Dear Friends,

As the weeks pass and Haiti starts to fade from the news, the 1.2 million people who are homeless in Port-au-Prince continue to struggle to find food and water.

Wadner Pierre, a member of the St. Clare’s community who is on a full scholarship at Loyola University in New Orleans visited Haiti last week.  Here are some of his reflections: “People from all over the capital are looking for a meal.  Some of them walk miles to join the feeding program at the St. Clare’s rectory.  I could see their happiness when they received the meal.  I was not surprised to see the cooks continue to prepare the rice, vegetables, meat, and beans for the people with the same love.  The young people who have benefitted from What If? Foundation education scholarships are now the translators for the doctors working at the health clinic at the rectory.  The people are strong.  They want to move forward.  They help each other, and they really need help from citizens all over the world.”

Last week, the Haitian government declared a three-day national period of mourning for the more than 200,000 people who died in the January 12th earthquake.  Many people fasted and prayed Friday – Sunday.  This picture is from a prayer service at the St. Clare’s rectory.

On Monday, the food program resumed and over 3,000 hot meals were served to children and adults, paid for with your generous donations.  We continue to truck in food and water from the Dominican Republic and are working to collaborate with other nonprofits to expand the scope of our relief effort.  Being in partnership with the St. Clare’s community for ten years puts us in a unique position to respond to this crisis anddistribute supplies safely and effectively not only at the St. Clare’s rectory but also in other locations.

As we enter the 6th week since the earthquake, I want to share with you again what a powerful difference each of you has made in the lives of thousands of children and adults in Port-au-Prince.  Your support, shown in so many ways – through donations, prayers, fundraisers, emails, and participation in our Tell-a-Friend campaign – has made it possible to expand the food program, provide desperately needed relief to thousands of people every week, and create an oasis of hope for our beloved community in Haiti.

Piti piti na rive!  Little by little we will arrive,

Margaret Trost