June 27, 2010 Update!
Hello Friends,
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. I have had extremely limited Internet access. I made friends with people at the Leogane UN base so it just so happensI'm on their Wifi sending you this update. Thank goodness for the UN!
I'm not on my personal computer so my writings and photos will need to wait for a later time. However, let me tell you I am doing well and have had the most incredible experience helping the people of Haiti. It has been an emotional rollercoaster and an experience like no other.
Your donations have been well used. While I've been here I've:
helped paint our first HODR school.
built "composting toilets," latrines that prevent human waste from mixing with well water,
worked in the field hospital,
built shelters,
and the list goes on and on.
The work that needs to be done in Haiti is endless. I wish I could post photos to show you the things I've experienced, but alas, my laptop is at the HODR base and not here at the UN.
Anyhow, I cannot tie up the UN's computer so I need to sign out.
Much love from Leogane,
S
Thank you for visiting my fundraising page!
I created this page to help support Hands on Disaster Response. HODR has a camp of volunteers in Leogane, Haiti, and they have been helping the relief effort in response to the January 2010 earthquake. I arrive in Leogane on Monday, June 7th, and I will spend nearly a month working with HODR.
OBJECTIVES
My main objective for the trip is to help with food and water security in Haiti. To illustrate why this is important, here is an excerpt from the May 13, 2010, Huffington Post, which describes the current situation in Haiti:
"Apparently, billions have been pledged on the world stage to rebuild Haiti, but dollars in the bank mean little to families perched precariously between the need for immediate aid and a world waiting for them to recover their independence. On the local level, there is precious little money to buy food and clean water..."(May 12, 2001; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gabriel-london/hunger-and-homelessness-i_b_570970.html).
So while in Haiti, I will use my science background to help with water sanitation. My second objective is to show you how your donation dollars are being used. To do this I will post regular status updates during my stay. You will get to see through my collection of photos, anecdotes, and journal entries specifically how your donation dollars are being used. Knowing me, I will likely tell stories about everyday things like sharing living quarters with a hundred volunteers, to stories about the people I meet whom have lost loved ones. Thrown in will be personal acknowledgement of donors and behind the scenes views of relief worker life. It seems that by making this extra effort your donation will feel more personal.
YOUR PART
So here's your part. Please donate a few dollars to HODR. Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts. Your donation goes straight to Hands On Disaster Response. First Giving asks for a small 7.5% fee to support their website. If you don't want to pay this additional fee, please pledge your donation directly to me at www.paypal.com using snow@snowmercy.com.
Many thanks for your support and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too. With your help, I will achieve my fundraising goal!
WHY I CARE ABOUT EARTHQUAKE DEVASTATED HAITI
In 1994 I was a victim of the Northridge Earthquake. Part of my apartment complex collapsed and a friend of mine perished in the Northridge Meadows Apartments. I lost most of my belongings, and I even lost my job at the Northridge Fashion Center. This was very traumatic for me since I was already struggling to make a living and finish my first year of college. The help offered to me by the community of volunteers providing aid after the earthquake is unforgettable. Ever since, I've been very interested in helping others affected by natural disasters.
In 2009, I spent three weeks in Pisco, Peru, helping the community rebuild from their devastating 2007 earthquake. My trip was self-sponsored, and I managed to raise enough money to help purchase a much needed arc welder. It was such a rewarding experience that I want to continue helping other disaster victims. Thus, I am compelled to help as much as I can.