Local group seeks donations to help Haitian island

A group in Lakeside is trying to bring aid to what they see as an overlooked area in Haiti struggling with the repercussions of the major earthquake that struck the country in January.

Youth With A Mission in Lakeside is trying to raise $50,000 to fill and send two containers with food and medical supplies to the island of La Gonave in Haiti, which has received minimal aid to handle its growing refugee population, said organizer Veronica Thompson.

The YWAM base has raised $10,000 internally. Thompson started visiting with pastors at churches in Kalispell and Bigfork and has thus far raised another $5,000, bringing the total to $15,000

Thompson's goal to help La Gonave, located 40 miles northwest of Port-au-Prince, started as a family project, but she soon hopes it will spread.

Her brother, Caleb Thompson, spent time in November at the Wesleyan Church mission on the island, which, along with West Indies Self Help, runs its hospital, water supply and orphanage. As soon as the major earthquake struck Jan. 12, he felt concern for the people he had worked with and contacted them about their needs.

While no one died on the island during the quake, 2,000 of its residents who worked in Port-au-Prince did, Veronica Thompson said. Buildings were destroyed or sustained damage, and refugees and medical cases began flooding the island. Its largest city's population quickly bloomed from 30,000 to 57,000, she said.

Aside from the need to feed and support these refugees, shelter is also a concern. People on the island have been sleeping outside at night for fear of aftershocks, Thompson said.

Caleb Thompson set to work at home in upstate New York with family, raising funds through the Wesleyan district there to send a container. An uncle's church in Spokane also helped, and with the money two containers were sent to the island at the beginning of February. These two containers were some of the first aid the island received, Veronica Thompson said.

"Those two containers only last eight to 10 days for the population there on a starvation diet," Thompson said. "It's necessary to keep the containers coming."

Funds started drying up, so Thompson brought the need before her fellows at YWAM Montana.

Since they've adopted the project, she's been out speaking to area Rotary Clubs, Chambers of Commerce and other groups.

"We're pursuing connections at this point," she said. "I stepped up seeing that need to try to raise money in YWAM and the Flathead area."

At this point, there are no fundraising events planned. Thompson and her associates are just trying to get the word out.

Supplies are being purchased in Florida and packed into the shipping crates.

Each container, prior to medical supplies, costs roughly $20,000 – about $16,00 for 45,000 pounds of food, $2,000 for diesel fuel for generators at the hospital and water supply, and $2,000 for shipping the container.

The next ship leaves the second week of March, and Thompson hopes the containers can be ready to go – if the funds are raised in time.

As far as getting the supplies directly to the people in need, the director of the mission is working with a Haitian native who has an advanced degree in economics at devising a food distribution plan, Thompson said.

Caleb Thompson is back on the island now sending updates via e-mail, and occasionally by satellite phone, and reports that needs continue.

"There is so much chaos," Veronica said. Her brother's messages seem to strengthen her resolve to raise the funds.

Donations can be made either online at ywammontana.org or by mailing a check with "containers' in the memo to 501 Blacktail Road, Lakeside, MT 59922.

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To find out more about the needs and support for La Gonave in Haiti, e-mail containers4lagonave@ywammontana.org or call 340-277-8798.