St. Michael’s rallies for Haiti relief

By GRACE WYLER

gwyler@vindy.com

The devastation of the earthquake in Haiti has drawn attention to Canfield community members’ longstanding commitment to providing assistance to the impoverished island nation.

For almost a decade, St. Michael’s Church in Canfield has had a relationship with the Little Children of Jesus orphanage, which is home to 103 severely disabled children. The orphanage is located 10 miles east of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital that was devastated by a massive 7.0 earthquake on Jan. 12.

Father Terry Hazel was able to make contact with the orphanage Jan. 13 and said that although the orphanage suffered some damage, no lives were lost and the building remains intact. The orphanage moved into a new building in October, Father Hazel said, so they were able to escape any major damage. But despite the relative safety of the orphanage, Father Hazel stressed the magnitude of the tragedy.

“It is a big, big disaster right now, and the people have been devastated,” he said.

Father Hazel hopes that the earthquake will draw attention to the plight of the people in Haiti, who lack basic resources and have long suffered economic and political injustices. He pointed out that although Port-au-Prince is only a 90-minute flight from Miami, many people did not know of Haiti’s existence before the recent disaster.

St. Michael’s has been involved with the orphanage since 2000, when Father Hazel visited the island for the first time. He has made four trips to Haiti, including a visit to the orphanage with three parishioners this past November.

The church sends monthly monetary donations — usually between $1,500 and $2,000 each month, according to Father Hazel. In addition, Canfield parishioners have built 13 houses in Haiti.

In the days following the tragedy, St. Michael’s started an earthquake relief fund to provide wideranging aid to Haiti. Cash donations will be sent to Haiti through Food for the Poor, an interdenominational organization based in Florida. Food for the Poor has an agency in Port-au-Prince, Father Hazel said, which “runs like purified water.”

“I am certain that the money [sent to Food for the Poor] goes where we want it to go because I have seen it go there,” Father Hazel said. “I have great confidence in their organization.”

Father Hazel added that he is certain that St. Michael’s will plan another trip to Haiti when the initial relief efforts have finished and international organizations have assessed the situation.

“As things get better, I am sure we will {organize another trip],” he said. “Right now, they need money. The best thing you can do now is send monetary assistance, because getting food or clothes there is such a huge problem right now.”

Several other organizations in the Valley are also collecting money for Haiti relief.

The Diocese of Youngstown is requesting monetary donations to support Catholic Relief Services’ work in Haiti in the aftermath of this month’s devastating earthquake that has claimed as many as 50,000 lives. CRS is the official overseas relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Bishops, which provides emergency assistance. Monetary donations may be sent to: Catholic Relief Services, Diocese of Youngstown (Haitian Earthquake Fund) c/o Office of Social Action, Catholic Diocese on Youngstown, 144 W. Wood Street, Youngstown, Ohio 44503.

For more information, contact Brian Corbin, the diocesan director of Catholic Relief Services at 330-744-8451, extension 320, or email charities@youngstowndiocese.org.

The Mahoning Red Cross is also accepting monetary donations for earthquake relief in Haiti. Earmark donations for Haiti relief and send to Mahoning Chapter Red Cross, 8392 Tod Ave., Boardman, Ohio 44312. For information, call 330-726-6063.