Michael Ritter was Featured as an Alum of Emory University for his work in Haiti in the aftermath of the January 12th Earthquake. To read the full article, click here: Emory Magazine 2010
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Haiti’s Constant Struggle:
Frightening videos of collapsed buildings — crying, barefoot children wandering the streets of the ravaged capitol city of Port-au-Prince — survivors in deep mourning — these images have slowly faded from the national news. But, while the images may fade, the situation is very real. Post-quake Haiti is a new world – a new situation…and that new reality is far worse than anything the country has ever faced. Poverty has intensified. The basic needs for food, water and shelter have mushroomed more rapidly than could ever have been imagined.
Eleven weeks ago Haiti was hit by a massive earthquake which slaughtered over 200,000 people. Today, survivors continue to struggle to rebuild their lives while living in tents or on open ground, searching for non-existent jobs, and seeking scraps of food with which to feed their families. Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced – many of them are moving to the country to live with relatives and start a brand new life. Deep Springs is diligently working with and for these people to bring them a much needed sustainable source of potable water. Our goal is to bring relief in the short-term while investing for the long-term.
“The horror of a natural tragedy has transformed a passionate but largely untested experiment in providing clean water to an impoverished country into a confident non-profit organization saving thousands of lives as it grows.” ~Bob Kinelski
Update from the Field: Deep Springs is partnering with Save the Children in Leogane and Ti-Goave, Haiti to provide buckets to over 20,000 families. Pre-quake Deep Springs had partnered with Children’s Nutrition Program, another organization in Leogane,to train 35 monitrices (health workers) to distribute buckets and chlorine to their communities. Since the earthquake, the monitrices (see picture at right) have been
working diligently with us to increase their services dramatically, using their previous knowledge of the area to serve those with the greatest need. Once 20,000 buckets have been distributed, DSI will have effectively covered 60 to 100% of households in the mountainous areas, and 30% in the camps of Leogane. Much work still needs to be done, as through March 29, 9,617 buckets with our Gadyen Dlo chlorine solution have been distributed, helping over 48,000 people avoid life-threatening diseases. We need 10,383 more buckets, however, to reach our goal and help the rest of those who are in dire need.
Thank you for your prayers and generous support through these tumultuous times. Deep Springs is grateful to be able to serve the people of Haiti in a large way in the aftermath of the earthquake, and it is only as a result of your generosity that we are able to do so.
You can provide more support for Deep Springs by donating online through Paypal or sending funds directly to Deep Springs International by mail, to:
Deep Springs International, P.O. Box 694, Grove City, PA 16127
Thank you for your continued concern for the people of Haiti. Your willingness to give allows us to keep finding innovative new ways to bring clean water to the Haitians.
Contact Us! info@deepspringsinternational.org
Andrea Hackman and her house church are serving the people of Haiti by making and selling cupcakes in their local community of Philadelphia, PA.
They comment that ” Our hearts were broken for the people of Haiti when we heard about the catastrophic earthquake that shook the tiny island to its core on January 12, 2010. Just like so many we asked, “What can we do?” We felt so helpless. ”
Their answer is encouarging and heartfelt. “We don’t have a lot of money. We don’t have a ton of resources. But we want to help. We came up with the idea to make cupcakes to raise money because 1) Who doesn’t love cupcakes!? 2) It is something we can do together as a group.”
If you live in their area and would like to support Deep Springs through their efforts, please visit their website at http://www.cupcakesforhaiti.com/ and enjoy their cupcakes!
Please feel free to use this insert for any use for promotion of the Deep Springs’ relief efforts in Haiti. Contact us at info@deepspringsinternational.org if you have any questions.
Deep Springs International Bulletin Insert- Earthquake Relief
Pittsburgh Tribune Article Monday, 1/18
Pittsburgh Tribune: Pittsburgh students respond generously to Haiti crisis 1/16
Pittsburgh Tribune: Brotherhood hit home for former Moon resident Michael Ritter Friday 1/15
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette For those with connections to Haiti, the dread is not knowing Thursday 1/14
As you may have heard, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake has rattled Haiti. The epicenter was located just outside Port-au-Prince, the capital, and has affected over 3 million people in the immediate area. News from Haiti is sparse however we did hear from Pere Kesner Ajax, a priest in Les Cayes with whom we have stayed with, who commented that there was minor damage in his area however as of 10pm last night, the ground was still shaking.
We ask that you pray for the people of Haiti. There are many missing, many hurt, and many in need of our support. We praise God that Michael Ritter and Coicy Franky were not harmed.
We also ask that you consider giving a special donation to Deep Springs as we seek to implement an immediate action plan to bring clean water to those affected by the earthquake.
You can read more about the earthquake on CNN and BBC.
We will update you as soon as possible with additional details and ways to help.
Visit this site to learn about the progress amde by Rick Spurlock and Project Medishare in Thomonde, Haiti. Deep Springs is working with this group to start a replication site similiar to our first location in Jolivert.
This Christmas you can impact the lives of children throughout Haiti by giving them the gift of clean water. Healthy children are happy children. Help us in one of the following ways this Christmas to give the precious gift of water, and of joy, to rural Haitians.
*Deep Springs donations are a unique and meaningful gift idea. Donate in the name of a friend or relative and they will receive a certificate indicating a gift has been given in their honor.*
- Just $10 will bring a family of 5 into the Deep Springs program for life! This means that they are provided with a modified bucket (with lid and spigot) and their first bottle of Gadyen Dlo.
- $50 provides 10 buckets
- $100 provides income for two technicians for a month to visit each family to ensure proper and continuous usage of Gadyen Dlo
- $250 provides income for ten teachers at local high schools to teach business and health to graduating seniors for a full month
~Ways To Give~
1) Give online through Global Giving Here
2) Send a check to Deep Springs International at PO Box 694 Grove City, PA 16127
*Note: If you are giving a gift to honor another, please send an email to info@deepspringsinternational.org, or include a note with your check, indicating what name to include and where to mail the certificate.
**You may also indicate “to the greatest need” and your donation will be used for the most pressing work in Hait
Children in Jolivert
This Christmas season GlobalGiving is matching all donations given through their website to Deep Springs International at the rate of 30% per donation! For example, a donation of $100 turns into a donation of $130 or 13 families added to the Deep Springs water program in Haiti!
If you would like to send a gift in someone’s name, please contact Ruth Entwistle at info@deepspringsinternational.org to confirm the details of your gift. Deep Springs will send your recipient a certificate indicating that a gift has been made to Deep Springs in their name.
To donate, visit the Deep Springs GlobalGiving website. You gift will make a greater impact this Christmas!
