"As Haiti starts disappearing in the news, don't let it disappear in your thoughts and prayers!" - Mark Stuart
The Hands And Feet Project has been an integral part in the supply chain, partnering with the Mayor of Jacmel, other orphanages, and G.O. ministries. We've been blessed to have tremendous help from you and various partners over the past few weeks allowing us to take supplies to Jacmel, Haiti.
This is just the beginning!
We need your continued prayer and support as we continue with relief and also shift some of our focus to rebuilding and restoring this broken community. Even in the midst of the tragedy, it has been unbelievable to see the kids praising the Lord and growing in their faith. They are survivors, their hearts are strong and their faith is alive. Will you help us as we continue loving on and caring for them?
Please visit our "DONATE" page for an updated list of both current and on-going needs. If you are able to donate any of these items, please contact us via supplies@hafproject.org or (877) 870-6175
CHECK IT OUT via HEARITFIRST.COM
The WinterJam 2010 tour is in Nashville tonight... airing LIVE online tonight (02.21.10)... ALL proceeds to benefit the Hands & Feet Project!! Featuring NewSong, Third Day, Newsboys, Fireflight, Tenth Avenue North and MORE!! Also, interviews with the artists, including Will & Mark -- from the Dominican Republic!
If you missed the show, check out Mark & Will's videos on our YOUTUBE page... or even more show videos & interviews at the HEARITFIRST.com Facebook page.
Check out this video from the H&FP Benefit Show in Ventura, CA last weekend -- feat. Mark & Will from AudioUnplugged.
(Video courtesy www.dearabigail.net... Thanks, Abigail!)
The rest of the world is on FaceBook... and so are we! Hope to see you there! Join us at www.facebook.com/hfproject.
The H&FP Receives $30,000 Donation from Baby Bottle Company
In response to the recent devastation in Haiti, Green to Grow founders, Michael Ritterbrown and Shelley Aronoff, announced the company will donate $30,000 in BPA-free baby bottles to be air lifted into Jacmel, Haiti to Hands and Feet Project, an orphanage with two locations that has opened its doors to families seeking shelter and basic supplies for survival.
"Families have lost everything they own at the bottom of a pile of rubble. We have powdered milk and formula to give out, but we don't have anything to put it in," said Bob Herdman, Executive Director of Hands and Feet Project. "We will distribute the Green to Grow baby bottles to mothers and caretakers in Jacmel and in Grand Goave, where we have a second orphanage. This donation is critical to providing care for infants in these regions."
It was nearly a week before Green to Grow located an organization able to help deliver their donation to the right channels in Haiti. "I spent hours on the phone with larger non-profit organizations such as Save the Children and the American Red Cross. They were grateful for our offer, but had no way to accept durable goods at that time," said Green to Grow Vice President Shelley Aronoff. "Then I found Hands and Feet Project. They are working with over 100 volunteer pilots who are loading their personal planes with supplies and flying from Ft. Lauderdale, FL directly into Jacmel. Because there is no accessible airport, they are using cement and dirt roads as runways. A network of volunteers is scheduling and arranging the flights -- at least two per day into Jacmel -- and coordinating the donation of desperately needed supplies. Hands and Feet Project is at the heart of these efforts; their commitment, and that of their volunteers, reflects the very best of humanity."
Green to Grow's donation of over 2,000 BPA-free baby bottles and 10,000 silicone nipples will be departing Glendale, CA to Ft. Lauderdale, FL on Tuesday, January 26, and should arrive in Jacmel by the end of the week. The donation to Hands and Feet Project is part of Green to Grow's Bottles to Babies initiative, whose ongoing outreach gives back to those in need while helping to educate them about issues related to their families' health and the environment. Last year, through their Bottles to Babies initiative, Green to Grow donated over $52,000 of BPA-free feeding products to non-profit organizations that serve low-income families in the U.S. and abroad.
What a wake up call this morning!!!! Waking up to another earthquake this morning was NOT fun. We are all ok though... on edge, but ok. The 6.1 earthquake today was definitely felt here at the village. We don't know about how the town (of Jacmel) is yet. Drex has just taken some men to the airport so I am sure we will hear soon how things are.
Renee (at Grand-Goâve) wants everyone to know that "we survived the biggie again today. The office is still standing. The medical team is here and working in St. Etienne. Kevin and I are running around trying to coordinate things."
The H&FP remains the primary organization bringing relief to our town of 50,000 people! We continue to coordinate relief flights of supplies from the States via Miami and Santo Domingo. Yesterday we received many plane-loads of vital supplies of medical and shelter supplies, as well as diapers and formula. We also received a water purification system that is capable of providing water for up to 5,000 people DAILY! Additionally, we are receiving over 10,000 packaged meals from Kids Against Hunger!
Despite these generous donations, the people of Jacmel remain in desperate need! Please consider a donation to the Hands & Feet Project using the DONATE button above. 100% of funds received during this time will be directed towards community earthquake relief.
Just got back from Jacmel hospital. The Doctors are so excited to have another load of needed medicine and supplies! The planes coming in our so beautiful!!
We were able to get water this afternoon. We've had a few women bring babies to us whose parents or families had been killed, but all of them wanted help, not to leave the babies with us - so that's a good thing.... we're feeling more hopeful...
We are experiencing an overload on our servers due to high volume (in such a short time period)... what an AMAZING "problem" to have!
If you are having problems using our donation form, PLEASE utilize one of the following solutions:
A) Try reloading the donation page (www.hafproject.org/donate.php) in your browser.
C) Try donating via www.paypal.com -- click "send money" directly to info@hafproject.org
D) Use the old-fashioned route and send a check (or M.O.) to:
H&FP Earthquake Relief
PO Box 682105
Franklin, TN 37068
Haiti can use every single dollar!!
"...and a little child will lead them." -- Isaiah 11:6
The children of the town of Ventura, CA are an inspiration to us here at the Hands & Feet Project. We certainly do have a community of friends that are behind Hands & Feet and Haiti....
"About 30 of our kids rallied today, screaming, dancing, smiling, and encouraging cars to stop by our bake sale. The kids and cause were extremely well received by our community. The children raised $1,417 today for Hands & Feet and prayed for the our kids in Haiti. An awesome experience for us all."
A big THANK YOU to Ventura... and a hope that this will be as inspiration to the rest of you as it was to us!!
[[If you have a story like this one, please email lindsay@hafproject.org and you could be the next group featured on our NEWS page!]]
Parakletos International has joined with Friend Ships and identified Jacmel as the city to receive their assistance! Together they have a freighter that will be ready to leave port on Friday, bound for our city! They have been joined by Gary La Blanc of Mercy Chefs, who has offerd to build and staff a kitchen, with professional chefs, as soon as we can get their equipment into Jacmel! Please continue to pray for these relief efforts!!
Relief is finally on it's way to Jacmel... though it got off to a rocky start! We secured a small plane to fly supplies from California to Florida, then onto the Dominican Republic, before finally landing at the Jacmel airport. The single dirt runway airport has been housing displaced persons for the past few days, but all have been moved to the near-by soccer fields and the mayor has given permission to Hands & Feet to land relief planes! Our supplies will be the first to reach Jacmel.
PLEASE pray for the plane as it makes its way across the country and the caribbean. Upon pre-flight inspection, there was a serious oil leak that needed to be repaired! After fixing the leaks the plane was ready to take-off by 1130a (PST). At noon it was taxied to his hangar where the left engine would not start! All attempts failed and finally --after much "tinkering" the problem was found, solved and it started immediately! What a stroke of luck to find this problem here rather than in Haiti, or on the way!
The plane was finally prepared and pushed out. The crew jumped in, took a very long IFR clearance, and took off into the beautiful Santa Barbara Sunset. They will fly all night and hope to get to Miami to pick up supplies for Haiti before heading off to the Dominican Republic.
Slept inside last night...in a bed. I would have never thought that having a roof over my head could be so....frightening. A reminder that the things man builds offers no real security. Jesus...is our rock. UPDATE We should see our first boat of supplies for Jacmel today. Keep up the good work all who are helping!! [[click DONATE above!]]
the mayor of Jacmel has given us permission to land small aircraft & bring boats with supplies in. we need monetary donations - you can donate here: www.handsandfeetproject.org - we cannot accept groups coming in & supplies are being bought in the Dominican for us. if you want to bring in a LARGE boat or SMALL plane (1400meter runway) email bob@hafproject.org
CLICK TO LISTEN/download (mp3)
slept outside again. mark met w/the mayor of Jacmel last night. it was eye opening. there is NO help for Jacmel. no supplies, no money, no heavy equipment to move collapsed/ing buildings, to remove bodies, etc. Mayor said NO ONE has helped Jacmel-H&F is the first to offer help. We are taking in a few newly orphaned children in the next few days. it's still so surreal.
just when we were getting settled & feeling better, we took a trip into downtown Jacmel. saw dead bodies and buildings fallen down everywhere. just got back and was upstairs checking emails & had another tremor. also met a women whose roof had fallen on her while she was in bed. broke her back. she's got kids & is pregnant & is lying on a mat on the ground. this is heartbreaking.
Well, made it through another night! We are still doing OK. Just heard from Tina, a missionary that lives next to us with a school and church we attend. She was in Port Au Prince when the Montana Hotel collapsed. She and her parents climed out a second story window and are OK!! PTL!!!!!!! She will try and come to Jacmel today! 1-14-2010
Well, this will be my last post until tomorrow. We are doing OK. Not as frightful tonight. I just felt another tremor so I'll make this short and go outside. Kids are sleeping outside again. Still so much devastation all around us. You feel so helpless. Pray for our wisdom and resources to help!! 7:29 1-13-10
We are very safe!! The UN is in here full force. We are spending another night outside because we had a few rather large after shocks today! 7:18 Central 1-13-10
still feeling aftershocks, but the last one was a few hours ago. all of us are sleeping outside again. our emotions are more calm. we have felt less chaotic the past few hours. hopefully tonight we will all sleep well. 6:47 PM central 1-13-10
Email from Mark Stuart who is in Haiti now
1:44 Central 1-13-10
The kids were out of the sun under the new kitchen construction, but we just had to run everyone out because of another quake. We see no signs of structural damage to any of the buildings. We are at a lossfor how long the quakes will continue. I'm looking forward to night time so we can cool off. I think we will camp out again. Needless to say were pretty beat. We all moved around from the van to the truck to rocking chairs. Keep praying for the quakes to stop. Sounds like Lex and Renee got hit very hard. I'm very very thankful for the quality of the construction here. It gives us a hope that we will make it.
Hi everyone....
An 7.2 earthquake just hit Haiti. Please keep them in your prayers. So far the only info we have is what Drex has posted on Facebook. Since we have a satellite and generator our internest is still up but the phones do not work.
Below is all the info we have from Drex.
Another tenor. About 7 or so 5:40Pm
Mark and odidus just went out. Hospital in jacmel down multiple hotels down. Mark said within a 5 minute walk many houses and hotels down. Jacmel must be really bad. Again we are all ok. Can't call out. People crying in street now. Un everywhere. We are gearing up to help wherever we can. Drex 4:40PM
Everyone. We are all ok. Outside right now the house was slaking so bad. Please call everyone and Michelles mom. Had three after shocks. Edelines moms house down. Don't know anymore mow will write again. We are 20 miles from the quake 4:30Pm
Info about Grand Goave
just heard from Renee on the phone. They, the group visiting. and the kids are safe. Still shaking. Keep praying. Lots of damage, school and orphanage ok.
WINCHESTER, Va. – The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) announced today the accreditation of Hands and Feet Project of Franklin, TN.
ECFA accreditation is based on the ECFA Seven Standards of Responsible Stewardship™, including financial accountability, transparency, sound board governance and ethical fund-raising.
Hands and Feet Project joins a growing number of churches and evangelical organizations across America, supported by over 35 million donors that have earned the right to display the ECFA seal. When an organization is accredited by ECFA, it demonstrates its willingness to follow the model of biblical accountability.
“We are pleased to include in our membership a ministry committed to caring for orphans through the love of Christ, in a family environment, in their own culture,” said Dan Busby, president of ECFA.
Founded in 2004, Hands and Feet Project (www.handsandfeetproject.org) is a children’s village in Haiti that was started by the band Audio Adrenaline. The village now cares for over 35 children ranging in age from three months to nine years old. The project is currently building more houses in the Jacmel village in order to help children who have been abandoned.
To learn more about Hands and Feet Project and their stewardship opportunities, visit ServantMatch™, ECFA’s program that matches God’s servants with the stewardship options of ECFA members based on ministry sectors and categories. It is ECFA’s newest online feature that allows you to quickly and easily find giving opportunities.
ECFA, founded in 1979, provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that faithfully demonstrate compliance with the ECFA Standards pertaining to financial accountability, fund-raising and board governance. For more information about ECFA, including information about accreditation and a listing of ECFA-accredited members, visit www.ECFA.org or call 1-800-323-9473.