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‘This really hurts so much’: Local Haitian organizations team up to help the quake-ravaged nation
Haitian-Americans United, Inc., Association of Haitian Women in Boston, and others are working together to send relief.
HELPING HAITI:
As the Rev. Dieufort Fleurissaint describes the multiple social crises that have troubled his homeland of Haiti over the last few months, it’s almost difficult to wrap one’s head around them all.
President Jovenel Moïse assassinated and his wife injured in July, increased gang violence, a kidnapping crisis, along with the ongoing widespread poverty. These were challenges Fleurissant and the thousands of Haitians and Haitian Americans knew about.
Then came the earthquake on Saturday, with a death toll now around 2,000, and injuries now numbering near 10,000.
“This really hurts so much,” said Fleurissaint, a chair of Haitian-Americans United, Inc., based in Mattapan. “We are always hopeful for a better Haiti … Now it’s just one crisis after another one.”
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Though Fleurissaint moved to the States about 40 years ago, he still maintains a strong connection with Haiti, and has family there. He’s one of thousands of Haitians living in Massachusetts, mostly in the Greater Boston area. There were about 86,000 in 2017; Fleurissaint said that number is likely closer to 100,000 now.
“We thank God we have no lost lives in my immediate family,” he said. “But I do have colleagues and friends who have lost family members.”
His niece, however, is one of the many people attempting to shelter outside. Her home was damaged during the earthquake, Fleurissaint said, and “frequent aftershocks” make her and her family fearful to go inside.
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Many Haitians have been forced outside due to the earthquake, and on Monday, rain from Tropical Storm Grace tore at the fragile shelters they had been using.
Haitians, and Haitian-Americans, certainly think about the devastation, and how it seems like the country has been forced to take on one challenge after another, whether it be natural disaster or internal struggles. But they also think of a better Haiti, according to Fleurissaint.
At the center of that is hope, and religious faith.
“This is where we draw our strength because we are serving the God of hope,” Fleurissaint said. “He has always given us hope.”
Up until recently, Fleurissaint said he would make yearly trips to Haiti, noting that he’s done missionary work in the past, including supporting a school there. Pastoral retreats were held there also.
When he thinks of the Caribbean nation, he thinks of the culture and food, the warm weather, the beaches and sand.
And there’s also the people. Fleurissaint said those who live on the outskirts of towns will offer you a fresh avocado, mango, or coconut.
“The people are so friendly,” he said.
To help Haiti, Haitian-Americans United has teamed up with the Association of Haitian Women in Boston and other local organizations. They are taking donations specifically for earthquake relief.
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A task force was also created to discuss how to help, and this has been broken into two phases: providing financial help to grassroots organizations in the area devastated by the earthquake, and collecting necessary medical supplies and equipment, with a plan to report back to the public. Since it launched on Monday, fundraising has reached $2,400, Fleurrisaint said.
The HAU already has connections with other Haitian organizations in Massachusetts, and also has ties to grassroots organizations in Haiti after working with them in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in 2016, and after the 2010 earthquake.
“We know that Haiti has been assisted and supported by so many world organizations – we have so many friends and allies,” Fleurissaint said. But then there’s the number of people affected by the most recent tragedy. “The need is so immense, so big.”
For those interested in donating to the collaborative fundraising efforts of the HAU and other organizations, these can be sent by check to H.A.U., P.O. Box 260440, Mattapan, MA, with “Haiti August 2021 Earthquake” in the memo line, by making a direct deposit to Account number 07-774-15001 at East Boston Savings Bank, or by Paypal.
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For a list of other organizations collecting donations and aid for Haiti in the wake of the earthquake, click here.
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