To Love A Child, Inc. is a legally registered not for profit organization under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are deductible under section 170 of the Code. We are also qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers or gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code. Employer Identification Number: 26-4756033 Tax Exempt Number: 248337.
Haiti Emergency Relief Fund
$5000 Match and Supply Collection
$5000 Match and Supply Collection
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It's 2021 and Another, Stronger, Earthquake Hits Haiti!
Over 1,400 casualties and 6,000 injured.
Tens of thousands of homes destroyed.
We Have a Plan to Help in the Days and Weeks Ahead and
an Angel will Match up to $5,000 in Donations Toward This Effort!
As we discovered in 2010, a tragedy of this magnitude affects thousands of people. Haiti is already suffering from poverty, the recent assassination of their president, economical hardship and environmental challenges.
Anything we can do to help--even a few people--is well worth the effort
We have been in communication with Fr. Jean Milor Medela, whose hometown is in the epicenter of the earthquake. It is through this longtime friend and trusted pastor that will be sending funds to purchase rice, oil, water, clothing, tarps, medicine and personal hygiene supplies for people who have lost everything in the earthquake. He and his family will find the people who need help the most and distribute these supplies. We know that aide is on the way from other much larger and well established organizations, however, we also know that when there are so many people in need there are some that simply miss out on that aide for a number of reasons. We hope to fill in that gap in a small way.
Collection list for relief below
haiti_emergency_earthquake_collection.pdf
Recollections of the 2010 Earthquake by Cindy Schmehl
11 years ago
250,000 people died in the 2010 Haiti earthquake
300,000 people were injured.
1.5 million people homeless
We had a team in Haiti that day.
For those of you who didn't know us then we thought you might like to hear our story.
11 years ago
250,000 people died in the 2010 Haiti earthquake
300,000 people were injured.
1.5 million people homeless
We had a team in Haiti that day.
For those of you who didn't know us then we thought you might like to hear our story.
The 2010 Earthquake We had just begun working in Haiti but had several mission trips behind us. Our projects were mostly in the remote village of Rantlamouaie near the Dominican border and at a small orphanage in Port au Prince. We were also very much involved with several other schools in Haiti through the Episcopal Church. Partnerships in the USA with RPI-Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW) and GE allowed for numerous solar projects at schools throughout Haiti. On January 12, 2010 a team of 8 were working in Laschahobas, a small town 33 miles northeast of Port au Prince, on a solar installation when the 7.0 earthquake hit. The team consisted of RPI students and members of RPI - Engineers for a Sustainable World: Andrew Chung, Yaroslava (Gloria) Condon, Casey McEvoy, Alex Worcester, Michael Jensen - Professor of the Mechanical, Aerospace and Nuclear Engineering Dept. and advisor to the ESW Chapter, William Daniel of St. John’s Episcopal Church, GE Engineer Jude Pierre and Tim Schmehl who represented To Love a Child, GE and St. John’s Episcopal Church. Although the epicenter of the earthquake was in Port au Prince the team definetly felt its enourmous strength. Tim Schmehl said "when the earthquake hit our team was scattered between the school building, the rectory and the courtyard. I was packing my bags in a second floor bedroom of the rectory for our planned return trip the next day. It was obvious immediately that this was a strong earthquake. I made my way to the outdoor second floor balcony where I planned to jump over the side if the building started to come down. Knowing the poor construction standards throughout Haiti, I felt pretty sure that buildings would collapse. Fortunately no buildings came down in Lascahobas although many developed cracks including the buildings at the school and rectory where we were staying". Getting the Team Out of Haiti News of the earthquake traveled quickly throughout the world. As soon as I heard the news I immediately attempted to contact Fr. Milor, the pastor in charge in Laschahobas, to check on the team. Needless to say, communication in and out of Haiti was in complete shambles just like everything else in the country. Roads, houses, businesses, the airport--everything was destroyed. I remember holding my phone for hours on end and hitting redial over and over again only to hear a busy signal. But, after hundreds of attempts my call miraclulously connected and I was able to speak to Fr. Milor and my husband to confirm that the entire team was safe. Thanks to Jack Norton and his travel company, Holiday Travel Planners, we were able to secure flights out of the Dominican Republic three days after the quake for the entire team. The team came home to many anxiously awaiting parents and family members as well as TV cameras, reporters and journalists eager to hear their stories. Nine Days After the Quake Heading Back to Search for our Orphans With communication at a minimum, tens of thousands of people homeless, and the need for food, water, shelter and medicine critical it was decided that a small team would go to Haiti to find the children and the caretaker from the orphanage we were helping. We reached out for medicine, clothing, and supplies to provide comfort and a temporary shelter for the children once we found them. Supplies flowed in. We packed up and nine days after the quake Jude Jerome, Ken Merena from Salt Lake City and I traveled to Port-au-Prince via the Dominican Republic. We had one specific mission and that was to locate the children from the orphanage and transport them to a safe and comfortable location. Jude was from Haiti and with his knowledge and expertise we knew we were in good hands. I remember driving by one tented city after another filled with too many men, women and children to count. And, I use the term "tented" loosely because at this point people were living in anything that could be made into a dwelling; tarps, pieces of wood, sheets, blankets, and tents if they had them. We found the children in one of these tented cities along with thousands of other displaced people. The 26 orphans and their caretaker were safe despite a few minor injuries from falling cinder blocks. The orphanage itself, although standing, had huge cracks in its foundation. As we packed up the children people approached and begged us to tell others they needed help. They needed water and food. They needed medicine to treat the gastrointestinal issues sweeping the population of the tented city. They needed others to know they were still there waiting for help. It was heartbreaking to drive out of this tented city with the children and leave so many others behind not knowing what their future was. Tthe orphans were moved to the countryside where a very generous family allowed us to construct a temporary shelter for the children. Photo from the Times Union. Article "From Capital Region to Haiti, With Love" Residents are among those involved in renewed efforts to help people in country shattered by quake two years ago. PAUL GRONDAHL , Staff writer Jan. 11, 2012 Rob Lillpop, Fr. Jean Milor Medela and Cindy Schmehl We know we can't help everyone, but we can help some....please help us to bring comfort to whomever we can. 
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2010 Haiti Team as mentioned.
Just one tented city where thousands of people called home.
Loading the van to move the children to a safe place.
Cindy with children in van for ride to the country.
Setting up the tarp shelter
Children in the tent shelter
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