1/15/10 4:00 p.m

VOLUNTEERS - Food For The Poor is assembling lists of possible volunteers, medical and construction, for Haiti teams. No firm decision has been made pending further assessment. For more info: Mike Anton, Projects Dir. mikea@foodforthepoor.org  / 954-427-2222 x6143

VOLUNTEERS – Dr. Gil Irwin is assembling medical teams to go to Haiti and provide care on a rotating basis over the next several months. For more info: Dr. Gil Irwin, Medical Missionaries, Manassas, VA  irwinmed@aol.com  703-361-5116

VOLUNTEERS – Nativity parishioner and Nurse practitioner Jennifer Schmidt is assembling a medical team for deployment by Food For The Poor. For more info: Jennifer Schmidt, guppyjen@yahoo.com

RECYCLE FOR HAITI – Victoria Ngo has set up an Operation Starfish site at http://gadgetsforhaiti.gazelle.com/  Here you can arrange to turn in old cellphones, MP-3 players and other electronic gadgets for cash that will be donated to Operation Starfish.

LITTLE CHILDREN OF JESUS HOME – “We stopped by LCJ again and learned that Gladys is okay. She has not been able to get to the orphanage as yet.  They have some staff there taking care of the kids and have enough supplies to feed them.” –Debbie Berquist 1/14/10

FOOD FOR THE POOR OFFICE AND WAREHOUSE – There was structural damage (see photos below), but all staff has been accounted for. Cement repairs were begun today, with priority to the security wall around the complex. FFP staff is working feverishly to get the feeding center and aid distribution up and running again. One American said today “this is like asking 9-11 families to help the victims.” The people working so hard are grieving themselves. Everyone has lost family and friends.

Food For The Poor Office and Warehouse in Port-au-Prince

REFUGEES - Fr. Duken reports some 500 refugees from Port-au-Prince have arrived in the area of Nativity Village II. Some have carried bodies of loved ones 100 miles to try to give them a decent burial. Fr. D is trying to organize water, food and shelter for what he believes will be a flood of refugees.

HOTEL MONTANA – Many of us have stayed at the Montana during our pilgrimage trips. The hotel is completely destroyed. Food For The Poor Mission Travel Director Leann Chong was trapped for 18 hours in the rubble. She is now in a hospital in Santiago, D.R. with spinal injuries. A pilgrimage group from Lynn Univ. was at the Montana when the earthquake struck. As of today there are still 5 students and 2 faculty missing.  See picture below…

NATIVITY PLANS – The text of Fr. Martin’s letter to parishioners is linked here. The Starfish basket will also be out for all masses tomorrow and Sunday. Cynde Mausolf and Teri Baker have put together a wall display in the church. Voice of America and Univision have expressed interest in filming at Nativity on Sunday 1/24.