Haiti Relief

Hope for Haiti
 

HaitiOur work in Haiti continues
The Florida Baptist Children’s Homes is continuing its work to care for abused, neglected, and orphaned children in Haiti. Haiti is a priority location for our international childcare program, but it has become more of a focus as a result of the earthquake that devastated much of Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010.

 

 

Florida Baptist Children’s Homes

Strengthens Orphan Care in Haiti

Setting up tents, moving rubble, and distributing food in Haiti were not part of the regular duties of Eron Green, who serves as the central division administrator for the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes. Green was one of six administrative staff from the Children’s Homes that took a week off from their regular duties to travel to Haiti in order to help improve the level of care at the Good Rest Mission orphanage along with several orphanages in the Port-au-Prince area. CLICK HERE to read more

Pictured are some of the children at the Good Rest Mission orphanage in Haiti where staff from the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes helped put up temporary shelters and provided training to orphanage workers.


Haitian orphans are suffering and in desperate need of our help

Haiti


Prior to the earthquake there were an estimated 380,000 children in orphanages. The earthquake caused the death of many orphans, but also destroyed many facilities where orphans were housed. This resulted in many orphans being relocated to other orphanages causing overcrowding and shortages of supplies and personnel for the orphanages that were able to continue to function.

Many more Haitian children will certainly fall victim to malnutrition and disease without the intervention and loving care of God’s people willing to go to Haiti or willing to provide humanitarian aid in the form of financial support or supplies.

Relief efforts will focus on activities in Haiti
In response to early government reports, we originally anticipated that we would be asked to care for large numbers of Haitian orphans in Florida. We secured facilities and supplies, and developed staffing plans to be able to care for up to 250 orphans and possibly more.

However, U.S. government authorities decided not to remove children from Haiti citing concerns that many would be too fragile to withstand the strain of travel and acclimation to a new country. In addition many felt that moving large numbers of orphaned children out of the country could open doors to increased trafficking of children and other criminal activities.

We agree with these concerns, but we will continue to stand ready to provide care at our locations here in Florida should there be a change in policy by the Haitian and U.S. governments. As a result we are focusing our relief efforts on activities in Haiti in the form of transporting supplies and providing direct care and assistance for select orphanages.

People of all ages and abilities are supporting our Haiti relief efforts
We have been greatly encouraged by the outpouring of support by people of all ages and walks of life for our Haiti relief efforts.

For example, school children at Medulla Elementary in Lakeland are raising money for us throughout the remainder of the school year. In addition, Matt Diaz a major league baseball player for the Atlanta Braves who attended Medulla has agreed to match whatever the students are able to raise. Big or small your gift will make a difference in the lives of children and families in Haiti! Donate to our Haiti relief efforts.

Go with us on one of our mission trips to Haiti
We need people to go with us to Haiti to help deliver supplies and provide care for numerous children that have flooded into orphanages outside of Port-au-Prince.  You can register for a trip online using our Online Registration.

Please contact our international childcare office at 305-271-4121 or Martha.Martinez@FBCHomes.org with any questions you may have regarding our Haiti relief efforts.

"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.
(Matthew 18:5 NIV)