Adoption Voices

Frequently Asked Questions about Dillon's Haiti Earthquake Relief

Timeline on Aid to Haiti Earthquake Victims

Donate to Dillon's Haiti Earthquake Relief

Hope Hospital has been especially important in the relief effort as it is located in the particularly hard hit Delmas area of the city.  The 3 orphanages are reaching out to the surrounding community to provide meals and shelter to Haitians in need of aid.  All Dillon earthquake relief donations will be used to continue these relief efforts by USFCH.

Specifically, how will Dillon's relief donations be spent?
Of primary concern are medical supplies, fuel for the electrical generators at Hope Hospital, food, water and clothing to be distributed throughout all the facilities.  Given the emergency medical needs arising from the quake, the demands on Hope Hospital will be particularly intense. Donations to Dillon International will assist with these needs.  Given the loss of life and livelihood for thousands of Haitians, donations to Dillon International will provide shelter and food for as many children as possible.  USFCH has told us that it expects that the number of children permanently living in all 3 orphanages will expand significantly.  Since their facilities were spared major damage, leaving the kitchens at the 3 orphanages functional, USFCH will also implement an expanded meal program for people in the community who have lost their homes and means of support.

How will Dillon's sister agency in Haiti obtain supplies?
Dillon International recognizes that the days immediately following a disaster of this magnitude will be particularly challenging for our sister agency USFCH  since all supply sources will have been cut off.  We anticipate that the re-supply efforts being mounted by countries all over the world to assist Haiti earthquake victims will soon begin to have an impact in Port-au-Prince so that basic essentials and emergency medical supplies will be available again.

Although the magnitude of this disaster is beyond anything previously faced by Haiti, Dillon's sister agency is very experienced and capable of managing during times of severe distress.  Having been active in Port-au-Prince for 29 years, USFCH has operated through numerous natural disasters and times of extreme civil unrest.  Given their long tenure in Haiti, USFCH has good relationships with Haitian authorities and other aid organizations.  USFCH staff are all Haitian, therefore language and culture are not issues.

Within 72 hours after the earthquake had struck Port-au-Prince, Gladys Thomas who directs the operations of USFCH in Haiti, had already obtained $10,000 in medical supplies from the Dominican Republic of which she and 18 medical/relief volunteers transported from the DR into Haiti on Monday (1/18/10) to resupply Hope Hospital.  They have been working non-stop to care for the injured who had arrived at Hope Hospital since then.

Who is USFCH?
The United States Foundation for the Children of Haiti is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization working in Haiti to help homeless Haitian children since the early 1980's.  Dillon International has been working with USFCH since the early 1990's to support their work in Haiti and to seek families to adopt Haitian orphans cared for in one of USFCH's 3 orphanages. 

Dillon International through our longstanding relationship with USFCH has a tremendous opportunity to provide care and relief to the people of Haiti in the midst of the chaos and suffering in Port-au-Prince.  The large foreign aid organizations are absolutely critical during major disasters like the earthquake in Haiti, however, these large aid providers still need the involvement of smaller, local aid organizations such as USFCH and its partners like Dillon.  USFCH is able to provide direct person-to-person care through their established facilities and experienced, committed staff.  USFCH's staff are all Haitian.  They understand the language and culture and can reach out to their people in ways even the most well-meaning foreign aid worker cannot.  Their devotion to their home is complete as they cannot leave...they can only press forward to do what they can to help their fellow Haitians.  Because of this devotion, Dillon International has felt privileged to be able to walk alongside USFCH staff to assist them in their work.

For more information about Dillon's sister agency in Haiti, please visit the USFCH website.

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If you are interested in helping provide aid to the children and people of Haiti, please click the "Donate Now" button below.  We are able to get the funds directly to Gladys and the funds will be used to purchase urgent needs such as fuel for electrical generators, x-ray film, medical supplies, mattresses, food, water and clothing.

Please note that 3% of each online donation is retained for credit card processing fees.

We ask that you also remember that all of the children whom Dillon International serves have each experienced their own unique "tsunami-earthquake-trauma" in their lives and still desperately need your caring support for a chance at a better future.  Thank you.

Dillon is affiliated with Buckner International, a global humanitarian organization.  Buckner is sending four large containers of emergency relief supplies to Haiti (see list).  Donations are being accepted to fill the containers or to assist with the shipping costs ($5,000/container). 

Please visit Buckner's website for more information on where to send in-kind donations or to help with the shipping costs of this relief effort.

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Thursday, 1/21/10...Keep up with more updates by visiting Gladys's Facebook page at "FEH Haiti Gladys Thomas."

Wednesday, 1/20/10...Report from Gladys - -"We are all OK after this strong aftershock which woke us all up running at 6:00 AM.  We had chosen to sleep in the house although houses all around mine have crumbled.  Before going home late last night, I visited the village where the children were all camping out with their house moms and 17 other U.S. volunteers.  The disaster is beyond words.  We were able to take a moment yesterday between seeing patients to give thanks and praise to God in the hospital courtyard where people from the street joined in our prayer to the Lord.  We thank each of you for your continued prayers and support."

Tuesday, 1/19/10...Gladys and the team of medical and relief volunteers arrived safely at Hope Hospital in Port-au-Prince and immediately put in a full day's work at the hospital caring for the injured.

Monday, 1/18/10...Gladys and 18 volunteers have finally arrived in the Dominican Republic.  After loading a bus with all of the medical and relief supplies they have brought with them, the group will be heading for the border of Haiti and Port-au-Prince.

Friday, 1/15/10...Gladys has gotten as far as NYC where she has started organizing relief supplies and medical volunteers to accompany her after she is able to secure travel arrangements into Haiti.

Wednesday, 1/13/10...We have heard from Gladys Thomas, the Director of Dillon’s Programs in Haiti, that the Children’s Village and Hope Hospital are okay.  There has been some flooding and one of the walls on a building collapsed, and many people are gathering in this location but otherwise all is well.  The Village (orphanage home) has food, but the children are scared.  There will be many people throughout the Haitian community that will continue to come to Hope Hospital looking for care…it is already very full with earthquake victims.   

Tuesday (1/12/10)...a massive 7.0 earthquake struck just outside of Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.  The orphanages and hospital which Dillon International supports is located in Port-au-Prince.  We do not know at this time the condition of the facilities or of the children and staff.  Gladys Thomas, Director of Dillon's programs in Haiti, was in India when the earthquake struck and is desperately trying to get back to Haiti.

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