HELP HAITI NOW INC

Programs: Supporting single mothers--for many years help haiti now has sponsored desperate women who cannot feed or shelter their children. Now in the aftermath of the earthquake, we are trying to help more families with funding to rebuild their lives. As an example, $400-700 will rent a room or a simple house for a year, $300 will provide food for a significant period, and an additional $500 secures an inventory to start a business selling in the marketplace. As a result, about $1,500 can keep a family together, rescue them from despair, and make them self-sustainable.

church orphanage--hhn provides essential food for a church shelter for unwanted children in montrouis. Pastor enel and the church of god are housing 30 local children who have lost their parents or who's parents cannot take care of them. The children sleep on the church floor. Three teachers come everyday and they arrange chalkboards to create classrooms in the church and teach the kids. They are dependent on help haiti now for food (rice, beans, oil, fish sauce, cornmeal, charcoal). Occasionally, we can provide a special treat of juice or milk.

shelter support--help haiti now worked with other nonprofit groups in montrouis to relocate over 300 people left homeless by the quake. Initially housing was created at a school while a shelter campsite was constructed on donated land. While the other groups have gradually withdrawn support, we continue sending money for food and medical emergencies. Tuition has been waived at a nearby primary school and the children are not expected to wear uniforms. There are a dozen secondary students who need financial assistance for tuition and uniforms (there are no public/free schools in montrouis). At present 100 people remain in this humble circumstance, mostly women and children. Their survival depends on the money we send monthly for food and clean water.

the children's home--three weeks after the earthquake, help haiti now found and rented a large house outside of the town of montrouis. 16 children, parentless from the tent cities in port au prince, were thrilled to move in on feb. 6, 2010. They continue to flourish with regular meals and little areas of their very own in the dormitory-style house. A small staff of haitian friends take care of the kids and provide a stable, secure, loving, environment. The children who are old enough have school uniforms and are enrolled in school. This is exciting for the children because education is a privilege in haiti. Not everyone meets the requirements of having a uniform, shoes, and money to pay tuition - even in the public schools.