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The Audrain-Montgomery Chapter of the American Red Cross is accepting monetary donations for the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, and the community's response – from both young and old contributors – has been heartfelt, officials said.
Two days after the earthquake hit, two little boys – their names are unknown – walked into the Red Cross office and offered their candy money – $3 each – to help the victims.
On Monday, members of the Mexico Thunder baseball team presented the local Red Cross with a $300 check to help Haitian residents. Initially, the team was saving the money for its summer travels, but as a group they voted instead to give it to the American Red Cross.
For the next week and a half, members of the Mexico High School Art Club and Global Services Club are sponsoring a competition to see which class can collect the most money for Haiti relief efforts, while third grade students at St. Brendan Catholic School this week are using their creative coloring skills to show their compassion. In observance of Catholic Schools Week, the students created envelopes, which they intend to fill with their own personal monetary donations. The envelopes will be sent to the Catholic Charities Diocese in Jefferson City, where the money will be placed in the Catholic Relief Services Fund.
Several churches in the community also have responded to the cause. Members at St. Paul CME Methodist on Sunday took up a benevolent offering that also will be donated to Red Cross's earthquake fund.
The list of those who have given goes on and on, Red Cross Executive Director Rhonda Lightfoot said. To date, the chapter has collected $4,125.
"I've been very amazed at the number of people who have reached out to help; we're talking everything from little kids to residents who are well established in the community, walking in, one after the other, making sure those people in Haiti are taken care of," said Lightfoot. While it could take years to rebuild what was destroyed in Haiti, Lightfoot added, "it's very humbling to know that the people in our rural community are willing to help not only residents in their own community, but also those living on an island nation that may have to be rebuilt."
The January 12 earthquake that hit Haiti killed around 170,000 people and left more than a million others homeless, many of whom are living in makeshift camps in the ruined capital.
The International Red Cross' immediate relief efforts, Lightfoot said, were in the way of food, water, shelter and medical needs. But due to a lack of storage space at the Haitian airports, Red Cross chapters are no longer accepting donations of blankets, clothing or toys at this time. Once Haiti becomes more stabilized, Lightfoot said, items needed will likely change.
"At this moment, the seaports in Haiti are damaged and there is very limited space for warehousing, and that is being used for the immediate needs of the people affected," Lightfoot explained. The monetary donations being collected from the local and state chapters, she said, will be placed in the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, and used as needed.
In addition to monetary help, Lightfoot said it's also possible the Audrain-Montgomery Coun-ty Red Cross Chapter could be called upon to help in the aftermath.
"When they are ready, they will likely call upon the mass casualty volunteers from areas like Florida, New Orleans, and California; places that have experienced devastations like that," Lightfoot said. "If more people are needed, we have two volunteers who are trained in that area that I could send in to help."
Mass casualty volunteers, she said, help those deployed to the country, by providing paperwork support for fundraisers, and doing ground work, while others are helping the victims.
In addition to assisting with worldwide humanitarian needs, the Audrain-Montgomery Chap-ter continues to respond to local flooding and fires, and is holding a benefit dinner auction on March 6 at the 4-H Fairgrounds. Items are needed for the silent and live auctions. These items can be dropped off at the local chapter office, or those donating can call (573) 581-4273 for pickup of the items. Proceeds from the event will be used to fund the local chapter as it continues to assist local citizens.
Since the beginning of the year, the chapter has responded to four house fires and assisted six families with temporary immediate needs.