Almost two months since Haiti was struck by the 7.0 earthquake. Visibly not much has changed; crumbled roads, buildings and over a million displaced citizens. This week the IRS ended their special tariff, which allowed Haitian donations to be reclaimed on tax returns and the international media has ceased coverage on Haiti. Yet people are still making much needed donations and relief efforts continue more tediously than ever to keep Haitians alive and put the country on a path to recovery.

For more than 24 years Food For The Poor (FFP) have been established in Haiti. Their knowledge of the country and people, along with their warehouse and 480 employees (in Haiti) enabled them to respond quickly and strategically. Since the week of the earthquake FFP have supplied over 20,000 hot meals per day (more than 20 million meals), and delivered over 7,000 tons of relief: including water, food, medical supplies, tents and building material.

150 members of the Jamaican Defense Force (including soldiers, medical personnel, engineers and technicians) have been situated in Haiti, providing security for the FFP warehouse and general assistance. FFP has also teamed up with a number of organizations and government to supply further relief. One such is Royal Caribbean International who provided a cash donation, as well as the delivery of critical goods. Taiwan supplied 200 tons of rice with another shipment due in April. Various medical teams have also rendered their services.

As the emphasis is shifting towards rebuilding Haiti, FFP has set goals to build 5,000 homes this year, which will be followed by schools, clinics, fishing villages and agricultural projects. According to Angel Aloma, Executive Director of FFP, “We must really start to think beyond this immediate relief now, and plan for the rebuilding, the rebirth of Port-au-Prince. It will be a huge undertaking, and it will take a long time  – I estimate it’s a job that will take 10 to 15 years. But Food For The Poor has been in Haiti since 1984, and we will be there with the people of Haiti as they recover from this terrible natural disaster,".

For more information, please visit www.foodforthepoor.org. To make a donation simply click the secure link at the bottom of the page.