Children of Haiti

www.facebook.com/.../Haitian-Community-Hospital Hello, I, Kregg Wilhite, returned from Haiti Saturday night, March 6th. I worked at the Haiti Community Hospital . Photos of the hospital can be seen at the above link. Several thousand people showed up for help in the first couple of days after the quake. There were 160 bodies of people who had died piled outside the hospital and infants were being buried by volunteers on the hospital grounds. Fortunately for me, the worst part had past when I arrived. Even so, I was still in a state of shock and bewilderment for the first two days. Afterwords, I was able to function and accomplish my official task of sorting and organizing medical supplies. I have never experienced nor imagined the level of chaos and suffering that can result from a such a crisis. I, and many other volunteers, worked to help the hospital function on a most basic level, trying to create some sort of order out of the chaos. In addition to organizing supplies I, as did many other volunteers, took on other projects. Predominately "adopting" groups of orphaned children. Twenty children, infants to age five, were found sick and malnourished and brought to the volunteer sleeping quarters and cared for. Another group of children was "adopted" by a volunteer who is trying to do whatever he can to help them. I have "adopted" a young man of 22, Louis James, who is homeless and has no family at all. I and another volunteer have "adopted" twenty children who were found sleeping on the open ground on palm leaves, needing food, clothes, shelter and beds. A young women aged 22, Lorevil Aspelly, and several "grandmothers" are doing what they can for the children but they need help - photos of a few of these children are attached. We have provided some temporary shelter - tents and tarps and I have given a small amount of money for food and clothes. I have spoken with other volunteers who have "adopted" individuals and groups. The common reality seems to be that shipping over clothes and supplies is useless, as most are lost in the chaos and never reach their intended destination. Most of the small shops that were not destroyed have reopened and basic necessities are available. I am returning to Haiti on March 19th. My dream is to be able to take enough money back with me to meet the immediate needs of these children. And then assist them each month financially and otherwise for at least six months - and possibly more but that is too much to think about right now. Here is my idea and request... Anyone that is interested in helping these kids can commit to donating as little as ten dollars a month for six months. AND.. Forward this email to any one that you think might be interested in helping. If we can get 60 people giving ten dollars a month we can assist them with $600 a month - which can make a huge difference in the lives of these twenty plus children. This is just an idea. If any of you have other ideas of how we can help please let me know. If one donation is easier than spreading it out over six months - that's certainly okay too. This was the most mentally and emotionally challenging experience I have ever had. My head and my heart are still spinning, but I am hopeful. I feel like a relatively small effort from just a few of us can make a huge difference in the lives of these children. Spread the Love, Kregg If you would like to make a tax deductible donation please send it to Heartwood at 341 County Road 633, Mentone, AL 35984. Checks should be made payable to Heartwood with Children of Haiti in the memo line - if you would like to recieve updates on this project please include your email address. This is a 501c3 tax deductible orginization - all money will be administered by me (and hopefully help from others) and will go directly to this effort. If the tax deductible status is not an issue to you, you may mail it directly to Kregg Wilhite c/o Tammy Guthery at 494 County Road 1381, Falkville, AL 35622. Add Children of Haiti in the Memo Line. THANK YOU Many of you may have known Nancy Cammack, a dear friend to many of us, who has passed to the other side. In memory and honor of Nancy, The Nancy Cammack Foundation For the Future was established to continue pursuing the issues that were important to Nancy - primarily caring for the children and the earth. The Foundation has been somewhat dormant as we tried to decide what exactly to do with it. All of us involved feel like an answer has appeared - support these children in Haiti.