Members of the Kite family had already planned a fundraiser to provide relief to people in Haiti even before they heard news of Tuesday’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake. With reports of widespread devastation and a death toll believed to exceed 40,000, the aid effort has become exponentially more important.
Jenna Kite went to Haiti several years ago with the U.S.-based aid group Foyer de Sion to help construct orphanages, supply aid and otherwise support the people of the impoverished Caribbean nation. Now 25, the finance manager had been working on raising funds to continue the construction efforts with a return trip in a few weeks.
That’s now postponed. Since Tuesday’s quake, Kite is not even sure if one of the orphanages that her family worked on is still standing.
“It’s devastating,” she said. “We’re absolutely devastated.”
In addition to hands-on humanitarian work, the Kites previously helped sponsor a Haitian man’s immigration to Canada where he attended school at NAIT. The acquaintance was back in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday and, because of the chaos and disruption of communications, they have not been able to contact him.
According to Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon, there are more than 1,400 Canadians still missing in the country, but 272 others have been provided safe transport on military aircraft back to this country.
Kite is somewhat reassured with the outpouring of assistance, which seems to grow larger by the day.
“It’s amazing how many people are coming together to try to help out but you still feel so helpless.”
The Kite’s fundraiser is still on, but with a much greater hope of having a successful event.
“We are proceeding even more ‘full force.’ Kite explained they were originally intending to build up a fund for a new orphanage except that she doesn’t even know at this point if that would be feasible.
Instead, the proceeds from the event will go through a charitable account through Rotary International to funnel the aid to Haiti. There are numerous other agencies and businesses involved in the massive international relief effort including the Canadian Red Cross, the United Church of Canada, the Salvation Army, and Canada Safeway stores, among others.
Kite says individuals and businesses can lend their support through monetary donations or silent auction items, adding that tax receipts will be available because of the affiliation with Rotary. For more information about the event, check out the Facebook group called ‘Haiti Fundraiser.’
Haiti Fundraiser
Sat., Jan. 23 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.<br />Taphouse<br />9020 McKenney Avenue<br />Tickets are $10 at the door<br />Event includes silent auction and a 50/50 draw<br />Entertainment by Lions for Sheep, Chett Belford and the Raptors, and DJ Dusty Grooves<br />www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=282876501118&ref=ts
