NJ4HAITI

On January 12, 2010 an earthquake registering 7.0, centered 16 miles from Port-au-Prince, and tore Haiti apart.  Scenes of devastation shocked the world and moved people into action. A partnership among a collection of government agencies, non-profit organizations, faith-based agencies, businesses, and citizens, instantly conceptualized and New Jersey for Haiti was formed. The network banded together and rigorously prepared recovery and rebuilding efforts. 

United Way of Greater Union County (UWGUC) was appointed to serve as NJ4Haiti’s fiduciary agent and has helped to raise $163,362 to provide emergency food, shelter and other disaster relief resources to Haiti and to Jefferson Park Ministries (JPM). JPM, a UWGUC Family Success Center based strongly in the Haitian community of Elizabeth, has worked tirelessly to welcome evacuees and help them acclimate to their new world. 

A Year Later
On February 1, 2011, JPM reported the successes achieved the year following the earthquake. Catherine Saintilien, Executive Director of JPM, noted that the centers goal was to be the voice, heart and hands of the evacuee community. Since the earthquake, JPM has served over 1,400 evacuees; helping them with everything from food and housing assistance to ESL classes. With the help of partners like United Way and Union County College, JPM has also been able to provide grief counseling, health screenings and tutoring lessons to over 350 families and 80 individuals now registered at the Family Success Center.

Touching Lives in Haiti
In August 2011, UWGUC’s President & CEO, James W. Horne Jr. went on a mission trip to Haiti with a group of NJ4Haiti volunteers. For seven days, Horne witnessed first-hand how the efforts and contributions of Union County residents and neighboring communities were impacting parts of the country.

The trip scheduled visits to a number of different orphanages including Grace Village Orphanage, where volunteers prepared and cooked meals for over 400 children. Another visit included St. Marc’s village where the group entertained the children with music, dance and arts & crafts projects. Everyone shared in laughter, joy and lifetime memories. Despite the odds, the children enjoyed the activities and were filled with positive energy.  While most of the projects were at orphanages, one did include a visit to a place called Mountain Top Ministries, a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting the people of Haiti by creating spiritual education, providing quality medical care, and training Haitian ministers.

The eye opening and heartfelt experiences witnessed by Horne, has prepared him for another trip, which is currently in the planning stages. Horne will be on-site the orphanages that were visited this past summer and will assist NJ4Haiti volunteers with a holiday gift distribution project. “We have done much since the earthquake, but there is still much more to do,” says Horne. “United Way plans on continuing our work in Haiti by empowering all of our partners to support the cause, help with rebuilding the lives of those affected by serving the people with empathy and committing to our mission of strengthening families to build and sustain stronger communities.”

Click here to view pictures from the mission trip.
Click here to learn more about how you can help.