January 12, 2011
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The Daily News1 One year ago today, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti. While many causes have moved me over the years, Haiti was particularly compelling because of the amount of people affected, and because of it’s unstable infrastructure.2 While the story got to me a bit late, I instantly jumped online to find how people could help, and posted some relief links on the DN. Sheryll Marmito Silva sent me the text Haiti to 90999 link, which was perhaps the easiest way to contribute.
3 Here are some updated facts from the World Food Programme:
One Year Later, Haiti Still Urgently Needs Our Help
One year after the earthquake, your support continues to be essential in Haiti:
• More than 30% of children are affected by chronic malnutrition. We provided nutritional assistance to 450,000 young children and new mothers in 2010. Each $5 you donate gives supplementary nutrition to an infant for a whole year.
• The earthquake damaged or destroyed 4,200 schools throughout Haiti. We’re currently feeding 1.1 million children a hot school meal every day, but more kids desperately need that valuable nutrition. Each $50 provides meals to a child for the entire school year.
• 70 – 80% of Haitians remain unemployed one year after the earthquake. Cash and Food for Work projects are creating jobs for tens of thousands of Haitians and helping to rebuild the country. $100 can kick start a local Cash and Food for Work programme.
3 Go to http://www.wfp.org/donate/haiti for more details. This is the site that is linked to Haiti to 90999.
4 Last summer, a group of bay area students and chaperones went to Haiti to help, no matter how small their contribution. My friend Victoria Duran, who succeeded me as the Activities’ Director at EV and her sister Jennifer were a part of that amazing group.
5 They went through San Francisco’s Global Exchange to get a firsthand look at the devastation, and to help distribute rice, beans, and toothpaste. Here’s their link:
6 They have brought the experience home, and tonight at 6:30 p.m. they are having an educational forum at the Evergreen Valley High School theater, 3300 Quimby Road, San Jose CA 95148. (408) 347-7000.
7 I’m proud of all of those people who decided go straight to Haiti to give instant assistance. I’m also proud that they appear in an article about the experience in this morning’s Merc News. There is even a picture of Jennifer and Victoria.
8 According to the article, an estimated 230,000 to 300,000 people were killed in the earthquake. I won’t roll out all the statistics, because most readers of the DN understand that help is still urgently needed. If you can help, please do.
7 Victoria and Jennifer will be there tonight, and their story will be shared with the community. Huge kudos to these guys for putting all of this together, and kudos to Global Exchange for bringing this story home.
8 Moving on, Part the First: I’m feeling a little under the weather today, so I have stayed home.
9 I may be able to crawl up to see my Dad today though.
10 I don’t feel THAT under the weather, but enough that I probably shouldn’t be in front of kids teaching.
11 And yes, with any edition of the DN, you are allowed to read between lines. ; ) <——— cool sideways winky dude
12 Moving on, Part the Second: So…David Nelson walks into a bar…
13 Another slice of American Pie sweetens the heavens.
14 Brother of Ricky Nelson, underrated pop star and son of Ozzie and Harriet, one of the great family television shows from long ago. Black-and-white, retro, and simple. It would often end with Ricky singing a song. Quite charming, quite amusing.
15 Welp, that’s about it for the DN today.
16 Hope you all have a good one, and if you could contribute to the Haitian cause, please give it some thought.
17 Peace.
~H~
