed by bringing some light into the darkness of life's ending for many.

Sources:

News on several TV channels
Personal experience