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Contact Information for
United States Foundation for the Children of Haiti (USFCH) below: |
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United States
Foundation |
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USFCH USFCH telephone: |
EARTHQUAKE NEWS
January 22, 2010 -- 6:30 p.m.
Communication with Gladys in Haiti is difficult at best. Texting is slow, the satellite phone isn't working, cell lines are overloaded with calls, and the connections for phone lines and computers are lost in seconds. Nonetheless, we are getting bits and pieces of news to share.
Gladys reported that 50 air mattresses and x-ray film are arriving tomorrow, and Sunday a new crew of doctors and medical supplies are expected.
A medical team from Tulsa is leaving tomorrow and will be available to Gladys if she needs them also. They are traveling in with the Salvation Army.
In a brief phone conversation last night, Gladys said, "I've never seen so much sadness." She said children in the streets are crying for their parents, and mothers are crying for lost children. Gladys's voice was ragged; she was choked up and weeping as she talked about what she was seeing.
January 20, 2010 -- 7:15 a.m.: E-mail from Gladys Thomas, President, FEH
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We are all OK after this strong aftershock.
We worked all day yesterday as soon as we arrived
from the DR after traveling all day and all night. 10 pm we got home and a
major aftershock woke us all up running at 6 am. We had decided to sleep
in the house though houses are crumbled all around mine.
Late last night I was at the Village where the
children were camping out with their housemoms and 17 volunteers from the
US.
The disaster is beyond words.
AT exactly 4:45 pm yesterday afternoon we had a
moment of thanks, praise, and prayer in the hospital courtyard where
people from the street joined in. We ill try to post pictures on Facebook
( feh haiti gladys thomas) later.
At this time we are 7 in my house getting ready
to go back for another day of work.
Thank you for the prayers and support. Keep it
on, and God bless.
Gladys
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January 19, 2010 -- 11 p.m.
We'll send more news once Gladys gets back to us.
January 19, 2019 -- 9:30 a.m.
Gladys Thomas, President, Foundation for the Children of Haiti, and Dr. Mario St. Laurent, a pediatrician and member of the USFCH Board of Directors, are with the Foundation’s medical team from the US in the Dominican Republic (DR). They brought with them from the USA a large shipment of medical supplies to be used by Hope Hospital. We expect the team to leave DR today for Port au Prince
Please pray for safe travel for the team. Apparently the road through the DR to Haiti is very dangerous with instances of looters holding up aid convoys. Some aid convoys bring with them security personnel. We don’t know Gladys’ plans in this regard, but it is possible that our prayers may be the team’s “security force."
Also, please pray that the border between DR and Haiti remains open, because it is an important route for aid to flow to Port au Prince.
As noted in previous updates, the Foundation’s links with other aid agencies will be critical during the relief effort.
Organizations with access to supplies often lack distribution capabilities. Given that our Foundation’s facilities in Port au Prince were miraculously spared serious damage, we have the capacity to offer direct relief aid through Hope Hospital and our 3 orphanages.
This cooperation between aid groups is becoming a reality which is helping Haitians in need:
“Save the Children” delivered a load of food to our Children’s Village yesterday, along with a large supply of bottled water. The water supply system at the Village was damaged during the quake, so we are extremely grateful to Save the Children for this provision.
Cure International sourced most of the medical supplies being brought in by our team from DR, and we thank them for their partnership.
Another very positive development yesterday is that the hospital staff was able to procure 300 gallons of diesel fuel to operate electrical generators, allowing the hospital to resume full services.
Please pray for our Haitian staff. Many have suffered losses of friends, family and property, yet they continue to serve the needs of others.
January 15, 2010 -- 6 p.m.: E-mail from Gladys Thomas, Pres., FEH
Most of us have not slept since the news. Pray, Pray.
January 15, 2010 --noon: E-mail from Rebecca Hackworth, Pres., USFCH
I just got back from India Thursday night. I was traveling with Gladys Thomas who is the director of our mission in Haiti. We have a hospital there that is packed with patients. The wall at the back is weak, and the engineer is coming to try to secure it for us. The children in all 3 of our orphanages are safe for now, and they have enough food for a few days. There is no gas available, but we have until now had enough fuel to keep our generator at the hospital running. We know panic is beginning to set in, and we know safety and supplies will be a major issue soon for our children. Please keep Haiti in your prayers. Gladys is going in with supplies and a medical team through the Dominican Republic on Monday if not before. Mario Saint Laurent is a doctor on our USFCH board and will be going with her along with several others. I have gotten a thousand email about Haiti at least and I will answer them as soon as I can. Gladys got about 3 hours sleep in the last 52 hours. We were on separate flights out of India, and her flight was delayed 12 hours at the airport, please ask God for supernatural strength for her and her staff! We’ll be keeping updates on our website at www.usfch.org as we are able!
January 15, 2010 -- 11 a.m.
Gladys Thomas, President, Foundation for the Children of Haiti, is in the United States and has put together a team of ten people to fly to Haiti via the Dominican Republic on Monday. Among those going with her is Dr. Mario St. Laurent, a pediatrician and member of the board of directors of USFCH. Gladys is most grateful for the donations that have come in so generously in response to the earthquake crisis. Because of your support Gladys and her team plan to take 500 pounds of much needed supplies with them.
Gladys has been in phone contact with her daughter, Natalie, who is at Hope Hospital, and was told that Haiti Home, the orphanage for the older children, is fine. Hope Hospital is running but out of supplies as of today. Because they are out of gasoline for the generators, they are not able to make full use of the equipment such as the x-ray machine and the water purification system. Mattresses from the hospital have been taken outside for people who are fearful of being in a building.
World Vision and Cross International have been in touch with The Foundation for the Children of Haiti (FEH) and will be assisting us. Those organizations have long-standing association with FEH/USFCH and great respect for the proven ability of FEH to use resources wisely and share them with others as needed.
If one word might be chosen to describe the loss of life and devastation, it might be the one used by Gladys: heart wrenching. Please pray for strength of spirit, mind, and body for all who are touched by this crisis.
as of January 13, 2010
Gladys Thomas was not in Haiti at the time of the earthquake, but she is on her way there today. We are relieved to know that she is safe and so is her family in Haiti. Each of the projects is staffed with responsible, mature supervision. Gladys's sister is at Haiti Home, a very capable doctor runs Hope Hospital, and the mommas at the Home for Disabled Children are the most dedicated people you could know.
The following e-mail arrived this morning (1/13/2009) from Rebecca Hackworth, President, United States Foundation for the Children of Haiti (USFCH):
Gladys was able to connect with Haiti through her Facebook account and to communicate with her daughter, Natalie. The hospital had some flooding but is up and running and is packed with people! The Village is okay; they have food and the children are scared but okay. One of the walls on one of the buildings collapsed but otherwise all is well. Natalie’s husband is going to try to get her out to the orphanage on his motorcycle to check on the children there. The workers bought groceries this weekend; and if we can get enough gas for the generators, things will at least move forward for now. The medical director at the hospital is a gem, and Gladys is confident they are organized to help as many people as possible. I know she appreciates all of your prayers – so much need awaits her it is hard to fathom.
While we do not know at this time the impact of the earthquake on the projects, personnel, and children, it is safe to say that there will be extraordinary expenses. Your donations will be greatly appreciated!
We do know that Gladys Thomas and Foundation for the Children of Haiti will be inundated with requests for help from individuals and other organizations. As in prior emergencies, not only will the needs of our children and personnel be met; but we will be distributing our resources in all ways that we can.
If you would like your donation to specifically support earthquake relief, please write "Earthquake Fund" on your check or on your PayPal donation.
We will post further news as it comes to us from Haiti.
Checks may be sent to:
USFCH
P.O. Box 521171
Tulsa, OK 74152-1171
