Helping Haiti

From a spaghetti supper in a church basement to a lavish dinner for high society, Christian Reformed people have been raising money to help Haiti rebuild following the Jan. 12 earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince.

By the end of February, donations to the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee topped $6.7 million, the most ever raised by CRWRC from churches and individuals after a natural disaster. More than half of that came from Canadians, which means the Canadian federal government will match each dollar.

In addition to the food-aid distribution well underway, CRWRC recently worked with a local group to distribute 900 tarps in one day, crucial as Haiti’s rainy season begins.

CRWRC U.S. director Andrew Ryskamp said the outpouring of support for CRWRC was both overwhelming and humbling. “It confirms the trust that our supporters and churches have in our strategy of supporting the local economy in our relief purchases, and rebuilding the communities with the resources already present,” he said.

He noted that in situations like this, donation of funds is always the best approach. “It helps CRC ministries come alongside of Haitian believers to rebuild Haiti together,” he said.

There isn’t enough space to cover everything church members have been doing to raise money for Haiti, but these pages contain a few of those stories. For more information, see www.crcna.org and click on “Help Haiti.”