Davidson’s religious congregations are springing into action this weekend to come up with plans for helping victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. Some are taking up collections at Sunday services. And a collection of groups are coordinating plans for a community-wide effort later this month.
Local religious leaders met Friday morning at Davidson College Presbyterian Church to consider a joint community response, and the consensus was that there’s a need for both immediate help and longer-term solutions to the quake and Haiti’s underlying economic problems.
Short-term efforts are expected to include a community-wide event Jan. 31 at Davidson College where interested volunteers can help package emergency food for Haiti. That effort will be followed by a community worship service, with a collection to help the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. Donations to those two groups will help Davidson residents respond to both “short- and long-term needs,” according to the Rev. Lib McGregor Simmons, pastor of Davidson College Presbyterian Church.
Friday’s meeting include representatives from DCPC, Davidson United Methodist Church, St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, Our Towns Habitat for Humanity, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Lake Norman and others. It began with a prayer for those affected by the quake, include those working with local mission groups and Our Towns Habitat for Humanity. About 50 people were in Haiti working with Habitat for Humanity and as of Friday morning only 10 had been accounted for.
The consensus among the 15 or so people at the meeting was that the community’s first response should be individual monetary donations to organizations that are already on the ground in Haiti. “The immediate need that I’m hearing is money,” the Rev. Simmons said.
The Rev. Bill Tiemann, a retired minister an an associate at DCPC, suggested that the community help Habitat for Humanity as it joins in rebuilding housing after the initial quake recovery. “This will be a long-term project,” he said.
Terry Laney, executive director of Cornelius-based Our Towns Habitat for Humanity noted that Habitat for Humanity International already is laying plans to help provide shelter in Haiti in the quake’s aftermath. Our Towns Habitat has a history of helping out after disasters, he said. After the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004, Our Towns Habitat redoubled its efforts and raised enough money to build 15 homes in Sri Lanka in 2005 – equal to the record number of homes it built here in 2005.
“We need to look at something more on the long-term side,” Mr. Laney said. He said the Our Towns chapter’s board will discuss the issue at its Jan. 27 board meeting.
There was a consensus at Friday’s meeting to plan some kind of community wide fund-raiser or activity aimed at helping earthquake victims. At the meeting’s conclusion, the group decided to appoint a committee to plan a Jan. 31 community event to package food for Haiti.
The group will work with Stop Hunger Now, a Raleigh-based nonprofit group that coordinates food and aid distribution around the world. At the Jan. 31 event (time to be announced), local volunteers will help package food. Stop Hunger Now has hosted many similar events in the past, and says 40 to 50 volunteers can package 10,000 meals in one session.
More about the Jan. 31 event will be forthcoming.
LINKS AND EVENTS
See previous coverage on local Haitian relief efforts under the “Haiti” tag. That includes a list of where to donate to help.
Habitat for Humanity International. Read more about the group’s efforts to help provide shelter in Haiti. Habitat for Humanity International is being supported by the local chapter, Our Towns Habitat for Humanity
MONDAY, JAN. 18, 5 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez 302 – Representatives of student organizations will meet to discuss how to assist with Haiti relief efforts, and to spread the word about existing efforts already underway. Representatives of all campus organizations are being invited.
HARRIS TEETER stores will be selling $1 and $5 Haiti Earthquake Relief Cards beginning Friday, Jan. 15. The Matthews-based grocery chain also is making its own $25,000 donation. All funds will go directly to the American Red Cross International Response Fund.
AMERICAN RED CROSS – The American Red Cross has pledged an initial $1 million from its International Response Fund to help with earthquake relief. There are several ways to give: Make an unrestricted donation to the International Response Fund at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767). You can send an instant $10 donation by texting “Haiti” to 90999, in an effort backed by the U.S. State Department. Funds will go directly to support American Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti. www.redcross.org
EPISCOPAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT, www.er-d.org/ – Episcopal Church workers in Haiti are funded through Episcopal Relief & Development, which has set up an online donation Haiti-specific fund at www.er-d.org/donate-select.php
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA CONFERENCE/UNITED METHODIST CHURCH- Receiving contributions for quake relief. Make checks payable to “WNCC Treasurer” with “Haiti quake relief” on the memo line and mail to WNCC Mission/Outreach, PO Box 18005, Charlotte NC 28218. Or go online to www.wnccumc.org and click “Donate” button.
ICYWAVES SURF SHOP, 20545 Torrence Chapel Rd., Cornelius – IcyWaves Surf Shop is accepting the drop off of donations of bottled water, clothing, and paper products for Haiti’s earthquake victims. These items will be delivered to Crowders Mountain Volunteer Fire Department, which will deliver them to people in need in Haiti. IcyWaves will give 20 percent discounts to anyone who makes a donation through Sunday, Jan. 24. www.icywavessurfshop.com/
WATCH OUT FOR SCAMS
Meanwhile, as you consider how to help or donate: Authorities say that fund-raising scams are a threat at a time like this. It’s a good idea to take a close look at any charity you’re considering supporting. That’s what Nancy and Vincent DiGiorgio of Campania Cafe in Davidson did when before they decided their fund-raiser would support International Medical Corps.
“I looked it up. There’s a website called charitywatch.org. I looked on there and they were rated A-plus,” Nancy DiGiorgio said.
Read more about how to spot fraud:
Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, Charlotte Observer, “Scams lurk amid requests for donations.”
