On October 4, 2016, Category 4 Hurricane Matthew moved through the Caribbean leaving the southern region of the Republic of Haiti in devastation. As the call for aid echoed throughout the rest of the world, more than 20 Haitian-American organizations in South Florida responded to a call to action by forming the Haitian American Hurricane Matthew Relief Effort. The effort has been leading the collection and sorting of water, food, clothing, and medical supplies. The volunteer list has grown from 74 volunteers the first day to more than 200 over the course of the first week.
Students, nurses, attorneys, elected officials, friends and families, have all come out to sort donations. The effort has received donations from all over the country. An overwhelming amount of medications, donated by Heartland Pharmacy through its strong partnership with the Haitian American Nurses Association of Florida (HANA) and HCR ManorCare, are being sorted daily. HANA will facilitate the medical services and Man Dodo Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the economic, social, educational, and health care status of impoverished and underserved individuals in Southern Haiti, will serve as the fiscal agent. Leading members of the effort anticipate even more donations. Volunteers have been working daily from 9 am to 9 pm.
The Haitian American Hurricane Matthew Relief Effort will deploy its first team of 30 medical professionals on Wednesday, October 12, 2016. The team will facilitate the relief effort and services in Aquin, Cavaillon and Cayes, three of the hardest hit areas in Southern Haiti. Patients will receive medical attention and emergency supplies. Mission Evangelique Baptiste du Sud d’Haiti (MEBSH), Haiti’s largest Protestant Mission group will aid our team on the ground with, ground transportation, storage, and custom requirements. HANA and Man Dodo Foundation have successfully worked with this team in the past for major philanthropic missions.
At this time, we ask that you embrace this initiative of the coalition. Monetary donations can be made to the Man Dodo Foundation either online at http://www.mandodo.org/ or by sending a check payable to “Man Dodo Humanitarian Foundation” and mailed to 3333 NW 168th Street, Miami Gardens, Florida 33056.
Detailed information about the effort, a list of suggested items to donate, and drop-off locations can be found at https://www.lunionsuite.com/full-details-haitian-american-hurricane-matthew-haiti-emergency-relief-efforts/.
