Haiti needs us now! Donating to the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund (HERF) puts every dime in Haitian hands

Donate here: http://www.haitiemergencyrelief.org/Haiti_Emergency_Relief_Fund/donate.html

On Oct. 4, Hurricane Matthew slammed into Haiti, killing at least 1,000 people and leaving thousands without shelter or food. The hurricane has devastated the city of Les Cayes and many villages in the Southwestern part of the country, destroying crops and livestock and reversing the gains in food production made by women’s agricultural cooperatives and other local farmers.

Hurricane-Matthew-young-woman-carries-child-in-Jeremie-Haiti-100716-by-Carlos-Garcia-Rawlins-Reuters-300x200, Haiti needs us now! Donating to the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund (HERF) puts every dime in Haitian hands, World News & Views
In the town of Jeremie, Haiti, on Oct. 7, a young woman carrying a child looks none too happy about the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew. In Cuba, the same storm caused damage but no deaths because its government is not controlled by the U.S. and cares about the people. – Photo: Carlos Garcia Rawlins, Reuters

The torrential rains and winds have also hit the capital, Port-au-Prince. With massive flooding comes the increased danger of water-borne diseases, particularly cholera – brought to Haiti by U.N. troops – which has already reached epidemic proportions.

We ask that all friends of Haiti donate as much as you can to the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund. Your donations will go directly to grassroots organizations in Haiti that are saving lives by helping people on the ground access water, food and shelter, and reconstructing their lives.

Unlike the big NGOs which were accused of profiteering from the billions donated by a generous public after the earthquake, HERF pays no wages and takes no cut. All our work is done by volunteers and all the money we collect goes directly to those who need it, starting with women – the primary caregivers in every community.

Hurricane-Matthew-pregnant-womans-coffin-carried-thru-devastation-in-Jeremie-Haiti-100716-by-Dieu-Nalio-Chery-AP-300x168, Haiti needs us now! Donating to the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund (HERF) puts every dime in Haitian hands, World News & Views
Friends of a pregnant woman killed by Hurricane Matthew carry her coffin through the rubble that remains of their homes in Jeremie, Haiti, on Oct. 7. – Photo: Dieu Nalio Chery, AP

The hurricane hit Haiti just days before the recalled Oct. 9 elections were due to take place. People had worked very hard for over a year, risking their lives to demand free and fair elections after the 2015 electoral results were declared fraudulent.

Elections have now been postponed. Popular organizations in Haiti are hard at work trying to ensure that families and communities can survive and rebuild, and that when a new election date is set every vote counts and is counted.

This is a critical time for all friends of Haiti to step up our solidarity. Please donate online at http://www.haitiemergencyrelief.org/Haiti_Emergency_Relief_Fund/home.html.

Or send your donation to Haiti Emergency Relief Fund, c/o East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, 2362 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, California 94704. To contact HERF, email herf1804@hotmail.com. All donations are tax-deductible.

Thank you so much for your generous support,

Haiti Emergency Relief Fund Board of Directors: Walter Riley, Maureen Duignan, O.S.F., Pierre Labossiere, Marilyn Langlois, Robert Roth

East Bay Sanctuary Covenant is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, tax ID 94-3249753, phone 510-595-4650.