Our hearts go out to Haiti and our many Market friends there

Thursday, January 14, 2010
Posted by: Charlene Cerny

No matter where in the world they occur, natural disasters and the human tragedies that ensue, affect us all.

But here at the Market, where staff and volunteers alike develop friendships with many of the artists who come to the Market each year, our concern for those we know in Haiti is very personal. 

Today Ernesto emailed all available contacts to seek information on the well-being of such friends as George Valris (sequin flag maker), Serge Jolimeau and Michee Ramil Remy (recycled metal sculptors), and Pierre Edgard Satyr and the other cooperative members in Jacmel (papier-mache makers), among others. 

If any of you has information about their status, please let us know. 

Many of us want to help.  Right now, what is needed most are financial contributions and volunteer medical help.

I just made a gift to Paul Farmer’s Partners in Health. PIH runs health programs in rural Haiti and their hospital, located just two hours outside of Port-au-Prince, was not affected by the quake. 

They are a great organization with a long commitment to Haiti. See: www.pih.org.

Kelly Waller sent her colleagues an email suggesting OXFAM. 

We are also working with our partners at CHF International to find out more about our Market artists in Haiti.

Finally, here is a list of charities suggested by the Clinton Foundation.

Gifts of any size will make a difference.

As this tragedy unfolds, let us all keep Haiti in our thoughts and prayers.

Charlene Cerny
Executive Director