Saturday, June 12th saw a group of over 55 Interactors, Rotarians, and friends involved in sorting and packaging humanitarian relief supplies at the Help the Children warehouse facility in Bell.

 

Help the Children is an international humanitarian relief organization based in Bell. They provide basic relief support to communities locally, around the country, and in countries abroad. What began in late January as a response by Interactors, Rotaractors, Rotarians, and friends to provide assistance to the displaced victims of the terrible earthquake which struck Haiti, has resulted in a combined collection of donated supplies. The relief supplies which included clothing, 1st aid supplies, personal hygiene supplies, non-perishable foods, and other, have been shipped to Haiti. The volume of supplies collected to date has exceeded the amount necessary to fill one shipping container.  

 

Since the earthquake occurred, Help the Children has shipped 3 containers filled with relief supplies to Haiti. A partner relief organization in Haiti is involved in receiving the container and organizing the distribution of supplies. The supplies sorted and packaged on Saturday, June 12th, went into a container marked as the “Rotary District 5280 Container”.  Stephanie Stegal, Director of Development, shared the mission of the organization, the current efforts in Haiti, and led everyone on a tour of the facility. We learned there remains a critical need for basic relief supplies in the Haitian communities. Afterwards Past District Governor Susanne presented Stephanie Stegal with a check in the amount of $10,000 which was received from clubs in the district. Following the tour and presentation, members in attendance proceeded with the actual sorting and packaging of supplies. These very same supplies will be received by the earthquake victims in Haiti.

 

Stay tuned in for further developments concerning the Stand by Haiti Project. Please link to the photo gallery for photos of the event. For more information please contact Elsa Gillham at egillham@pacbell.net or Stephanie Stegal at stegall@helpthechildren.org.

 

Click HERE for more photos