Pitching in to help Haiti
February 2, 2010
In the wake of a 7.0 earthquake that hit Haiti on Jan. 12., news of the overwhelming tragedy and destruction suffered by the Haitian people has filtered into countries and communities around the world.
In Martinez, upon seeing the coverage of the earthquake, 8-year-old Caitlyn Waters recently asked her father John Waters, “what is charity?” Once her curiosity was quelled she and her cousin Bryanna Waters decided to pitch in with the global relief effort. The cousins first came up with the idea of selling hot chocolate and lemonade to raise funds. When the wet weather thwarted their plans, the pair decided to create works of art and sell the one-of-a-kind drawings to neighbors, depicting an improved Haiti, on Marie Avenue and Dardanelle Drive.
“Some didn’t answer the door, but almost everyone [else] said that’s very nice of you and bought our pictures,” reported Caitlyn. “We offered candy or drawings,” added Bryanna. After one day of canvassing, the girls raised $135, and on Monday they delivered the money to the Bank of America on Main Street. All Bank of America locations are serving as a drop-off point for contributions to the Red Cross; the bank is matching donations, so $270 is on the way from Martinez to Haiti, thanks to the Waters girls.
Physicians report from Haiti
Since their arrival in Haiti last Wednesday, the four Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) doctors currently on a curative rescue mission have sent Twitter status updates to local friends, family and coworkers via one of the doctor’s iPhone.
CCRMC Doctors Brenda Reilly, Bill Peterson, Pramita Kuruvilla and Neil Jayasekera flew to assist the disaster-struck population overwhelmed by injuries.
In a pre-trip interview, Kuruvilla said she and her colleagues were bringing supplies and sleeping bags, and had no idea where they would be staying. As the photo depicts, the doctors are camping out in tents set up on the grounds of one of the only operational pediatric hospitals left standing on the 10,714-square mile island.
Reilly, whose iPhone is serving as the CCRMC group’s link to the outside world, said in a Twitter post upon arrival that “Tweet unreliable access seems email better.” She described her experiences after day one (Ed. note: we are reproducing the Twitter posts as transmitted), “Min/intermittent connectivity… Many transported from general hospital. Severely injured/ill. Mode of transport within hospital is several people carrying a thin mattress bearing post op pt. Tetanus claiming lives. Group to split up today to send some of us to cimunity cliics/otherstp remain inpt working ER/ post op/wards. Bottled water avail to the team. Hot muggy weather. Signs of rebuilding noticeable.”
Since then, she has updated her postings several times and sent a few pictures. In one she writes, “Going from tent city to tent city in humvees with 62nd airborne division as security. Treating a lot of dehydration and wishing I could give out water and vitamins. The kids are all anemic with distended bellies. The babies are nursing from moms who are dehydrated. It is hot and dry and the dust is causing response and ocular complaints. The children still play, making kites from plastic ration bags and banging drums made of empty water vessels. Last night we heard singing from the tent city on the distance.”
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Re: Pitching in to help Haiti - Don't Do It!
Put down the tools and walk away. Put down the surgical implements and close down the hospitals. Stop pouring money into the rich people’s pockets. Everything we are doing should stop and be turned over to the Haitians immediately.
No one should lift a finger to help anyone in Haiti as long as the missionairies are still in jail. The government is hellbent on “making an example” of people who went to Haiti to help. If our assistance and moneyu is received with hatred it is time to walk away. Especially don’t give money - there’s a reason the word “extortion” was written in large letters on the note.
We are so ashamed of having skills, riches and the ability to do for ourselves and help others that we allow the world to kick us in the private parts instead of saying thank you. In the face of violence against us, we humbly ask if we can still keep on helping them.
Enough! We need to value our own contributions, value our good will and ability to help. It’s time to make certain the rest of the world realizes that even the US’s assistance comes with the expectation of being received with thanks instead of arrests.