By Stephanie Bowers | Project Leader, Co-Founder, Executive Director
On Thursday, September 7, Hurricane Irma passed to the north of Haiti. Heavy rains fell, and our Diaper Drop at Real Hope for Haiti experienced overnight flooding. When the waters started rising, they came into the lower level of the Rescue Center, where the ICU is located. Children, including those critically ill and on oxygen, were moved upstairs to a small space to avoid the flooding.
Thankfully damage was limited to the water system being washed away and heavy mud deposits. All children are safe, and the cleanup process began Friday morning. It was much more than a mop and bucket could handle, and many people from the community gathered to help remove the mud with buckets and shovels.
Hanging laundry to dry
Hurricane Irma reminded us how important the basic need of diapers is. In a crisis situation, children are the most vulnerable. We have been working diligently to provide Real Hope for Haiti with an ample supply of cloth diapers (and disposable for the ICU, for communicable disease minimization). It is imperitive that we be as prepared as we can in the event of disaster. From a diapering perspective, this means a 2 day supply of cloth diapers for all children, as well as a 2 day supply of disposable diapers for all children. When hurricanes and extended periods of rain occur, cloth diapers do not dry. This is why there is a need for a 2 day emergency supply of disposable diapers. Thank you for partnering with us on this journey to help the babies at Real Hope for Haiti.
That's not all...
We have more big news to share... We've been named one of GlobalGiving's Top 10 Nonprofits commited to Impact! You'll find us at number 5 on the list!
This inaugural list highlights 10 of GlobalGiving's nonprofit partners (and five honorable mentions) that have demonstrated a commitment to impact through learning. Winners have earned the most points in GG Rewards, GlobalGiving's way of tracking how nonprofits Listen, Act, Learn. Repeat. GlobalGiving has found that nonprofits that listen to their stakeholders, act on what they hear, and learn from the results of their actions are more effective and have a greater impact in their communities.
This is a great moment for us, we're proud to be recognized for our commitment to effectiveness and impact.
Thank you for believing in us, together we are ending the choice between food & diapers! I encourage you to help us celebrate, and share our story with friends, family, & colleagues who might like to join us in making the world a better place.
~ Stephanie
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