notes: from their website: As survivors clear rubble, search for loved ones, and mourn the losses that have occurred since yesterday’s massive earthquake in Haiti, CRWRC staff are providing support and preparing plans for long-term aid. “The earthquake that hit the capital city, where both CRWRC and Christian Reformed World Missions personnel are stationed, was severe,” CRWRC Director, Ida Kaastra Mutoigo reported this morning. “But we have confirmed that all Christian Reformed staff are safe.” CRWRC has been working in Haiti for more than 30 years. By partnering with local churches and community organizations, CRWRC has empowered Haitian community leaders to no longer see themselves as victims of poverty, but as image bearers of God who have gifts they can use to serve their communities. In this new time of crisis, these local partners are now leading their communities in responding to the most urgent needs. “During a disaster like this, it is hard to see anything positive,” said Ken Little, CRWRC’s Disaster Response Senior Project Manager, “but one strength that we do have is local leaders and community connections who can quickly identify needs and help us distribute aid to those most in need in a timely and effective way.” CRWRC’s immediate response will be to meet urgent needs for things like water, shelter and food. “We want to get survivors out of the sun, out of the damage, and hydrated,” said CRWRC’s Disaster Programme Manager, Jacqueline Koster. CRWRC-Haiti staff member and Dutch expatriot, Ad DeBlaeij, toured some of Port au Prince this morning. He reports, “There are thousands upon thousands of people in the streets. Most of them slept outside last night because of fear of aftershocks. In front of the CRWRC offices, there are 400 people just sitting on the ground, and they’ll likely be there for the next day or two until it is safe for them to return to what is left of their homes.” As CRWRC provides aid, it is also collaborating with other organizations to ensure that the aid efforts are coordinated and no needs fall through the gaps. “At this stage of the response it is about meeting the immediate needs,” said Koster, “but we want to be sure that our collective response has the greatest possible benefit in the long-term by coordinating our activities.” On Friday, Mr. Little will be travelling to Haiti to assess needs and prepare plans for additional aid. He expects that CRWRC’s response will include temporary shelter as well as long-term home repair and reconstruction. At this time it is unclear whether or not additional volunteers will be needed for CRWRC's response. Those who are interested in volunteering should direct their inquiries to Carol Sybenga at 1-800-730-3490 or e-mail volunteer@crcna.org. Financial contributions for CRWRC's response, however, are urgently needed. Every dollar makes a difference and now if you give a donation to the Haiti Earthquake victims through CRWRC by February 12th, it will double in impact due to a generous contribution from the Canadian Government. Checks, marked “Haiti Earthquake 2010” can also be sent to: CRWRC-US 2850 Kalamazoo Ave SE Grand Rapids, MI 49560. Ph: 1-800-55-CRWRC CRWRC-Canada 3475 Mainway P.O. Box 5070 STN LCD 1 Burlington, Ontario, L7R 3Y8 1-800-730-3490 Or go to their website to donate. -> FROM RELIEF WEB: CRWRC Response Helps Fight Cholera in Haiti Source: Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) Date: 25 Oct 2010 CRWRC Newsroom | October 25, 2010 A deadly outbreak of cholera in Haiti, in which 259 people are known to have died and over 3,000 people have been affected, steps up the urgency behind the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee's ongoing shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) program in the Leogane communities of Croix des Peres, Luitor, Masson, Macombe, and Flon. The cholera, which originated north of Port-au-Prince, reached the capital over the weekend, and now has spread as far as Leogane, where there are now four confirmed cases. Willys Geffrard, CRWRC's Project Manager in Haiti, reports that education regarding the outbreak began on Friday, October 22nd, when CRWRC's Disaster Response Team met with their Community-based Organization (CBO) leaders to discuss how to best sensitize families, neighbors, and their communities to the importance of practicing good hygiene habits and using clean water. Today Jos Joosse, CRWRC's WASH program manager, is going to the villages to advise the communities to use only the water from the deep wells. This water is clean and cannot be contaminated by run-off. There are 18 wells completed in the villages, each over 150 feet deep, with five more planned. In regards to hygiene, 44 latrines have been built, with more to be built in Flon. On Wednesday morning CRWRC will meet with the water committees in each village to provide further education regarding the wells, how to use the pumps, and the importance of keeping the latrines clean. A subsequent meeting with all of the WASH teams in Leogane will occur this Thursday. In addition to implementing the WASH program in Leogane, CRWRC placed a Trojan UV Water Filtration system with King's Hospital in Port au Prince earlier this year, and is placing a second Trojan system at Grace Children's Hospital. Both of systems were donated by a group of donors in London, Ontario, so it is with thanks to them that two hospitals have purified water – particularly at this time of a cholera outbreak. Dr Junie Hyacinthe, the Executive Director at King's Hospital, says that she is very happy with CRWRC because, unlike other non-government organizations, "CRWRC maintains contact, checking in to look at the quality of the water, test the water, and to just keep an eye on things." The system at King's Hospital also delivers clean water to an orphanage and a school that are a part of the complex. ------------------------------------------- From their website: As survivors clear rubble, search for loved ones, and mourn the losses that have occurred since yesterday’s massive earthquake in Haiti, CRWRC staff are providing support and preparing plans for long-term aid. “The earthquake that hit the capital city, where both CRWRC and Christian Reformed World Missions personnel are stationed, was severe,” CRWRC Director, Ida Kaastra Mutoigo reported this morning. “But we have confirmed that all Christian Reformed staff are safe.” CRWRC has been working in Haiti for more than 30 years. By partnering with local churches and community organizations, CRWRC has empowered Haitian community leaders to no longer see themselves as victims of poverty, but as image bearers of God who have gifts they can use to serve their communities. In this new time of crisis, these local partners are now leading their communities in responding to the most urgent needs. “During a disaster like this, it is hard to see anything positive,” said Ken Little, CRWRC’s Disaster Response Senior Project Manager, “but one strength that we do have is local leaders and community connections who can quickly identify needs and help us distribute aid to those most in need in a timely and effective way.” CRWRC’s immediate response will be to meet urgent needs for things like water, shelter and food. “We want to get survivors out of the sun, out of the damage, and hydrated,” said CRWRC’s Disaster Programme Manager, Jacqueline Koster. CRWRC-Haiti staff member and Dutch expatriot, Ad DeBlaeij, toured some of Port au Prince this morning. He reports, “There are thousands upon thousands of people in the streets. Most of them slept outside last night because of fear of aftershocks. In front of the CRWRC offices, there are 400 people just sitting on the ground, and they’ll likely be there for the next day or two until it is safe for them to return to what is left of their homes.” As CRWRC provides aid, it is also collaborating with other organizations to ensure that the aid efforts are coordinated and no needs fall through the gaps. “At this stage of the response it is about meeting the immediate needs,” said Koster, “but we want to be sure that our collective response has the greatest possible benefit in the long-term by coordinating our activities.” On Friday, Mr. Little will be travelling to Haiti to assess needs and prepare plans for additional aid. He expects that CRWRC’s response will include temporary shelter as well as long-term home repair and reconstruction. At this time it is unclear whether or not additional volunteers will be needed for CRWRC's response. Those who are interested in volunteering should direct their inquiries to Carol Sybenga at 1-800-730-3490 or e-mail volunteer@crcna.org. Financial contributions for CRWRC's response, however, are urgently needed. Every dollar makes a difference and now if you give a donation to the Haiti Earthquake victims through CRWRC by February 12th, it will double in impact due to a generous contribution from the Canadian Government. Checks, marked “Haiti Earthquake 2010” can also be sent to: CRWRC-US 2850 Kalamazoo Ave SE Grand Rapids, MI 49560. Ph: 1-800-55-CRWRC CRWRC-Canada 3475 Mainway P.O. Box 5070 STN LCD 1 Burlington, Ontario, L7R 3Y8 1-800-730-3490 Or go to their website to donate.
mission: from the website: The Christian Reformed Church (CRC) includes just over one thousand congregations across the United States and Canada. About 75 percent of the churches are in the United States; 25 percent are in Canada. We’re one of only a few binational denominations: rather than split into different churches at the 49th parallel, we’re united. Almost 300,000 people belong to the CRCNA—not a large number when you consider the population of our two countries. But by God’s grace we can accomplish a lot when we work together. -> from the website: The Christian Reformed Church (CRC) includes just over one thousand congregations across the United States and Canada. About 75 percent of the churches are in the United States; 25 percent are in Canada. We’re one of only a few binational denominations: rather than split into different churches at the 49th parallel, we’re united. Almost 300,000 people belong to the CRCNA—not a large number when you consider the population of our two countries. But by God’s grace we can accomplish a lot when we work together.

region: Haiti, Carribean -> Haiti, Caribbean

region: Hait, Carribean -> Haiti, Carribean

address: -> MAILING ADDRESS: 2850 Kalamazoo Ave SE Grand Rapids, MI 49560

name: Christian Reformed World Relief Committee - 2010 Haiti -> Christian Reformed World Relief Committee - 2010 Haiti Earthquake Response
region: -> Hait, Carribean

state: -> HT