12 Days of Hope

12 CANS OF FOOD

There are 12 days of collecting, organising and packing ahead, before the container will be sealed and shipped off. I thought I would do a little "12 days of Hope" with pictures of items on the list, as well as updates about what's going on with all those involved with Containers of Hope for Haiti.

The World Food Programme tells us that there is not a shortage of food in the world today. "There is enough food in the world today for everyone to have the nourishment necessary for a healthy and productive life." Food is one of the items on the Donation Wish List.

Shelter, water and food are now in desperate short supply for victims of Haiti's earthquake.

Our Logo

Glen Moffat, owner of Eye Design Signz, designed this banner and logo for us

Meeting #2

The group from last week met again this morning and were joined by some new volunteers. Everyone is so committed and so excited to help; nothing seems impossible when we are all working together. Word is spreading and people want to help. It looks like we are well on our way to filling this first container.

A lot of progress has been made over the last week. The storage space is ready and items are already being collected. We already have 20+ tents donated and more on the way.

Apparently there are tents at Walmart on sale for $15. I also noticed tarps as low as $5 at Canadian Tire. It's nice to know that even with $5 you can help out.

A Facebook page is being created, and drop-off boxes are being set up at the various locations across Oakville.

Local group organises to send help to Haiti

Now, and over the next several months, residents of Oakville will be able to contribute much-needed supplies to Haitian earthquake victims in a direct, trusted and reliable way.

Heading the local committee for Containers of Hope for Haiti is Judy Warrington, a retired teacher. Judy has organized more than 20 volunteer trips to the Dominican Republic and sent several containers of used school furniture and supplies for Dominican and Haitian schools. This energetic Oakville resident knows how to work with D.R. and Haitian authorities to get supplies to folks in need!

Rotarians in the Dominican told Judy about the outpouring of Dominican help to Haiti, following the tragedy. From Moca and Puerto Plata, Dominican citizens and corporations are currently donating medical, shelter and food supplies in containers. (Video of volunteers in action linked on the side!)

Supplies are being taken by a convoy of trucks driven by volunteers and delivered direct to sites set up by the Haitian government just outside Port-au-Prince where displaced locals are living in makeshift tents.

“But Dominican Republic is not a rich country, and can only give so much. More supplies are needed.”

Judy will be travelling to Puerto Plata in a few weeks, and along with Rotary members in the Dominican, will meet the container at the port.

Cash donations from TWO ROTARY CLUBS IN OAKVILLE and other residents, including Mayor Rob Burton, will cover the cost of a 40 foot container and shipping.

Other Oakville citizens and business owners are eager to help!

Already word of this effort is spreading in town. It has been heart-warming to see the quick response of fellow citizens in just a few days!

Victor Brewda, of Royalton International, donated his large warehouse and loading dock at 2880 Portland Drive, as the storage area where goods can be packed and loaded onto containers bound for the Dominican Republic.

Glen Moffat, owner of Eye Design Signz, quickly designed a banner and logo for us!
Donations of medical supplies, tents, and other items have already been received. Atlas Van Lines, via KMG Royal Moving & Storage, has offered professional packers to help. United Van Lines in Mississauga has donated boxes, packing paper and tape.

HOW YOU CAN HELP!

Residents can donate items for Haiti.

Shelter Supplies:

Tents, tarps, sleeping bags, ground cover or thin mattress pads, blankets, towels, water purification tablets, buckets, pots (large) and spoons.

First Aid Supplies:

Sterile gloves, gauze, bandages, tape, cotton balls, swabs, slings, elastic bandage and antiseptic (Betadine type or Chlorohexidine soap type).

Personal Items:

Purell, soap, diapers, santary napkins, toilet paper, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Afro hair combs and hairibrushes.

Food items:

Bags of rice, dried black beans, dried kidney beans, oil. (Black beans cooked with rice and a bit of oil, is staple diet for Haitians)

Canned beans, canned meat, canned tuna and sardines, crackers, cereal, milk tetrapacks, fruit juice tetrapacks and non-perishable food in general.

New or gently used items will be accepted. Residents are urged NOT to donate clothing, because it will not be allowed entrance by Dominican port authorities.

The first shipment is scheduled to leave February 12. As more donations come in, we hope to be able to send several more containers, as the need will be on-going.

DROP OFF POINTS IN OAKVILLE

Knox Prebyterian Church (Lakeshore Road & Kerr Street) February 1-10, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Evangel Pentecostal Church (Rebecca Street & Third Line) (when church is open)

St. Jude’s Church (William Street, downtown Oakville)

Howie’s residence (313 Beechfield Road, “If no-one home just leave items in breezeway”, say Oakville residents Barry and Mary-Jane Howie.)

Royalton International (2880 Portland Drive) Mon. Feb1, Thur. Feb 4, Mon. Feb 8, Thur. Feb 11 (5:30-8 p.m.). Sun. Feb 7, 2-5 p.m.

Shaari-Beth El Congregation, 186 Morrison Drive

Donations will be received at sites until Thursday, February 11. Container to be shipped February 12.

Next meeting of Containers of Hope for Haiti: Saturday, January 29 at 9:30 a.m., 30 Normandy Drive (off Kerr Street). All interested to help in any way are welcome to attend.

For more information, contact Judy Warrington at 905-338-2304 or judy@goseedo.ca.

Thanks to Oakville Beaver for taking photo and putting this news on the front page of today’s Oakville Beaver edition. More updates to come!

And finally, thanks to Hilary Shantz for this write-up which she kindly let me borrow from her own blog www.theoakvillebuzz.com.