Just over a year ago, my company decided to adopt an orphanage in Haiti. My business partner and his wife, Dave and Candice Aitken, were in the process of adopting two Haitian orphans from "The Hope for Little Angels of Haiti" Orphanage, and asked if the company would be interested in financially supporting this orphanage. Prior to this time, this orphanage was experiencing one to two deaths a week due to starvation and malnutrition. They barely had enough food to provide one meal a day to 60 young kids.
Well of course we were excited with the opportunity to support these children who had be taken off the streets, who were either parentless or abandoned by their parents. They were barely getting by eating a small mixture of rice and protein and drinking unclean water.
We went to our employees and solicited their help, asking them to donate what they could from each paycheck to the orphanage, and we, as a company, would match their donation. We have been donating about $4,000 per month to pay for food, medical aid and water filtration devices.
Since our 12 month involvement not one child has died. We have literally been saving lives.
When we heard of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti, we were heart-broken. Were our kids okay? What about Dave and Candice's adoptive children? (They were still waiting through all the government red tape to bring them home. Now the paperwork surely is under rubble.) Were they still alive? Many questions, with not many answers.
We finally received word that most of the orphans, with the exception of 6, have been accounted for and were fine, and Dave and Candice's adoptive kids were safe. They are currently being cared for by Harry, the LDS Bishop in the area. Prayers have been answered.
But, there remains a lot of challenges ahead, that of getting food, water and medical supplies to them, among other things. The Orphanage will need to be rebuilt.
We are in the process of organizing funding efforts to help them rebuild. If you are interested in helping, please go to the Orphanage website and make a donation: http://www.hopeforlittleangelsofhaiti.org
Haiti will take a long time to rebuild, and needs the help of the world to do so. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
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