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Good Samaritan Rebuilding Fund
Volunteers' Page
Thank you for your interest in volunteering to serve the people of Haiti in the aftermath of the January 12th earthquake and to help rebuild École le Bon Samaritain in the Waney neighborhood of Carrefour.
Old St. Andrew's Church and an intrepid group of volunteers from St. John's, Stamford, Stamford Hospital and from all around Connecticut had a medical team on the ground and a Clinic opened in Carrefour 8 days after the quake. Other relief agencies finally arrived a week later.
Since, we have sent more Teams which include doctors, nurses, EMTs, and health and wellbeing volunteers. We are caring for more than 165 people a day in the Clinic.
Our success is because of hundreds of donations, scores of prayers, and a lot of very hard work by tireless volunteers.
New news (2.15.10): President René Preval of Haiti has announced that schools will reopen on 31 March. As such, we are shifting gears so that École le Bon Samaritain will reopen on that date. We need everything.
Unfortunately, we are no longer able to provide food for the people in the community. Considering how desperately hungry people are, we were faced with very real security and safety issues. We believe that food distribution now is best handled by large international relief agencies who have the means to feed more people in a safe and secure way.
The information posted here is being developed as we go along, i.e. it's changing as circumstances change. This page is maintained by Puck Purnell Rector at Old St. Andrew's Church and Coordinator of the Good Samaritain Rebuilding project. Please feel free to contact me. My phone is - 860.508.1898 ; email - puckpurnell@mac.com. You may also email goodsamaritanvolunteer@gmail.com or leave a message at our general voice mailbox--206.339.6966.
Volunteer information form.
==> View pdf
==> Download & complete doc file
Please return the completed forms to goodsamaritanvolunteer@gmail.com
or fax to 206.339.6966
Things to know & take.
Here is our basic "things to know & take" list. Please take it seriously as space is limited.
Mental preparedness.
We are very concerned that volunteers understand what to expect and that they are healthy and emotionally & mentally fit. Please understand the extremely severe conditions in Haiti and what you can expect to witness there.
Liability Waiver Form.
While your volunteering is greatly appreciated, traveling to Haiti and working at the School and Clinic is not without risk. Responsibility for going is your own. Please read our Liability Waiver Form, sign the form and fax it to 206.339.6966 or send it to goodsamaritanvolunteer@gmail.com.
Travel.
The cost of travel is the sole responsibility of our volunteers.
To date, JetBlue has covered much of our air travel to/from Santa Domingo (SD) in the Dominican Republic (DR). In the past, we have rented a bus from SD to Port-au-Prince (PaP). Now that we are no longer buying large amounts of food in the DR, expect to take the public bus at a cost of $75 one way or $150 round trip. This includes hefty taxes.
As PaP airport opens up and we no longer have JetBlue supporting us (they don't fly to Haiti), volunteers will be expected to pay their own airfare to and from Haiti. So, we cannot guarantee "free" air or bus travel. These costs could potentially be around $500 round trip (airfare and bus).
If there is an unplanned layover in SD and hotel accommodations are necessary, volunteers should be prepared to pay for that expense, too. We bring this to your attention in the event that cost is an issue. Travel plans can go awry. You are ultimately responsible for travel costs.
Questions.
If you have specific questions, please direct them to the appropriate persons listed below.
Good Samaritain Rebuilding Coordinators.
Puck Purnell, Coordinator Coordinator (puckpurnell@mac.com)
Coulette Lioce, Volunteers Coordinator
(goodsamaritanvolunteer@gmail.com)
Gus Schlegel, Supplies & Logistics (goesta@pourlesenfants.net)
Gia Card, Travel (willowdesign2002@yahoo.com)
Dave Desmarais, Builder/Handyman (daviddesmarais@ comcast.net)
Jim Doucette, On-Ground Admin (jamesdoucette1@comcast.net)
Pam Koprowski, Medical (pam.koprowski@gmail.com)
Caryn Stedman, Frequent Flier Exchange (caryn.stedman@comcast.net)
Danelie Millien, Ambassador at Large (didimillien@yahoo.com)
Joanne Kimball, Public Information (joannekimball@mac.com)
Dennis Desrochers, Finance Coordinator (Ddesroc@yahoo.com)
We are developing our plans with three distinct goals.
1. Provide immediate medical relief and support to the community by setting up a clinic and feeding our children and others at EBS.
2. Assess the damage to the School; make the necessary repairs or rebuild to include a permanent clinic.
3. Recover our students and reopen the School and clinic.
Opportunities to assist.
1. Volunteer to travel to Haiti and serve on one of the work teams (builders, cleaners, cooks, wellbeing care, medical workers).
2. Donate Frequent Flier Miles or American Express Points to pay for the air fare of the volunteers.
3. Donate money. All funds given to this effort will go directly to the needed projects. There will be NO administrative overhead. Volunteers will arrange for or pay for their own expenses (or be paid for by donated miles, etc.).
We do not know how much money we will need, but to rebuild the School and establish a permanent clinic will be very expensive, in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. We will raise these funds because we are called to respond with compassion in every way possible. "Just as you do it to the least of these, you do it to me."
Please, act now. Old St. Andrew's has started the Good Samaritan Rebuilding Fund. Tax exempt donations may be sent to the address below. Put Haiti on the memo line. Or, make your donation using PayPal (you do not need a PayPal account).
Old St. Andrew's Church
59 Tariffville Rd.
Bloomfield, CT 06002
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