Posted: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 12:54 pm

As with any disaster, the news of the Haitian earthquake was a call to action for help, however for those with family and friends in Haiti, helping the survivors became more than a just a charitable responsibility, it is a ministry and a mission.

One of the missions at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is to help rebuild the Children’s Nutrition Center, as well as sending summer clothing, shoes along with a limited range household goods.

“The response from within the church as well as other groups partnering with us to help has been tremendous, and the Hearts for Haiti project continues to grow. People want to help, but they like to have a clear idea of who they are helping,” church member Gail Henry said.

Father Polk Van Zandt, the rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal church, and his daughter Mary Balfour have a close relationship with those in Haiti.

On a previous mission trip to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, they developed close ties with other clergy there, in particular with Per Val (Father Fritz Valdamar) and his wife Carmel, a nutritionist and nurse. When news of the disaster first broke, the congregation at St. Paul’s stepped up to the plate and quickly accepted the challenge to help in the form of a clothing and shoe drive as well as a fundraising, which can be found at stpaulsmboro.org/Haiti.

Sadly, "poverty in Haiti was and is systemic. Before the earthquake, 20 percent of all infants died before the age of five, 80 percent of the population lived on $2 a day or less. Most people spend their entire lives looking for enough to eat. Now it must be much worse. As Christians, as human beings, we simply must respond in a big way," Polk said.

Haiti was the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Now it is one of
the poorest country in the world. Before the earthquake, there was a great divide in Haiti - the haves and the have nots. The earthquake was a great equalizer. Now everyone is a have not.

As Polk told us, "Pere Val and Carmel are extraordinary pastors and leaders in Haiti. In our trips to Haiti, Pere Val and Carmel opened our hearts to the plight of the Haitian people. They have always needed our help in meeting basic needs. Now that need has grown exponentially.”

He urged his congregation to “please give generously of your time and treasure as we reach out to our sisters and brothers in Haiti."

Polk’s strategy focuses on rebuilding the Children's Nutrition Clinic run by Per Val's wife, Carmel. The Nutrition Center was in the process of being built when the earthquake hit and we are contributing our fundraising efforts towards this goal.

The Children's Nutrition Center, at Croix de Bouquet (just outside of Port-au-Prince) will provide the necessary facilities to restart and to grow Carmel's ministry to the children of Haiti.

Almost 40 percent complete at the time of the earthquake, half of the facility was destroyed. The center will also provide space for medical missions to operate clinics. The government is currently building a refugee camp for 100,000 just a few hundred yards from the Center. It will also provide a place for construction mission teams to stay while in Haiti.

The total cost of the project is $200,000. With the support of the Vestry, St. Paul's is partnering with St. Mary's-on-the-Highlands in Birmingham, Ala. and other parishes in the Southeast to accomplish this goal.

In addition to the financial donations that are being collected every Sunday we are collecting clothing for adults and children as well as specific household goods.

“Remember, Haiti is a tropical country where the highs are 95 and the lows are 68 so only send summer clothing,’ Henry said. “All clothing must be clean and in good condition. Nothing torn, damaged or in poor condition. Skirts and lightweight dresses of all styles are particularly desirable for ladies. If you send shoes and sandals, please tie each pair together and put them in a plastic bag with the size on the outside. The household items we would like to collect include plastic dishes, pots and pans, towels, sheets, and large pieces of fabric that are suitable for summer clothing.”

Clothing donations along with financial donations are being accepted at the St. Paul’s church office located at 116 North Academy Street, (just off of East Main Street ) Monday thru Friday from 9:30 AM to 4 PM. Checks may be made to St.Paul’s- Haiti.