On March 8, outside The Salvation Army’s classroom doors, a miracle occurred in the midst of chaos.

A young pregnant woman in labour walked into The Salvation Army facility that houses the Army’s current school and clinic in Port-au-Prince. She had no time to make it to the nearest working hospital, 40 minutes away.

Staff member Dee Smith, a licensed emergency medical technician, quickly cleaned and cared for both mother and child. Within the hour a doctor was on the scene and both received a clean bill of health. Baby Neldine will receive clothes from The Salvation Army. This is the ninth baby born at Salvation Army facilities since the earthquake.

It’s exactly eight weeks since a massive earthquake rocked Haiti Jan. 12, leaving an estimated 200,000 dead, a country in ruins, and untold injured and homeless.

As time has gone on, the world’s eyes have turned to new problems, but the crisis in the tiny Caribbean nation continues and Metro Monctonians are still finding ways to lend a hand. Li is heading to Haiti with the Salvation Army. He is a member of the Moncton congregation of the church.Read full story…

Dr. John Li of Moncton is going to Haiti to work and help the people of the country that was devastated by an earthquake in January.

Photo by RON WARD/TIMES & TRANSCRIPT

One of Toronto’s working poor – homeless in his final moments – died last year at St. Michael’s Hospital, unnoticed by the greater world around him. Read the full story

The 8.8 magnitude earthquake that devastated Chile comes on the heels of Haiti’s massive earthquake. Many Salvation Army centres report fewer phone calls are being received to support Chile’s tragedy, versus Haiti’s.

Chile isn’t getting the same attention as Haiti. In the first 48 hours after both earthquakes 2,596 news articles were written about Haiti, while 400 news articles were written about Chile.

The two countries are united in having deadly disasters. Will monetary donations increase as people begin to see more coverage of Chile and the human element involved?

Each is worthy of our compassion and help. Yet, in a time of economic stress are donors fatigued?

The most recent American Idol, Kris Allen, recently visited Haiti and toured The Salvation Army camp in Port-au-Prince. With the intent of bringing awareness to relief efforts in Haiti, Kris visited with staff, played with children and, through an interpreter, spoke with camp residents.

During his visit, Kris helped with the Army’s registration process issuing new ration cards as part of a new UPS Trackpad program. The Salvation Army is replacing handwritten paper index cards with high-tech barcode technology to ensure that families receive food, shelter and medical supplies in a highly efficient manner. UPS donated the technology and adapted it for disaster relief supply distribution.

FAST FACTS

As of February 23, 2010:

• 2,900 tents have been delivered
• more than 19,000 individual patients have received medical care
• 500,000 gallons of water has been supplied
• 16 cargo flights have delivered supplies
• more than 3 million meals have been delivered

The Salvation Army continues to find new ways to raise money for the relief effort in Haiti. On Saturday kettles will be set up in seven liquor board stores around Regina to collect donations.

Captain Steven Cameron with The Salvation Army says this time they are focusing on providing a specific type of aid. “We’re really focusing on housing, so tents for the short term and then working on long-term sustainable housing after that.” Cameron adds that housing will become a major issue once the rainy season hits Haiti.

After Saturday people can still donate by dropping by The Salvation Army’s office at 2240 13th Ave. anytime during the week.

Source: News Talk 980

The Salvation Army continues to work closely with multiple corporate partners and non-governmental organizations to provide food, water, medicine, shelter and other immediate aid to thousands of disaster survivors in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere.

To date The Salvation Army has provided 2.8 million meals, 500,000 gallons of water, 2,900 tents and 1,500 personal hygiene kits. In addition, more than 18,000 people have received needed care from Salvation Army medical teams.

On Friday, February 26, Canada will send 500, 12 sq.m, tents as Haiti’s rainy season is just around the corner. In addition four Salvation Army emergency disaster services personnel from Canada have been deployed and are on the ground in Haiti. Lt-Colonels Gilbert and Marilynn St-Onge (Retired) are providing emotional and spiritual care; Jeff Noel, EDS director for Toronto is providing logistics support; and John McEwan, EDS director for British Columbia is overseeing operations, and finance and administration.

The Salvation Army is committed to determining the best methods for helping rebuild a country that lost so much. The Army is putting plans in place to strengthen Haiti for the long-term.

Long-term plans include:
-Rebuilding homes to make them more earthquake resistant
-Repairing and installing water filtration systems in impacted areas
-Rebuilding schools, hospitals and other buildings that were severely damaged
-Implementing community development projects focusing on income generation for families, childhood nutrition and HIV-AIDS awareness

A roof overhead is a luxury victims of Haiti’s earthquake don’t have.

But The Salvation Army in Barrie is hoping to change that by supporting a national initiative, “Tents for Haiti“.

The two local thrift stores, like many across Canada, are collecting cash donations to purchase enough tents to give Haitians shelter.

“We’ll do it if it’ll help,” said Maj. Roy Randell, executive director of the army’s Bayside Mission Centre. “We’re still accepting money for Haiti. We’ve already collected and sent a cheque for $9,000 to head office to help that area.” Read full story…

Source: thebarrieexaminer.com

Toronto, ON February 16, 2010 – The Salvation Army has launched a new program to raise money for temporary housing in Haiti. Starting today, Canadians who visit one of the hundreds of participating Salvation Army Thrift Stores locations nationwide can donate funds at the cash-register that will be used to purchase tents for Salvation Army relief camps in Haiti.

“Right now, the focus of our work is shifting and the Tents for Haiti program is a unique way that Canadians can stay involved,” said Commissioner William Francis, Territorial Commander for The Salvation Army in Canada & Bermuda. “We continue to serve immediate needs, but we’re also beginning to address longer-term issues, like housing, especially in the lead-up to Haiti’s rainy season this spring.”

Right now, in Haiti there are more than 200,000 homes severely damaged or destroyed and 1.2 million people homeless or displaced by last month’s earthquake. The Salvation Army has signed an agreement to purchase tents, approved by the United Nations, for temporary housing. These tents will be used at relief camps in Port-au-Prince, Jacmel and surrounding areas.

Many of the tents provide sufficient housing for a small family or group of four people. In Canada, each participating Salvation Army Thrift Store has set an individual goal to raise a minimum of $500 which is enough money to buy at least one tent.

“This program allows our Thrift Store shoppers to make a concrete contribution to the on-going crisis in Haiti,” said John Kershaw, Managing Director for The Salvation Army’s National Recycling Operations. “A gift can be designated either as a point of sale or cash donation, and the money will be used to purchase tents for Salvation Army relief camps.”

In January, the United Nations designated The Salvation Army as a “lead agency” for Haiti’s disaster relief work. Since then, the organization has set-up a number of operations providing basic care, including housing, clean water, medical services and basic hygiene products.

“Our work in Haiti has never stopped,” said Commissioner Francis. “On the same day that the earthquake struck, The Salvation Army began providing disaster relief services. We’ve worked in country for 60 years, and we’ll continue to serve Haiti through its rebuilding and redevelopment.” 

To date, The Salvation Army has $5.0 million in donations from the Canadian public, and more than $200,000 in donations were raised through the Army’s Text-to-Donate program.

General donations to The Salvation Army’s Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund can be made by visiting www.tents4haiti.ca, calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769), or by mailing your donation to The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, ON M4H 1P4.

About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 119 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community.

News releases, articles and updated information can be found at www.SalvationArmy.ca

For further information please contact:

Andrew Burditt
Territorial Public Relations Director
416-845-8231
andrew_burditt@can.salvationarmy.org
www.SalvationArmy.ca

The Salvation Army continues to be a beacon of hope for individuals and families whose lives were devastated by the earthquake. Eight babies have been delivered at The Salvation Army medical clinic at its compound in the Delmas 2 area of Port-au-Prince since the earthquake. The fifth baby, yet to be named, arrived at 8 a.m., before the clinic opened, and so was delivered outdoors, in the courtyard. The baby girl and her mother Louester, a resident of the camp under the supervision of The Salvation Army, are doing well.

Emergency Priorities
The Salvation Army’s initial emergency response has confirmed the following priorities in order of immediate importance: water-safe drinking water; nutrition-food;medical assistance-supplies and treatment; shelter; trauma, grief and spiritual counselling.
While the Army’s Haiti Relief Team maintains support and provides assistance for 20,000 people in an area adjacent to their compound in Pourt-au-Prince, they have reached out to other areas of the country. Relief includes:

• Established compounds in five communities
• Distribution of food, blankets, ketchen sets, plastic sheeting and hygiene kits to 600 families at the Jacmel compound.

Short-term recovery
Once initial needs have been met, local water sources will be repaired and re-established, water filitration capacity will be provided, assistance to rebuild permanent, earthquake resistant housing will take place and strategic plans for long-term Salvation Army program and facility reconstruction will be formed.

Future
The Salvation Army will rebuild its damaged facilities, while continuing already well- established programs. The Army is committed to Haitians as they move forward through medical clinics, education, long-term relief and reconstrution, communitiy development projects, income generation, child nutrition and HIV/AIDS training and awareness.