Donations still needed to help those who are struggling in Haiti

Haiti, one of the world's poorest countries, was hit with a 7.0 earthquake on Jan 12. Since then, there have been 33 aftershocks, with 14 of them being recorded as being between 5.0 and 5.9 on the Richter scale.

The aftermath was catastrophic, leaving total devastation and chaos for the Haitian people. Prior to the earthquake, 48 percent of Haiti's population was under 18 years of age with a staggering 380,000 children living in orphanages or group homes. Therefore, child trafficking and orphaned children are the two most pressing and urgent issues during this time of utter disorder and devastation.

Start-Rite, Inc. in New York along with three non-profit organizations including Frontline Community Services and Reaching Hearts for Kids, both in Maryland and Eden Garden Orphanage, in Monstrous, Haiti, 40 miles from Port-au-Prince have joined forces to help the people of Haiti.

Together, their mission is to provide temporary emergency housing, food, clothing, education and medical care for orphaned infants and children devastated by the earthquake in Haiti. While family unification is favored, it is not always possible. Therefore, these organizations aim to promptly and efficiently match these children with stable, kind and loving adoptive families that are willing and able to provide a permanent home.

Start-Rite, Inc. was founded in 1997, by Kim A. Kelly. The company supplies government, state, county and city agencies nationwide with transitional housing supplies. They are the "One Stop Resource" for residential care. "Custom Kit Solutions" has been developed, where as an organization creates "Kitchen Kits," "Bed n Bath Kits" and "Hygiene Kits," which are packaged and ready for easy distribution.

"Due to my position as president of Start-Rite Inc., the relationships I have with various non-profit sectors and my undying passion for homelessness, I have to do something significant and remarkable. I have an amazingly loving, happy, kind and generous family along with a group of wonderful friends and a network of great colleagues. If we all collaborate and use our resources, I am sure that we could get the funding and support that is so desperately needed for the infants and children in Haiti," Kelly said.

Eden Garden Orphanage was started in Virginia by Gigi and Charles Le-Morzellec. Eden Garden is home to approximately 30 children and is one of two orphanages still standing in the wake of the earthquake that devastated Haiti.

There is a school on campus, a nursery and a clinic for the local community residents. To place a child at Eden Garden and provide day-to-day care, food, clothing, schooling and basic medical needs is $700 for one year, less than $2 a day. With donations, sponsorship and support the orphanage will build additional dorms and classrooms. The Architects Without Borders and volunteers from the United Nations support the recovery of Eden Garden Orphanage.

Frontline Community Services was founded in 2002 by Ditto Abraham and is committed to bring meaning to the lives of individuals with special needs. The organization is currently gathering and exporting much needed supplies to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

They are also taking the initiative to increase the capacity of Eden Garden orphanage in order to provide immediate shelter to children orphaned and displaced by the recent earthquake.

Reaching Hearts for Kids (RHK) was founded by Norma Nashed and is a non-profit organization that seeks to provide services and support to orphans and under-privileged children in developing countries. RHK is at work in Bolivia, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia and India among many other countries.

Due to the current crisis in Haiti, RHK has dedicated much time and effort for the relief of Haiti's surviving orphans and children. There are many more organizations that you can donate to. Any amount of money donated will help those in need in Haiti.