Tori Sutton
Staff Reporter
Stratford residents are reaching out to Haiti after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused chaos in the impoverished Caribbean nation Jan. 12.
Thousands have died and thousands more are missing and feared dead less than two weeks after the quake, which demolished buildings and what little infrastructure the country had. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.
Along with the Canadian Red Cross and the Salvation Army – who began accepting financial donations at their local offices – the Rotary Club of Stratford sprang into action, shipping off 100 of its Aquaboxes on Friday, providing resources to provide up to 240,000 litres of clean drinking water.
A small group of volunteers gathered in a chilly east-end warehouse last week to assemble the boxes, which purify enough water to supply a family of four for four months. The Aquaboxes were shipped by World Vision, which already has aid workers in place in Haiti.
“World Vision is our contact down there and they have people on site that have been there since before the earthquake,” explained Jim Scott, Rotary Club of Stratford Aquabox chair.
“They say the water systems are wrecked and they need fresh drinking water.”
An Aquabox, filled with supplies and hygiene items, costs $135, and since Rotarians placed a public call for help last week, thousands of dollars have been raised. Another shipment of 100 Aquaboxes is expected to be sent out soon.
So why send an Aquabox, which includes a filter, spigot and purifying tablets, instead of ordinary bottled water? For Scott, the answer is simple.
“When the bottle is done, the water is done,” he said. “If we send the Aquabox, they can keep reusing it for a considerable time in hopes they’ll have their water system finished and repaired by then.”
The Rotary Club had the 100 boxes sent last week on hand, in storage, only needing to be assembled before they were shipped.
Though club members knew they would likely be used after a disaster – Aquaboxes were also shipped after the 2004 tsunami – Scott never expected a situation as dire as the one in Haiti.
“We were not anticipating anything of this size ... this is horrific,” he said.
City residents have been generous, but since the local Rotary Club is the only one in the Western Hemisphere to offer the program, it’s been a chance for the Rotary family to come together as well.
Last Thursday Scott was already receiving emails with offers of assistance from clubs around the world.
“I’ve had emails and copies of emails from Mexico, several US states, parts of Canada and from Europe … people are jumping in on it,” Scott said.
“It’s not just the Aquabox but other items they perhaps have in their clubs too. There’s a real network springing to life here, it’s just great.”
With plenty of agencies collecting to help with the relief efforts, other non-profits are sharing some of their funds as well.
At Saturday’s Soup’s On event, the Alzheimer Society of Perth County’s largest annual fundraiser, a decision was made to donate proceeds of the coat check to Haiti.
On Monday, Alzheimer Society of Perth County executive director Debbie Deichert reported over $500 was raised.
Also on Monday, high school teacher Paul Finkelstein and a group of Northwestern Secondary School culinary arts students, teamed with with Food Network star, chef Michael Smith, to hold a four-course dinner at Hart House in Toronto.
Initially, proceeds from the dinner were to support the school and community initiatives, however, Smith announced on CBC Radio Monday morning that a portion of the proceeds would now go to help Haitians in need.
Even athletes are hitting the pitch to help. Brazilian Soccer Schools, based in Stratford, will be hosting a 10-hour soccer marathon at Stratford Central Secondary School on Saturday, Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Players of all ages are invited to participate and must raise a minimum of $50 in pledges.
For more information, or to register as a team or player, contact Geordie Wilson at gwsoccerschools@rogers.com or call 519-273-1390. Registrations will be accepted until Tuesday, Jan. 26.
