This Friday, (1/ 29/10) I’ll be traveling down to Haiti to lend a hand and complete the initial steps in preparation for full team deployments.
Orphan Logistics & Relief will be working to facilitate as much assistance as we can muster, gearing up for a long-term commitment to Father Rick and his Friends of Orphans programs in Haiti.
Once on the ground, the plan is to start with a needs assessment, try and match up what must be accomplished with the skill sets and abilities of our members, and then, transmit back to our directors some task assignments and marshalling orders.
Currently, we are working every angle, calling all our friends in the hope of securing meds and supplies as requested by Father Rick, trying to locate additional nurses who might want to volunteer in the future to go with our regular teams, and line up tradesmen and contractors back home to spread the word to the worker bees.
Don’t laugh, but two weeks ago I spent several hours watching and questioning some concrete workers, who were making specific repairs with a different mix of high grade concrete. I was trying to pick up another skill for future missions, just didn’t realize the need would come so soon.
Please understand the recovery effort will be ongoing for some time, with no quick fix or magic pill. In conversations over the last week with our directors, we anticipate continuous involvement in one form or another for the next 12 months, at a minimum.
Our plan is to transition in fully operational teams of volunteers, with medical, construction and technical personnel, teachers, and with law enforcement officers to provide security and safety while swinging a hammer.
Obviously the mission and transportation methods will dictate the duration, but given that most of our members and volunteers are full time working professionals, limited in the amount of time they can be away, we anticipate missions of 8 to 14 days.
If you’re interested in participating, and have some of the skills were looking for, please go to the JOIN OUR TEAM button, follow the link and sign up. Enter as much information as you can in relation to your abilities, so that we can begin to plan strategically.
These are volunteer missions, and while we will do as much as we can to obtain donations to cover material costs and major expenses, your participation will require you to help fund raise to cover your individual expenses. In the past, our members found support from family, their churches, their social networks, and from good-hearted people right out of the blue. Don’t let it scare you, while it does require some effort, most people you approach will applaud your actions and help as much as they can.
If you don’t have a passport, start the process today and get one. If you cant go on a mission or have family constraints, don’t let it deter you, we can use you here to help sort our clothing and equipment donations, help with garage sales and fund raisers, or speak with civic groups to raise awareness to the plight of Father Rick’s flock, or the global orphan problem as a whole. Everyone can help, everyone can do something, and everyone plays a vital role in relief.
I’ll update more when I can, but please take a second and say a prayer for the children of Haiti, and while your at it, another for Father Rick, his dedicated staff, and all the volunteers who have answered God’s call to go help the widows and orphans.
Sam
