Help for Haiti

Judeline Felix, age 8

Dieska Pierre, age 9

Ilionise Monestime, age 9

Mirielle Auguste, age 9

Darlounedie Angrand, age 9

Julnise Jean, age 9

Ketteline St. Hilaire, age 10

Ysmelande Compere, age 10

Josline Colas, age 10

Edelande Louis, age 11

Moselene Abel, age 11

Chilove Jean-Louis, age 11

*Pictures removed because most of them now have sponsors!!

I had meant to hold off on this news, but in light of recent events, I have decided to share. This is how it happened on my end:

I was researching a 100% voluntary non-profit group called His Hands for Haiti. At the beginning of January, I began gathering information about the organization. It didn't take long to see that this organization is incredible. Here are the pluses:

1. No one is paid- 100% of the money you give goes to the children! Those kinds of non-profits are hard to find. The people running this organization are doing it purely because they love the people.

2. The sponsorship fee is low, but it provides so much for the children- the opportunity to go to school, have a school uniform, and a hot meal at school. Primary school enrollment in Haiti is about 67%, but only 30% make it to 6th grade! By the time of junior high, enrollment is less than 20%! Sponsorship is $40 per semester/ $80 a year

3. You may send packages to your child for a fraction of what it would usually cost, if you live in the US. The reason is because they have a private plane service that will take packages & letters to Haiti. It costs only $7.50 to mail a 5 pound package (plus, the cost to get it to Florida)!

I have corresponded with Jamie Charles who is the Child Sponsorship Coordinator. She has provided me with a mountain of information. After taking all of the information in, I could not help but take 2 of the children (I will introduce them later). Now that Haiti is in the crisis it is in, these children are in an even more desperate need. The schools are closed for now, but they are hoping they will be opened back up on Monday.

If you would like to join me in sponsoring one of these sweet children, this is what you need to do:

1. The pictures above are all girls between the ages of 8 and 11 who are in need of a sponsor. Their name is under their picture along with their age. Look at the pictures and see which one grabs your heart.

2. Send an e-mail to Jamie ( jamie@hishandsforhaiti.org ) with the child's name in the subject line. Tell her your name and address and your intention to sponsor child "X".

3. Once she confirms your e-mail and tells you that the child is being held for you, you can then send your check. Mail your check for $40 (or $80 if you want to pay for the year) written to "His Hands Support Ministries" to:

His Hands for Haiti

P O Box 62

New Vineyard, ME

04956

4. Jamie will mail you your child's photo and info as soon as she receives the check. She will, also, give you the details of how to write to your child & how to send packages/monetary gifts (I will explain those in a separate post).

Special notes: They do not have any on-site staff that takes pictures of the children. The annual photos are updated when a volunteer group travels to Haiti. Half of the area is covered by a volunteer trip in the spring, and the other half of the area is covered by a volunteer trip in the fall. That is when the annual photos & updates are sent to the sponsors. You will not receive a picture of your child receiving the package you sent them because as a voluntary organization, they do not have those extras at their disposal.

Letters are not required to be written. However, you are more likely to get a letter from your child if you:

a. choose a child old enough to read and write

b. write letters to the child as well

c. encourage them by sending a pack of stationary, pencils & other items for writing

d. send a few "about me" pages for them to fill out

Please keep me posted by responding to this post if you decide to take one, or two, or more. I would like to hear about your experience with this group. I will be keeping you all updated on my experience (including a post tomorrow about the 2 children I took). I will post some more children later, for those who may want to take on a younger child. I posted these sweeties first because they are all writing age, so for those who like to coorespond- this group is for you!