Houston starting drive for supplies to help Haitians
Houston has launched a donation drive to help Haiti recover from this month’s major earthquake.
Mayor Sylvester Turner on Saturday announced a relief response program for Haitians affected by the high-magnitude earthquake and a tropical storm.
The 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the country Aug. 14 killed at least 2,200 people and injured 12,000, Haiti’s Civil Protection Agency said Sunday. More than 340 people remain missing.
Three days after that disaster, Tropical Storm Grace struck the region, causing flooding and landslides, which hampered rescues. In the aftermath, at least 650,000 people need emergency assistance, such as water, food and tarps, according to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.
Houston is mobilizing to meet that need by hosting a supply drive in partnership with Houston Haitians United, People Outreach Ministry and the National Association of Christian Churches Disaster
Services.
“We are definitely better and stronger when we are together,” said Jonas Hilaire, pastor of First Haitian Church of God, when the drive was announced.
It’s an opportunity to pay it forward after communities from across the globe helped Houston in the wakes of the February freeze, Hurricane Harvey and other disasters, Turner said. “Houston is the proud home to a large Haitian community, and today we are being called to help our neighbors in Haiti who are currently experiencing great suffering and loss,” he said.
Roughly 2,300 Haitians are living in the Houston area, according to the most recent census estimates.
Donations will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the National Association of Christian Churches at 16605 Air Center Blvd.
Needed supplies include diapers, cleaning items, personal hygiene items, nonperishable food, bottled water and pet food.
“This is important,” Turner said. “Quite frankly, it could’ve been us.”