Help Haiti - NOW

I was supposed to be flying to Haiti today. I was going down with my dad as a part of a humanitarian aid group to help a group of orphanages. Due to some coordination issues, the trip was postponed.

Funny how things work out.

Before the quake in Haiti, many people were without food on a daily basis. There was no public infrastructure. No plumbing or electricity, no sewage control or clean water supply. Many lived in cardboard slums amidst the poorly constructed cinder-block buildings and over-crowded streets. There were over 400 000 orphans, with limited options in a society ridden with disease, danger, and corruption.

Now multiply that by a devastating 7.0 earthquake.

Haiti needs our help now more than ever. They simply have NOTHING. No one has food or clean water. The meager temporal belongings they had are buried in the rubble. Most hospitals, homes, and government buidlings collasped. The aftershocks continue and fear is rampant. Who knows how many new orphans there are now? There is looting, rioting, death, crippling injury, fear, and pain everywhere.

And yet... they still have hope. Haitians have survived hundreds of years of being pillaged by natural and political disasters. In spite of being the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, they are a modest and self-respecting people. And in spite of the anguish they are experiencing now, they still pray and sing in the streets.

Many different countries have come to the aid of Haiti. Some sooner than others, and in varying sums, but the important part is that someone is there. Haiti couldn't survive alone before, we cannot abandon her now. These are people who need help, and we are people with the means to provide it.

"It's the spirit of generosity that is part of who we are as Canadians. It's part of our history. Our country was built with, for, and by people who share. We're not solo artists. We're team players." -George Stroumboulopoulos

Millions of dollars have been raised. The Canadian government is even matching every dollar Canadians donate!! So everything we give is doubled. Yesterday I gave 5 bucks at the clothing store H&M. First the store will match the money, then the goverment will match that money, and $20 just went to Haiti. For a country where the average daily wage is about $6, that will make a difference. Every bit does.

That is just the beginning of my donations - and I make next to nothing! But that is more than Haitians have, so I give.

Canada for Haiti has raised nearly $13 million in addition to the $50 million raised previously. That is about $2 for EVERY single Canadian. And the numbers are still growing. Isn't that awesome?!! I am so very proud to be Canadian right now!!

"When the world is struck by a tragedy, the likes of which we are seeing right now in Haiti, it suddenly becomes a lot smaller and we realize just how close we really are. As Canadians, we come from all walks of life, from different backgrounds and different means. But one thing we have incommon is our tremendous generosity of spirit. It is to that spirit that I am appealing now when I ask you to please give and give as much as you can. Because at the end of the day, I can't think of anything more Canadian than that." -Michael J. Fox

I don't care who you are, where you are from, or what prejudices you have. Give to help Haiti. There are many reliable organizations that will put your contribution to good work for Haitians. I know it's a recession and all that. But if you have a roof over your head and you eat every day, you can afford to give to people who don't. We are all people, all part of a world community, and it's times like these that push the other issues aside to provide help to those who need it most. We cannot wait, we must take action and give. When all is said and done, I hope a lot more is done than said.

I may not have much, but I will continue to give to Haiti. After the initial crisis ends, the rebuild must begin and it won't be easy. They will need us more than ever. But I believe they can rebuild. And from this disaster a great nation will rise, built by people who love, work, share, and believe.

I did not fly to Haiti today, but my money is going. Along with my prayers for peace and comfort to a people who need them so very much.