“FROM HELL TO HAITI”

Humanitarian Aid Volunteers to Give Visual Presentation

Hell, MI—A presentation sure to touch the hearts of all who experience it, titled “From Hell to Haiti” and featuring emotional photos and videos taken during an eight-day humanitarian mission just three weeks after the earthquake that devastated the Caribbean nation, will be given at 6:30pm, Saturday, March 6, 2010, at InSights Group, 7187 Grand River Road, Brighton, Michigan. The free presentation is open to the public.

When the 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti near the town of Port-Au-Prince on January 12, 2010, the destruction was severe, with an estimated 750,000 Haitian children orphaned, 3,000,000 Haitians left homeless, and another 200,000 dead. Soon after the earthquake hit, Hands of Light in Action (HOLIA), a local nonprofit grassroots organization established to assist Haitian earthquake survivors, went into action and sent a team to help wherever they were most needed. Five HOLIA volunteers made the week-long trip to Haiti on February 2, 2010, assisting victims in a MASH-like disaster hospital and visually capturing the devastation.

Among the volunteers were physical therapist Nancy Malone of Canton, Michigan, HOLIA’s president and founder; photographer Victor Banta of Hell, Michigan; physical therapists Tiffany Bacon of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Kerstin Benya of St. Louis, Missouri; and Ashley Brewer, also of St. Louis, Missouri.

“Two future HOLIA trips are planned for June and August 2010, during which we will provide medical care and offer any other assistance that becomes a priority,” said Malone. “Beyond going down for that initial week, our team is committed to help for months to come. We’ve learned that when you open your heart and give, you can touch many, many people.”

Malone began assisting in disaster relief following 9/11. A single parent of three and a physical therapist in home health care, she drove to New York City alone, with just construction clothes and boots. Discovering few victims were coming out of the tragedy alive, she stayed and hauled debris with the firemen, performed basic medical care, and served food for four days, working around the clock and resting only for short periods. During her breaks, firefighters sat with her and told their stories, many in tears. When the news of Katrina broke, she again traveled south as a volunteer. Last HOLIA aid trip included 29 volunteers from 9 states. Following the earthquake in Haiti, Malone decided to expand her mission and established the nonprofit that would enable others to give generously as well.

Banta joined the first response team of HOLIA volunteers in Haiti to increase awareness through his photography, by sharing captured moments of the relief efforts. His photographs tell the tragic Haitian story in a way words can’t in an effort to encourage ongoing assistance for Haiti’s earthquake victims.

“It’s hard to sum up what it was like to spend time in Haiti after the earthquake,” Banta said. “The trip was intense and rewarding. While it was hard to witness the injuries, it was a positive experience for me to see the HOLIA team spreading joy and happiness throughout the hospital camp.”

Donations will be accepted at the presentation and will go to Hands of Light in Action. One hundred percent of all donations will be used to directly assist Haitians in need. Learn more about the presentation and how to help the people of Haiti at

www.handsoflightinaction.org

or email Nancy@handsoflightinaction.org.

Anyone traveling to Haiti–please feel free to preview this document…

                                                                    Documents for Haiti

Port Au Prince Airport is opening for business Feb 19, 2010.  Because of this development, the total costs for volunteering in Haiti will be decreased with a range of $500-$700.00.  If you were on a shoestring budget, then volunteering right in Port Au Prince would save the costs of rental car for you could use a taxi to reach the hospital.  Your costs would be food/water/plane ticket.

Barge leaving to Jacmel this weekend from Louisiana—if you have  items to donote and want to send on the barge, the items must reach LA by FRIDAY 2/18/2010.  Address is 600 Edwards Ave, Elmwood, LA 70123-3119.

Needed are flipflops, personal supplies, walkers, crutches, canes, stump shrinkers, theraband, baby formula, diapers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kQLMDbBkT4

Just FYI–$25 will pay for 100 lbs of Rice. $50 will pay for 100 lbs of oatmeal. $100 will pay for 100 doses of IV Antibiotics. $500 will pay for 1,200 bottles of water. $1000 will pay 500 bags of IV fluid.  Consider donating to handsoflightinaction.org, imaonline.org, operationsmile.org or loveachild.com.

It is amazing how helpful and compassionate all the health care and medical volunteers are that we worked with in Haiti.
The physical therapist team of 5 people with Hands of Light in Action (HOLIA) were greeted with cheers of appreciation by the medical teams at Love a Child Humanitarian Hospital, a “MASH” like field hospital located in the mountains of Haiti near the town of Fond Parisien within the property of Love a Child orphanage.
There were 189 patients being treated and cared for in sweltering hot desert conditions, in hospital beds that are a simple thin mattress on the ground in a tent. The spirit’ of the Haitian people are remarkable. Even the more than 20 amputee’s, 40+ people with external fixators (steel rods attached to the bone through the skin) used to treat fractured arms and legs. There are many more people in casts… -from those on arms and legs to casts from the waits down both legs. It is heart wrenching to see children that had feet so damaged and infected that they had to be removed. Even still, they are happy and willing to get up and learn to walk again for the first time since the earthquake.
A 6 year old girl with her lower leg removed was scared to leave her bed, but after 2 days of loving physical therapy she was sitting up in a chair outside her tent waiting to use her new crutches and go for a walk.
Then there is the 11 year old boy in a cast from the waist all the way down to his foot on one leg and 1/3 of the way down the other leg who was sitting outside his tent in a wheel chair. He stopped us as we walked by making our rounds, and asked for crutches so he could get up and start walking. Amazing! What will power!
There are so many heroic stories such as these,..
There are many things that can be done to help. One thing that stood out for me is the desperate need for physical therapy!
Please contact http://www.HandsofLightinAction.org to help.
Sincerely,
Victor Banta

Victor J. Banta Photography
http://www.VictorJBanta.com