Relief efforts underway for Haiti

People around the world, in indeed also here in Yarmouth County, are looking for ways to assist the country of Haiti, which was devastated this week by a massive earthquake.

In Yarmouth, the Red Cross is accepting cash donations at its location in Dayton. A Red Cross worker told The Vanguard on Thursday that cash donations have been pouring in since news of the earthquake and its devastation broke.

The Red Cross is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.

People can also donate online through the Canadian Red Cross at:

http://www.redcross.ca/article.asp?id=000005&tid=003

Cash donations are also being accepted by the Hands Across the Sea Association. This association is part of a ministry that operates an orphanage and school in Haiti. Several people from Yarmouth are in Haiti now, and were there when the earthquake struck, doing missionary work. All are okay following the earthquake, but there has been structural damage to the school they have been helping out at, along with a dormitory for missionary workers.

People can make cheques out to the Hands Across the Sea Association and send them to: Hands Across the Sea, Box 101, Yarmouth, NS B5A 4B1.

Another relief effort has been mobilized in Yarmouth is called Helping Hands for a Hurting Haiti. The group, which has also formed a Facebook group, is looking for donations of clothing, blankets, canned goods, used tents, tarps, rice, generators, shovels and bandages. Plans are to send the items to the Haitian Red Cross via a chartered airplane early next week.

There are several drop-off points. They are: - The third floor of the former cotton mill on Water Street. - Mackenzie Security on Cliff Street. - The back entrance of Yarmouth Town Hall. - The New Life Church at 673 Main St. - The Yarmouth airport terminal. - The Municipality of Yarmouth building in Hebron. - The Salvation Army on 103 Brunswick St.

Tri-Star Industries has committed phone lines that people can phone to have items picked up. The group is also looking for volunteers to help with the effort. People can call the following numbers: 742-9255, 749-6207, 742-2549, 742-5848, 742-9624 or 742-2521. They can also call the Yarmouth County Flying Club at 742-2549, where the telephone line has been devoted to help with the effort.

Other relief organizations are also collecting donations. For instance, World Vision Canada is accepting donations by calling 1-800-268-5528 or visiting online at

www.worldvision.ca

Governments have also contributed financial aid to Haiti. The Canadian government immediately pledged $5 million in emergency aid.

The province of Nova Scotia is contributing $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to help with the humanitarian mission in Haiti. "The people of Haiti are in desperate need of the essentials, including food, water and medical supplies. This money will help with those needs," Premier Darrell Dexter said. "I am deeply saddened by the situation in Haiti. Nova Scotia, a province known for its caring, generous people, is doing its part to help people struck by this overwhelming disaster."

The Canadian military is also sending personnel and supplies to Haiti.

QUICK GLANCE

Anyone looking to make donations may contact these established relief organizations, recommended by the

Canadian International Development Agency: -- The Canadian Red Cross, 1-800-418-1111 -- Canadian Organization for Development and Peace, 1-888-664-3387 -- World Vision, 1-800-268-5528 -- UNICEF Canada, 1-877-955-3111 -- Oxfam-Canada, 1-800-466-9326 -- CARE Canada, 1-800-267-5232 -- Médecins sans Frontières, 1-800-982-7903