Jeff Noel was watching the televised images of disaster in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, when his telephone rang. Read the full story

July 12 marks the six-month anniversary of Haiti’s earthquake, one of the worst in modern times. Due to many issues, reconstruction efforts are painfully slow. Read the full story

In an attempt to help Haiti heal Salvation Army Thrift Stores across the country raised enough money to purchase 100 UN approved tents at $500 per tent.

The month-long “Tents for Haiti” campaign was a great way for Thrift Store customers to support The Salvation Army’s ongoing disaster relief in Haiti.

The Salvation Army is grateful to its customers for helping to make “Tents for Haiti” a reality.

Says John Kershaw, Managing Director of The Salvation Army’s National Recycling Operations:

“Giving someone a home, even a temporary home, is a feeling that makes all of us stop and acknowledge how fortunate we are to live in Canada.”

The Salvation Army continues to bring healing and hope to the people of Haiti that were affected by the January 12, 2010 earthquake.

More than 4 million meals have been given out in Port-au-Prince, where The Salvation Army has responsibility for 20,000 people living in temporary shelters. But throughout Haiti, food items continue to be distributed to small towns, churches, schools and in other locations.

Numana, Inc., (an international hunger relief organization with the mission of empowering people to save the starving), meals continue to be prepared and packaged for distribution in Haiti. After the meals are packaged, The Salvation Army World Service Organization (SAWSO) arranges for shipment to Haiti for weekly distribution. Each packet given out contains a meal for five people.

In Haiti, the skies open up starting in May and rain continues for several months. The Salvation Army continues to care for those in tents occupying the soccer field next to the Army complex. In addition plastic sheeting and tarpaulins are being distributed to families to help protect them from the rains.

In order to accommodate ongoing arrival of incoming supplies, The Salvation Army has secured a larger warehouse with appropriate security. The warehouse will provide needed space for supplies of basic human needs as well as the arrival of supplies that will be used for building 5,000 transitional shelters planned for Jacmel, Petit Groave and Port-au-Prince.

The Salvation Army will be heavily and closely involved in rebuilding Haiti well past the conclusion of the current emergency situation.

In the midst of devastation, Dr. John Li saw hope.

Although he saw plenty of heart-wrenching cases, what struck him the most was the strength of the people, the depth of their faith, and their ability to cling to hope even in the worst of conditions.

“What I found is the people there, they are very poor, but I can see that they have hope, which is good,” he says. “I think most of the people I saw have a strong faith and you can probably see that on TV. This is holy week and people were praising and dancing in the street.”

Li says he met one woman, a single mother in her late fifties, whose only child was in her last year of medical school in Port-au-Prince. Li says it was obvious the woman was not very well off. Read full story…

Source: Times&Transcript

Instead of birthday gifts, 7-year-old Claire-Marie Harrower asked her nine friends to bring money to her birthday party so she could give it to The Salvation Army’s ongoing relief efforts in Haiti.

A total of $214.21 was gathered. Claire-Marie and her mom, Lisa, made a special trip to The Salvation Army’s head office in Toronto to hand in the donation.

“We gave to The Salvation Army because we know that most of it goes directly to The Salvation Army’s extensive immediate and long-term relief efforts in Haiti,” says Lisa. “The Salvation Army does great work and we’re happy to be able to play a part in it.”

Claire-Marie is pictured above with The Salvation Army Territorial Leaders, Commissioner William and Marilyn Francis.

It’s something very old in history, but with a new twist added. A local business in Thunder Bay is providing people with the opportunity to give the gift of a wish…along with hope to those in Haiti through The Salvation Army.

This Wishbone is a not-for-profit item that can be used in many different facets… birthdays, anniversary’s, graduation, marriage, births, vacation, retirement, new home, engagement, valentines day, Christmas, illness, friendship, the hard-to-buy-for,… or for no reason at all. The giver is giving the gift of a dream… the gift of a wish, a gift from the heart whose proceeds are donated to The Salvation Army’s Haiti Earthquake Relief fund.

The Salvation Army has distributed more then 4 million meals to those in need following an earthquake that devastated the nation of Haiti on January 12, 2010.

Most displaced people are receiving food distribution in Port-au-Prince twice a week at the Army’s largest location, which serves 20,000 individuals. Also, throughout the country food items continue to be distributed to small towns, churches, schools and much more.

In addition The Salvation Army has provided 3,650 8 x 8 tents and two MASH tents. More than 24,000 patients have received medical aid and 10,000 pounds of medical supplies have been delivered.

The Salvation Army has served in Haiti since 1950 with more than 200 officers/pastors and staff already on the ground pre-earthquake. Because many relationships were already established, the Army continues to smoothly distribute food, non-food items medial and spiritual care on a mass scale.

The Salvation Army is committed to standing by the Haitian people as they move into the future. Existing medical clinics and educational facilities will be rebuilt. The Army will provide long-term relief and reconstruction and be involved in community development projects, income generation, child nutrition and HIV/AIDS programs.

The Salvation Army will be heavily and closely involved in rebuilding Haiti well past the conclusion of the current emergency situation caused by Haiti’s massive earthquake on January 12.

A Salvation Army international strategy conference was recently held in London, England, to determine Haiti’s long-term needs. It was attended by a delegation from The Salvation Army’s Caribbean Territory, representatives from 10 Salvation Army territories involved in the relief and rebuilding process, personnel from The Salvation Army USA National Headquarters, Salvation Army Word Service Office and The Salvation Army International Headquarters.

The Salvation Army Caribbean Territory presented an extensive report outlining Haiti’s needs as follows:

Due to the quake, there is an increase in numbers of people with disabilities who need attention.
There needs to be business development through the generation of employment opportunities for local people.
An urgent challenge for The Salvation Army is to relocate 20,000 people from its emergency camp to transitional housing. It is hoped this housing will be constructed before the end of the year.
The Salvation Army’s facilities in Port-au-Prince that provide essential services need to be rebuilt as quickly as possible. Most buildings have been so badly damaged that they will need to be demolished.

The Salvation Army’s emergency phase is expected to last for another six to nine months.
Emergency relief costs are $500,000 USD per month.

During the next few months prioritization of the transitional and long-term projects will take place, applications for further funding will be processed and some projects commenced while emergency relief service continues.

Despite generous gifts many more millions of dollars will be needed to complete all that needs to be done and increased partnerships with non-Army donors will be part of the process.

It is estimated that it will take a year to clear away the rubble in Port-au-Prince.

College Verena is one of two Salvation Army schools in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It is, however, the only one still standing after the January earthquake. Prior to the quake the campus had three buildings with 1,200 students enrolled. The quake destroyed two of the three buildings, the administrative office and the storage area.

Within weeks of the disaster, Salvation Army staff and teachers found safe places in the courtyard so the children could continue their education. While the Haitian government prepares to restart schools citywide, College Verena students have a head-start with reading and math classes.

There is concern about the large number of children who have not attended school, even prior to the quake, due to limited resources. The Salvation Army will need to increase the school’s capacity for students as a result of these circumstances, therefore increasing the need for more sponsorships.

Financial contributions can be made by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (725-2769), by donating online, SalvationArmy.ca/haiti by texting HAITI to 45678 from most Canadian carriers, by mailing donations to The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters, Canada and Bermuda, 2 Overlea Blvd., Toronto, Ontario M4H 1P4, or dropping off financial donations at the closest Salvation Army unit in your area. Donors should specify their gift to the Haiti Earthquake Disaster Relief Fund.