Effort Number 2!

I have not posted in some time, but this collection effort has its own momentum and the plans for another collection are evolving.

Our initial supplies collected went to the Heart to Heart Haiti group and delivering things to their warehouse in Abbotsford was impressive - they have so much food that is going to Haiti. So far they have sent two containers and our collections should go out soon with other donations from other groups and individuals, including a large donation of food and water from Kodak in Burnaby.

The group that I am currently working with is Lycee de Jeunes Filles in Jérémie Haiti (girls high school) via a Vancouver school teacher. This teacher will be coordinating collection efforts for a large range of requested goods. We have a commitment from Kodak to contribute First Aid supplies and from our own collections, we have two large bins of toiletries kits as well as a donation from a Vancouver dentist of 200 toothbrushes and toothpaste. The school children in Vancouver will be collecting everything ranging from school supplies, to furniture, as well as basic survival supplies.

If you would like to contribute a monetary or material goods donation please e-mail me at:
joycycle2002 (at symbol) yahoo.com
Any money collected will go towards shipping costs or purchasing supplies - there are no overhead or administrative costs as we are 100% volunteer operated.

Success!... and a minor correction

Saturday's supplies drive was a great success!
Caitlin Wittreich and I braved the cold, early dawn of 9am English Bay. Luckily we had a dozen of Tim Horton's finest fresh donuts to warm our bellies - I tried to give them out, honest! Most of our visitors showed up around noon, and Shawn Northwood was the much appreciated relief help when we were overwhelmed with contributions. Many donors saw the flier posted in their buildings or businesses, so thank you to whomever you were posting those signs! Also, a big shout out to St. Paul's Church who really showed up on Saturday!

We collected donations of money during the week and then went to Canadian Tire on Cambie and 7th, and bought a bunch of reconstruction supplies. The General Manager there was very generous and gave us everything at cost, so we really stretched the dollars. We bought 10 large Rubbermaid type containers and filled almost all of them over the weekend. We have reconstruction supplies such as gloves, fasteners, dust masks, rope, saws, tape measures, etc. We received lots of non-perishable foods, toiletries, soap, bedding, new clothes, etc. We received a bunch of used clothing, but it looks like they will have to be donated to a local charity instead of shipping them.

A BIG THANK YOU, to everyone who has contributed so far! I will still be accepting goods through January, and additional contributions after that will go to Heart to Heart.
Check out their website, turns out I linked the wrong one earlier, but since I'm not sure anyone actually reads this blog.... I fixed it regardless. Stay tuned for updates on the next drive!

A FEW THING WE LEARNED about how to do a supplies drive better:

1. photocopy and post fliers in residential buildings
2. get a few churches involved (not just one...)
3. borrow or make a professional banner (we misplaced the markers so our sign was pretty crummy)
4. have two cars, banner, pop-up tent , balloons and music - draw a crowd - lots of people just passed by probably because we looked too home-made (we all have-full time jobs)
5. host a barbecue, ie. "Hammers for Haiti", where admission is a bag of nails or hand tools...

A few interesting bits of information:

This CNN article is why we are vetting our collections list with specific aid organizations. We are asking people to focus on two categories:

TOOLS + TOILETRIES

for rebuilding and hygiene
(not drugs or used clothing - which are complicated to send).

I am working with an aid agency to collect the items that their orphanage, school, and surrounding rural communities need. I agree that poorly organized efforts are worthless, but this is an organized effort and is specifically targeting the needs of an identified recipient group. Additionally, there is nowhere for people to "buy supplies locally" at this point (as mentioned in the CNN article).

This NPR story offers a different perspective, and this Globe and Mail story fully supports our efforts. Here's a GREAT link for supplies that you can donate, (list sourced from the organization I'm working with).

Also, the free daily 24 Hours warned of being wary of donating to efforts that claim 100% of funds going to disaster victims. I can respond to this by saying that all of my efforts are volunteered and ANYTHING you donate will be put towards filling the shipping container with much needed supplies. Shipping costs are fully funded by a private donation, so any collected money can be used for buying supplies.

We have recipients!

For anyone wishing to donate money to Haiti relief, there are many good options, I would like to make you aware of one effort that I am coordinating. It is a supplies drive that I’m helping organize, and we aim to send a shipping container as soon as we have collected enough items to fill it (20’ or 40’). If you prefer to donate money to this cause, all funds will be used to buy supplies.

The cost of the container and shipping is already covered by a private donation, logistics, and route to the port are being coordinated by the Rotary World Help Network, who has extensive experience and resources for executing the project, and distribution will be managed by the Heart to Heart Haiti in Haiti. More details and FAQs are posted and continuously updated at this blog.

All hands on deck!

We will be collecting supplies for sending to Haiti next Saturday, January 23rd, 9:00 AM till 1:00 PM
at the Vancouver, English Bay parking lot between Jervis and Broughton Streets

I encourage you to set up boxes in your residential building or office, for collecting items this week.

LIST OF SUPPLIES BEING COLLECTED:
Clothing - only new, unused (separate into man, woman, child, baby)
Shelter (tarps, tents, water purification tablets + filters, towels, sheets, baby diapers)
Building supplies (hammers, nails, screws, screwdrivers, Saws, Shovels, any other basic tools, non-power tools)
Power (candles, flashlights, batteries, matches)
First Aid (aspirin, bandages, iodine, gauze, ointment, etc)
Hygiene (anti-bacterial soap, feminine hygiene products, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, etc)
Hospital equipment (mattresses, crutches, IV poles)

We will be providing Rubbermaid storage bins for organizing and packing the supplies; you can also bring your donation, in a 'Rubbermaid' type storage bin instead of boxes, these can be used to transport the materials in an organized way, and then re-purposed as water storage containers, wash bins, baby baths, etc, and are easier to stack.

Any money collected will go towards purchasing supplies.

Late Breaking Info....

World Vision contacted me early this morning and guided me on the best items for us to collect. Their suggestions are reflected in the list below. We are organizing a drop-off point for your donations for Saturday, January 23 - next weekend.

several Questions and a few Answers

There were many developments today so I'll jump right in and try to answer the questions I received:

• What would be the best way to make these donations? We are organizing a collection and are trying to formulate the best list of items and resources to donate. At this immediate time, WorldVision has informed me that monetary donations are the best way to support the relief efforts. Everyone wants to help in some way, and we will be posting soon what form that can take. For now, here is an edited list of what we will be collecting (I had input from World Vision)
  LIST OF SUPPLIES BEING COLLECTED:
  Clothing - only new, unused (separate into man, woman, child, baby)
  Shelter (tarps, tents, water purification tablets + filters, towels, sheets, baby diapers)
  Building supplies (hammers, nails, screws, screwdrivers, Saws, Shovels, any other basic tools, non-power tools)
  Power (candles, flashlights, batteries, matches)
  First Aid (aspirin, bandages, iodine, gauze, anti-bacterial soap)
  Hospital equipment (mattresses, crutches, IV poles)
  
  Bring your donation, if you can, in a 'Rubber Maid' type storage bin instead of boxes, these can be used to transport the materials in an organized way, and then re-purposed as water storage containers, wash bins, baby baths, etc, and are easier to stack. Or Just donate some bins!
  
  

• I don't get it though, who is Lulu? We are all Lulu, those in need and those giving help. The lotus produces a beautiful flower even with its roots in the dirtiest water. The symbolism is that a person can rise above being rooted in the ugliness and suffering of this world, and should try to be pure and help others with the beauty of the spirit. (from WikiAnswers)
  
• When will the container be sent and where will it be stored? We will temporairly store the donated goods in the generously offered warehouse of RWHN, we will collect and deliver goods probably once a week to the warehouse in Coquitlam. The container logistics are being coordinated by RWHN and we will ship the goods once we have enough to fill either a 20 ft or 40' container.
  
• Who's going to organize all this stuff? RWHN has volunteers at their warehouse who will sort and organize the donations on Wednesdays, but it will be helpful if you bring your donations already organized as recommended on the REVISED list below.
  
• I know a lot of companies out there are willing to help and donate, as long as she's (Lulu) affiliated with a reputable organization. Companies we'd like donations from include bottled water companies, to donate pallettes of bottled water, medical supply companies, hospitals or clinics who have surplus or used medical equipment (see list below), retailers who sell any of the items on the list and want to donate them to the drive...
• Reputable Organizations: Lulu's Lotus is just an idea with funding and support for it. We are working with RWHN to use their resources in organizing this effort. Rotary World Help Network has shipped over 200 containers around the world and utilizes the network of Rotarians Internationally to help people who are victims of disaster. Their logistical support will be the key to making this happen. An anonomous donor has unconditionally agreed to sponsor the cost of sending this container, it's up to Lulu to rally support of the community and gather the supplies so desperately needed.
• How do you know that the tems on the list are really needed? This list is evolving with valuable input from people who have assisted in relief efforts. Clothing is off the list because of the added cost of fumigation when sending used clothing out of the country. Because we expect the container to arrive in a month's time, items that will still be needed are included on the list, there will still be many hazards encountered during clean-up and basic first aid supplies cannot be picked up at the local drug store in Port au Prince.

I am grateful to everyone who is already helping this effort become a reality. Thank you for spreading the word, and keep the people of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers.

We need to be smart about specifically what to collect, so that maximum humanitarian relief is achieved because Haiti has had its HOSPITALS DESTROYED and has NO POWER. Therefore, please donate what you can in the following categories.

DO NOT BRING USED CLOTHING UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE PLEASE. If we do receive used clothing and decide not to send it due to fumigation costs, then we will donate it to a local charity, but please do not donate used clothing at this time.

We will accept anything you can provide, but we feel these categories are most important now. Please TRY and make sure that your donation is placed in BOXES or STURDY PLASTIC BAGS. If you can, please MARK your box/bag indicating WHAT'S INSIDE.

THANK YOU

Who is Lulu

Today is a sad day for many souls in Haiti. I am starting this blog to document my small efforts to help those in need who have suffered from this earthquake disaster. I struggle with whether or not to try and help under my own creative steam, or to simply send resources to the agencies already in place and who have decades of experience providing assistance. But this is how new solutions emerge for old problems. I am optimistic and we will see where this journey takes us. (image from PBS www.pbs.org)


My experience today was as follows:
10:00 AM - listened to NPR's report on the earthquake in Haiti
10:05 AM - felt very sad, then jotted down two ideas:

1. send a container of relief supplies to Haiti,
   
2. build an elementary school in Haiti

12:30 PM - (lunch) found Rotary World Help Network on-line and connected with them about sending a container; secured sponsorship for sending the container; and found a good list of things we would need to collect. E-mailed my closest friends to solicit help for gathering materials... it was a VERY productive lunch break, oh and I ate some soup...

5:15 PM - coordinated with RWHN President to attend and discuss the plan at their meeting tomorrow night. They have a warehouse where we can store everything that is donated unti its ready to ship, and they are getting quotes from three shippers! Its Amazing what can happen with a few phone calls!

I am excited by the possibilitie that this experience not only will expose me to, but also the creativity it will inspire for helping others in need, My heart goes out to the victims of this tragedy; spear-heading an effort like this is empowering and sobering at the same time. Details on how, when, and where to donate will be posted soon.