Guy Danjoint’s kitchen has been transformed into a newsroom of sorts with a television broadcasting the latest reports out of Haiti, a computer keeping him linked to friends and loved ones in the area and newspapers to fill out many of the details of the catastrophic earthquake that hit the island country.
Since the earthquake, Danjoint has been in contact with his four brothers who live in the Port-au-Prince city hardest hit by the tremors.
“Their house has been destroyed but they survived,” Danjoint said. They have since left the city and moved to the outskirts awaiting supplies and aid.”
Their story is similar to thousands of Port-au-Prince residents who have vacated the city for the countryside.
“In the outskirts, people do farming and they can eat and have better care,” he said.
From what he’s gathered, Danjoint said officials intend to empty Port-au-Prince so they can begin the task of clearing the rubble and rebuilding. In the meantime, the country is being split into north and south in an effort to manage the overwhelming amount of aid that has converged there.
Food, water and medical supplies are making it to Haiti but substantial investment will be necessary to rebuild when the people’s immediate needs are met.
Danjoint said a group recently met in Milford to discuss options and he plans help get the word out with a radio broadcast at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, in front of the Gigante grocery store in Milford. He broadcasts a weekly show 3:30 p.m. Sundays at 930 AM WYUS to the Haitian community. Together with the radio station, he said he hopes to raise funds for the recovery effort.
Lionel Sainsume, pastor of the Premiere Eglise Evangeliane Hatienne de Milford, said he has received dozens of calls from people asking how they can help. He’s not organizing a relief effort but said he can help direct funds or donations to people in need there.
He has been in contact with friends and family in the Port-au-Prince area who survived the earthquake.
“I praise God because some lost a house but they’re still alive,” he said.
Sainsume said he shuns the large organizations such as Red Cross because he doubts donations go where they’re intended.
“I stay away from big organizations because they have big money and don’t need more … (These) organizations collect things for Haiti but I know my country more than them,” he said. “I know my country and know their needs.”
When someone contacts him about donating, Sainsume said he asks they be specific about where or for what they want the money or donation to go. Before he accepts any type of donation, he said he takes their name and gives them a receipt. The church’s phone number is 424-6500.
Danjoint, likewise, recommends donating to organizations that have a vested interest in the country.
He said he believes Global Outreach International is an honest organization committed to helping the struggling country.
“I respect people who’ve left their country and go to help even before this happened,” he said of the missionary program.
Indeed, the group’s homepage clearly states “One hundred percent of all Haiti Earthquake Relief support is invested in the ministry to help earthquake victims. No administrative charges or fees are withheld from your donation.”
For more information on the group, call (662) 842-4615, email go@globaloutreach.org or visit www.globaloutreach.org.
Milford, Del. —
