On Sunday, January 17, members and friends generously contributed $6,244.19, for relief in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th. These funds will be sent to Oxfam Quebec, since we have learned that Médecins sans frontières (our original choice) is becoming saturated with funds.
Oxfam Quebec is part of the Humanitarian Coalition together with CARE Canada, Oxfam Quebec and Save the Children. These four organizations are working together to ensure maximum efficiency and minimal bureaucracy.
As Desiree McGraw, Director of Policy to Canada’s Minister of International Cooperation (responsible for foreign aid and humanitarian relief during both the 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean and the 2005 Pakistan Earthquake), explained to us:
“In very practical terms: if one of these organizations temporarily runs out of supplies or staff on the ground, their partner organizations can take up the slack. Bottom line: your heartfelt contribution is less likely to languish just when it is so urgently needed. Moreover, these organizations are registered charities, which means that any contribution made before February 12th will be matched dollar for dollar by the Canadian Government.”
Thanks to all for your caring generosity. Sue Montgomery, journalist and UCM member (and our web editor), reporting from Haiti tells us that wherever she goes, she lets people know “all of Canada is with them.”
May we hold all the people of Haiti in our hearts,
Rev. Diane Rollert
Patricia Phillip and Christina Duvander, co-chairs, Social and Environmental Concerns
