12 Jan 2010
Earthquake Update – What Do We Do?
Tom here, I’ve spent about 90% of the last 6 hours glued to my computer as I’ve been attempting to find out how things are going at God’s Littlest Angels and also attempt to grasp the severity of what’s going on there. Here’s a couple of things I know at this moment:
- This is without a doubt the biggest natural disaster that has ever hit Haiti.
- While God’s Littlest Angels has been spared the worst of it, many of their families and many many of the rest of the people in Haiti are not so fortunate.
- At the time that we’re writing this, the full extent of the damage isn’t known because it’s too dark to see. But let’s put it this way, in downtown Port Au Prince, the Presidential Palace, the Parliament Building, the Justice Building, the UN Headquarters and the US Embassy have all either collapsed or experienced substantial damage. That’s like the White House, the Capital Building, the Supreme Court Building, The Senate Office Building and the Smithsonian all getting wiped out in Washington DC.
- If the buildings in downtown Port Au Prince couldn’t withstand an earthquake of this magnitude, imagine the poorly constructed homes that the majority of Haitians live in. They don’t stand a chance.
I’ve already had a lot of people ask me, “Hey Tom, what can I do to help?” Well, here’s the plan. Let me explain:
- As the GLA board, we had informal long range discussions at our board retreat in November about how we wanted, over the next number of years, increase the opportunities that we would have to be able to help the community and improve the lives of more Haitians.
- We never anticipated that we’d be presented the opportunity to help in such a drastic and historically awful situation and so soon.
- But God has not just opened up an opportunity for us to help, He has literally thrown open the doors and is pushing us through them.
The people in Haiti need our help and because the need is so great and so urgent, we are launching what we’re calling our 1000 x 1000 campaign.
What’s the 1000 X 1000 Campaign? It’s pretty simple:
- We want to find 1000 people anywhere in the world who are willing to raise $1000 each to help the people in Haiti.
- Will GLA use all of the money for themselves? Nope – because they’ve survived pretty well. There will be additional expenses that they’ll have, but relatively minor compared to the others down in Port Au Prince.
But this is a huge opportunity for GLA to be the Hands and Feet of God in Haiti.
How awesome would it be for GLA to be able to come to the aid of so many others?
How awesome would it be for GLA to be able to help other missions in Haiti make a difference in the lives of the Haitians who already suffered so much and now had to live through this?
So, as you read this, can you help us? Can you go ask 10 of your friends to donate $100?
It’s that simple. We find 1000 people who go out and each get 10 friends to donate $100 and we can make a big difference.
Call me at (616) 292-7559 or e-mail me at tvanderwell@sbcglobal.net if you have questions. Otherwise, click on the “widget” below and make a donation and then go tell 10 or more of your friends to do the same.
The people of Haiti need us to help.
Our God requires that we not sit by idly but do our part.
Thanks,
Tom Vanderwell, Board Member since 2006, Parent of two of God’s Littlest Angels since 2004
I encourage everyone to participate. GLA is a tangible organization to many of your family & friends. We know that people want to help Haiti, RIGHT NOW.. We ask that you please help us raise funds for GLA and the surrounding community.
If you need some communication tips, outlines or text suggestions PLEASE email or call me; I would be glad to share some ideas with you.
Jill Wilkins, adoptive parent (also a communications director at LSI)
jill.wilkins@lsi.com / 503-816-9446
Jill Wilkins
January 12th, 2010 at 10:01 pmpermalink
I just had a friend offer to send a check for tomorrow morning in the amount of $200. Where should I tell her to send the check?
God is providing!
Beka Tuttle
January 12th, 2010 at 10:26 pmpermalink
Beka – Tell your friend to send the money to:
God’s Littlest Angels
c/o Jean Bell
2085 Crystal River Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80915.
Thanks!
Tom
Tom Vanderwell
January 12th, 2010 at 11:39 pmpermalink
[...] God's Littlest Angels In Haiti » Blog Archive » Earthquake Update Earthquake Update – What Do We Do? Posted by Tom Vanderwell. Tom here, I’ve spent about… Haiti Earthquake Update – on FriendFeed [...]
Haiti Earthquake Update | AXI
January 13th, 2010 at 1:38 ampermalink
I made a contribution and will try and get some of my friends to make one as well. Good luck and god bless you.
Kevin M. Breeland
January 13th, 2010 at 5:47 ampermalink
Thank you Kevin. Every little bit helps.
Tom Vanderwell
January 13th, 2010 at 5:49 ampermalink
What a wonderful idea! I would like to join the effort of 1000 x 1000. Praising God that my grandchildren (Jean Dany & Danise i.e. Stanley children) are safe; but I know others are desperately hurting and are need of our help. Romans 8:28, 29. In Him, Carol Dornon
Carol & Bob Dornon
January 13th, 2010 at 5:49 ampermalink
We will send a check in next mail to help out the children at the orphanage. I pray for compansionate hearts for all persons that carry the responsibility to cut the ties that bind the adopted children at the orphanage and send them right away to the loving arms of their adoptive parents (or allow the parents to go to Haiti to get them).
Let us remember that God has no boundaries on His love for mankind. In return, I pray, that man put no boundaries on our loving God and on His precious little children.
Check will be sent to:
God’s Littlest Angels
c/o Jean Bell
2085 Crystal River Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80915.
In Him,
Cheryl & Tom Sharpe
Tom & Cheryl Sharpe
January 13th, 2010 at 2:41 pmpermalink
[...] and click on the “Make A Donation” link. You can also go to this site: http://godslittlestangelsinhaiti.org/2010/01/12/earthquake-update-what-do-we-do/ Leave a [...]
Give to Haiti « Jackie’s Brain
January 14th, 2010 at 9:06 ampermalink
Tom,
A couple from our church has one of “God’s littlest angels” and forwarded on your message to church leaders. What an awesome opportunity to mobilize Youth Groups and raise funds. We are currently brainstorming and thank you for heading up this disaster effort. We will be praying for YOU as well as other board members as we lift up the people of Haiti.
One question I have is how the funds, once in Haiti, will be managed…or more importantly by whom?? We have ties to an orphanage in Moldova (also a very poor country) and one of the problems we have in supporting an orphanage there is keeping the money out of the hands of govt. officials. Many poor countries struggle with tremendous abuse of govt. officials…which feeds into the very few rich people becoming richer and the poor getting poorer. Excuse me if I appear pessimistic….I just need to know that there is a plan in place to ensure the money gets to the people who can make wise decisions about who benefits from the funds.
Blessings to you,
Karen and Ken VanderLugt
Kalamazoo, MI
Karen S. VanderLugt
January 14th, 2010 at 10:24 ampermalink
Karen,
You raise a very valid point and I’m glad that you did. I’m going to do a video post addressing that question some time today.
But I’ve got 386 e-mails in my inbox that need attention first.
Tom
Tom Vanderwell
January 14th, 2010 at 12:25 pmpermalink
Hi Tom,
I would like to join your 1000 x 1000. I have experience raising money for non-profits and I am working on my fundraising plan right now.
I keep you and the entire orphanage crew in my thoughts and prayers. There are a lot of people pulling for you.
Greg Lane
Boston, MA
Greg Lane
January 14th, 2010 at 6:09 pmpermalink
Greg,
That’s awesome. We need to talk. (616) 292-7559.
Tom
Tom Vanderwell
January 14th, 2010 at 10:26 pmpermalink
Tom, I have 7 people who have already donated their $100 each on this site. I’m petitioning for another 3. At the rate people are responding I don’t think it will take long. (with our $100, we have $800).
Chris and I have been particularly concerned about diesel and water at GLA. How full were tanks when the quake hit? Are trucks able to get to them for refills? Been wishing we could talk directly to Dixie or someone down there, but know it is impossible and they need to focus on what is in front of them.
Praying for Cheryl!
Blessings….
Kris Nixon
Adopted Daniel Moise and Joseph Fabio (home almost 1 year)
(also volunteered at GLA in 2006)
Chris and Kris Nixon
January 16th, 2010 at 11:46 ampermalink
We reached our 10 person $100 goal and we are going to keep going!
Chris and Kris Nixon
January 19th, 2010 at 1:18 pmpermalink
Hi Tom:
I have tried to email you, but, understandably, I only get a blanket response.
I am the founder and an executive board member of Children’s Foster Care Fund – an organization that assists children in custody of DSS and their foster families. I made the decision to become a foster parent after receiving an email from Dixie advising me that it would be difficult for me to adopt children in Haiti because I had 3 biological children (among other reasons).
I am holding a fundraiser to benefit GLA this Saturday from 11am to 2am!!! I am received quite a bit of press attention (I have been on the local times 4 times in the past 48 hours!) and am interested in:
1) talking to someone personally with GLA
2) how I can continue to assist GLA after this event.
Thanks for all that you do.
Maggie
Maggie Warner
January 26th, 2010 at 7:56 ampermalink
Maggie,
Call me tomorrow at (616) 292-7559. I’d love to chat about it.
Tom
Tom Vanderwell
January 26th, 2010 at 8:18 pmpermalink