Helping Haiti

Helping Haiti

Our neighbors need our help. Two weeks ago, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the southwestern Haiti. This earthquake was the most powerful the area has seen since the devastating 7.0 magnitude quake that struck Port-au-Prince in 2010. More than 300,000 people died as a result of the 2010 quake, and more than one-million Haitians were made homeless as Port-au-Prince was nearly destroyed.
The most recent earthquake has caused over 12,200 injuries, over 2,100 deaths and destroyed nearly 53,000 homes. And just days after the earthquake Tropical Storm Grace made landfall in Haiti, causing flooding, and complicating the rescue and recovery efforts.
I have been in regular contact with leaders in our local Haitian community, elected officials including Congressman Mondaire Jones and have had conversations with my own executive team who brings military and United Nations experience. Rockland is home to a vibrant Haitian community and seeing the damage and destruction unfold on this island yet again breaks my heart.
That is why the United Way of Rockland County and the Rockland County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (RCVOAD) in partnership with the County of Rockland have opened the Rockland County Disaster Relief Fund.
Funds collected through the Rockland County Disaster Relief Fund will be used to meet the immediate needs and long-term recovery efforts for those impacted by the earthquake. 100% of all the donations will go to help the victims. Funds may be used to assist with items such as food, clothing, hygiene/cleaning products, recovery efforts or purchase of supplies for rebuilding.
Donations can be made online by visiting www.uwrc.org, click on Haiti Earthquake Relief Efforts on the top of the home page, or you can mail a check to the United Way of Rockland, 135 Main Street, 2nd Floor, Nyack, NY 10960. Please write Haiti Earthquake on the check.
Rockland County Haiti Relief is also collaborating with the Haitian American Nurses Association to collect items they will bring to Haiti in October. They are requesting non-perishable food, personal care products, baby and infant supplies, first aid kits, blankets, tents, air mattresses, solar lights, toiletries, medical supplies, feminine hygiene products, flashlights, batteries, extensions cords, candles, masks, gloves, wash cloths, water and hand sanitizer.
Items can be dropped off at Konbit Neg Lakay, Spring Valley Village Hall, Ramapo Town Hall, the Nyack Center, the Titan Fitness Gym, Senator Elijiah Reichlin-Melnick’s Office, Assemblyman Mike Lawler’s Office or Assemblyman Ken Zebrowski’s Office.
The people of Haiti have been through so much tragedy lately. And so, I ask all Rockland residents to help out if they can and to keep this island and its people in their thoughts and prayers in the coming days and weeks. We stand together in support of all of you.

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