On January 12, a massive earthquake shook Haiti affecting large numbers of already very vulnerable people. Many of our 15 member agencies have staff on the ground in Haiti and are reporting on the things they have seen. “All over Port au Prince,” says Kenneth Little of Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, “every open area, park, schoolyard, plaza and parking lot has people camping out in them. Aftershocks continue to ripple and people are afraid to sleep in their houses or have no houses to sleep in. The images of destruction are difficult to comprehend.”

Member agencies that make up Canadian Foodgrains Bank are already actively involved in responding to the disaster. Immediate relief and medical assistance is being provided, and plans are being developed to increase this help and develop longer-term recovery programs over the months to come.

Canadian Foodgrains Bank is working with and supporting the response of its member agencies.  “A strong network of member agencies with staff and programs on the ground”, says Jim Cornelius, executive director of Canadian Foodgrains Bank, “provides an excellent platform through which effective assistance can be provided.” Member agencies will be drawing on resources at Canadian Foodgrains Bank to help meet the food and nutritional needs of people affected by the disaster.

The Canadian government has pledged to contribute matching resources (on a 1:1 basis) into a special Haiti relief fund for every donation for Haiti relief from an individual Canadian made to Canadian Foodgrains Bank and other qualifying agencies before February 12. Canadian Foodgrains Bank can also draw on its annual CIDA grant on a 4:1 matching basis as part of our response.

Please help us in supporting the relief and recovery efforts. Donate now.

 
For more information about what our member agencies are already doing in Haiti, please visit our member page and follow the links to their websites.