Where to go to help Haiti and its people

With three out of nine million people on the devastated island of Haiti in need of support, the Citizen lists below the various organizations in the Town of Greenwich providing a wide range of efforts and services in support of the stricken Haitian population and relatives living in the area.

L'Eglise Episcopale de l' Epiphanie, a Haitian ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, meeting at St. John's Episcopal Church in Stamford, that has over a dozen Haitian members living in Greenwich, is holding a memorial service on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. to honor all those in Haiti who have died in the January 12 earthquake. The liturgy and the musical offerings will be in English, French and Creole. The Rev. Judith Alexis, the Rev. Jim Wheeler, the Rev. Julia Fritts, and the Rt. Rev. James E. Curry will be among those participating. People of all faiths are invited to attend. The Rev. Judith Alexis urges all those who have lost their relatives to submit their names to be read at the memorial service. "Many Haitians in Connecticut lost loved ones in the earthquake and are unable to return to Haiti to grieve, or even to bury them," she said. Those affected by the tragedy are encouraged to submit the name of their loved one at www.egliseepiphanie.org or to call 203-964-1517. Before the service Alexis is hoping to hold a press conference featuring members from various aid agencies to give reports on the situation in Haiti. Alexis also urges the wider community to support the rescue and recovery efforts in Haiti by donating to the "Haiti Fund" at Episcopal Relief and Development (http://www.er-d.org) or to a relief agency of choice. St. John's Episcopal Church is located at 628 Main Street in Stamford. For further information call 203-964-1517.

The Student Transportation of America (STA) employees partnering with the local school bus company that serves the Greenwich public and private schools have established an information center at STA's Greenwich office to help 30 Haitian-American bus drivers and 10 monitors contact their family and friends in Haiti with prepaid phone cards. STA employees will also be helped to trace their loved ones through Salvation Army and American Red Cross websites. The Center's WiFi and several computer workstations will be operating from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day while the need exists. Breakfast and lunch are being provided daily. "We cannot begin to comprehend the magnitude of the tragedy in Haiti," said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sidney A. Freund The schools have already begun multiple and various relief efforts and we will continue to do whatever we can to try to support these efforts."

The American Red Cross is offering to help relatives connect to their family members by registering the names of loved ones at http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/. People trying to locate U.S. citizens living or traveling in Haiti should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225. Those wishing to donate to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, that is proving immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need can send donations to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013, or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org. The American Red Cross is not accepting volunteers to travel to Haiti, but if you would like to volunteer to respond to local disasters and emergencies, please contact Andrew Sindell, Director of Community Services at (203) 869-8444 or sindella@usa.redcross.org.

The Nathaniel Witherell Harry L. Nado Employee Trust Fund created to support employees at Witherell and their families, has donated $1,000 each to AmeriCares, Save The Children and The Clinton Foundation for the relief of those living in Haiti following the recent devastating earthquake. Witherell employee, Michel Baptiste, a native of Haiti, who is a member of the Harry L Nado Committee, has been raising awareness for the Harry L. Nado Fund as nearly 30 percent of the Witherell workforce is from Haiti and most still have family residing in Haiti.

"We are receiving donations every day," said Witherell's Deputy and Director of Nursing, Lynn A. Bausch. "We plan to donate further money based upon our fund-raising efforts. We also acknowledge that we share a bond with employees who work in other nursing homes. Many of the employees in other area nursing homes are also from Haiti and have relatives in Haiti. We would strongly encourage them to become active in our fund-raising efforts and donate to The Harry L. Nado Fund so we can continue to pledge donations to the organizations. The Committee will also consider donations to other organizations should our fund-raising efforts be extremely successful." For further information call 203-618-4226 or email Lynn Bausch at lbausch@greenwichct.org

State Senator L. Scott Frantz (R-36 D) has alerted his constituents by email to offer help for the "survivors of this natural disaster." He suggested the following relief organizations "to contribute even a small amount:" AmeriCares, 800.486.HELP or www.ameriCares.org; American Red Cross, 800.RED.CROSS or www.redcross.org; and Save the Children, 800.728.3843 or www.savethechildren.org. Also, he said, "You can check out www.USAID.gov. This website, run by the federal government, explains some other ways you can donate and volunteer." To contact Scott Frantz, call 800-842-1421 or via email at Scott.Frantz@cga.ct.gov.

Greenwich High School (GHS) is performing their annual Composer's Showcase concert of student composed music on Wednesday, Feb. 10, with all ticket proceeds to be donated to the American Red Cross, AmeriCares and other organizations to help the relief efforts in Haiti. Tickets will be $10 and go on sale Monday, Feb 1st in Student Activities or can be purchased at the door. Student compositions are in one of four categories: Singer/Songwriter, Instrumental Music, Electronic Music, and Bands. The concert is at 7 p.m. in the GHS Auditorium. The snow date is Thursday Feb 11. For more information call 203-625-8064.

Stanwich Congregational Church members and friends as of their Jan. 17 services have donated $13,340 in special individual contributions to support the relief efforts following the earthquake that devastated Haiti. The funds are being channeled through the Stamford-based AmeriCares disaster-relief organization to help the people of Haiti. The church's Missions Committee is continuing to collect contributions for Haiti and expects additional amounts to be donated. In mid-2008, the church contributed a total of $22,000 in individual donations to help people displaced at that time by the cyclone in Myanmar and earthquake in China. For information contact Tom Elliott at 203-321-8688.

Brunswick School held a one-day drive on Wednesday to collect food that will be delivered by FedEx to the Kansas City based relief agency Heart to Heart International that specializes in volunteer action and worldwide humanitarian assistance. The organization has people on the ground in Haiti ready to distribute food collected. Food items were dropped off at Pre Kindergarten/Kindergarten, Lower School, Middle School and Upper School division offices on King Street and Maher Avenue. For further information, contact Bonni Brodnick, Director of Communications at Brunswick, 203-625-5864.

Christ Church Greenwich has a variety of efforts in support of Haiti. Since last weekend the church has been collecting basic medical supplies to be taken to Haiti by a team from Old St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Bloomfield, CT. A bin was placed in the Church's Lower Hallway for the collection of medical supplies. In addition the church has asked for the donation of the following items: towels, soap, shampoo, deodorant: men/women, hand soap, hand sanitizer, hand lotion, body lotion, baby power, baby wipes, diapers all sizes, diaper rash ointment, feminine napkins, small kleenex boxes, toilet paper, disposable ice packs, toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash, dental floss, blankets, sheets, sleeping bags, tarps & ropes, tents, Crank flashlights, Batteries AA/AAA/C/D, paper plates, napkins, paper towels, garbage bags, zip lock bags, plastic cups, and plastic utensils. Cash donations are also being accepted..

This Sunday morning their Student Ministries and Confirmation class are holding a bake sale to raise funds, and in the afternoon before a 3:00 Chamber Music Concert there will be a collection for Haiti. In addition funds are being directed to the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund. To make an online donation go to https://www.er-d.org/donate-select.php.

For more information call Susan Marks at the church at 203-869-6600, ext. 17.