$10 Million Raised for Haiti Earthquake Response

CRWRC Newsroom | May 17, 2010

Schools, churches, and individuals in London, Ontario raised more than $68,000 to purchase water systems (like this one from Trojan Technologies installed in a hospital in Port au Prince) to provided much-needed water to earthquake survivors.

It has been eighteen weeks since the world first heard about the devastation in Haiti.  Eighteen weeks since home after home crumbled to the ground, trapping hundreds, killing thousands, and making two million people homeless. Eighteen weeks of the Haitian people struggling to survive and demonstrating amazing resilience and faith in a time of horrific need.  And eighteen weeks of record support for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee.

Today, donations to CRWRC’s Haiti earthquake response fund topped $10 million. Of this support, $6.9 million has come from individuals and churches, surpassing the $6.5 million from individuals and churches that came in for the South Asia tsunami in 2004 and again for Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Some of this support has already been used to provide emergency food, tarps, and supplies to earthquake survivors in the communities of Masson, Luitor, Flon, Macombe, and Croix des Pere near Leogane, Haiti. This ministry was supported by Christian Reformed World Missions and Back to God Ministries International, who worked with CRWRC immediately following the disaster to assess needs and distribute food through local partners.

CRWRC has also used some of the funds to install water systems, build latrines, and distribute wheelbarrows and tools for clearing rubble in these communities.  Additional funds are now being used to build transitional shelters that will protect families during the rainy season, and permanent homes to replace those that were lost.  For more information, read CRWRC’s 3 month update.

This support for CRWRC’s ministry in Haiti has come in all shapes and sizes from a variety of sources.  For example, in Goshen, New York elementary school students made and sold homemade candy and cupcakes, and the older grades hosted a breakfast for fellow students. They also had a coin drop at a nearby mall and collected redeemable coupons.  As a result, they raised more than $2,100.  Other elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, churches and colleges also held a variety of fundraisers and benefit concerts to solicit support.

In addition, CRWRC’s membership in the ACT Alliance, Canadian Foodgrains Bank, and Canadian Churches in Action, along with its reputation for program excellence has garnered support from other Christian denominations and organizations around the world.  Most recently, the Relief Arm of the Netherlands Reformed Congregations in the Netherlands donated $210,000 – enough to build 96 transitional shelters.  Similar large gifts have been received from Dorcas Aid, ZOA, World Vision, the Canadian Reformed World Relief Fund, Medical Teams International, GKI (Indonesian Church),  RA Gereformeerde Gemeenten, and ACT member churches.

“The outpouring of support for CRWRC is overwhelming and humbling,” says CRWRC-Canada Director, Ida Kaastra-Mutoigo.  “It confirms that our supporters and churches trust us in times of need to act on their behalf in a way that best benefits the vulnerable.  In this case, that means supporting the local economy by purchasing emergency supplies as locally as possible, and working alongside the Haitian people to build up local leaders and rebuild the country together.  It is a long-term strategy, and we are extremely grateful that the support raised will enable us to carry it out.”

This $10 million received does not yet include matching funds from the Canadian Government. CRWRC and the other members of Canadian Churches in Action are currently working on a multi-million dollar, multi-year proposal that focuses on permanent shelter, water and sanitation, education and livelihood and economic recovery.  Through this joint proposal, we hope to access the CIDA matching fund pool in the near future. 

Please continue to support CRWRC staff, partners, volunteers, and the country of Haiti with your prayers.

Financial gifts are also still needed.  You can donate online:  US | Canada

Checks, marked "Haiti Earthquake 2010" can also be sent to:

CRWRC-US
2850 Kalamazoo Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49560
Ph: 1-800-55-CRWRC

CRWRC-Canada
3475 Mainway
P.O. Box 5070 STN LCD 1
Burlington, Ontario, L7R 3Y8
Ph: 1-800-730-3490

- by Kristen deRoo VanderBerg, CRWRC Communication