By: Cindy Arenberg Seltzer -President/CEO, Children’s Services Council of Broward County and
Francois Leconte – President/CEO, Minority Development & Empowerment
BROWARD – When it comes to natural disasters, Broward County residents know firsthand the importance of reacting quickly and efficiently. We’ve dealt with our share of hurricanes and recognize that rapid response is essential to a successful recovery. That’s why in the days immediately following the tragic earthquake in Haiti, over 70 individuals and organizations came together to form the Broward Haiti Relief Task Force.
Broward County has a vibrant Haitian community which has been hit particularly hard and our hearts go out to those who have lost loved ones. Our Haitian brothers and sisters are on the front lines of the relief effort, even as they work through their own grief. Minority Development and Empowerment, in partnership with Children’s Services Council of Broward County, has spearheaded the Task Force, dedicated to meeting the immediate needs of the recovery here in Broward. Victims are arriving every day with little more than shirts on their backs, local hospitals are providing trauma victims with expert care and the resources of social service organizations are being stretched to the limit.
The disaster will have a long-term impact on community resources and institutions. In response, subcommittees have formed to address key areas of need, such as Item and Food Collection; Logistics; Volunteerism, Faith-based Outreach, Medical Care; Business Relations, Fundraising, and Victim Services.
Task Force members are already making a difference, having arranged 55 trips to Haiti – delivering desperately medical care, volunteers and supplies. Volunteer Broward is recruiting Creole speakers to assist the local relief efforts of the Red Cross and the Department of Children and Families. As a testament to our caring community, Kids In Distress has compiled a list of nearly 1,000 families willing to care for orphaned children. Mental health professionals are also providing counseling and services for Broward residents grieving for loved ones who perished or have not been located.
We’re acutely aware that in the coming months, the impact on Broward is fraught with challenges. We need your support and welcome your participation in our communitywide effort to assist local relief efforts. Please contact Guithele Ruiz-Nicolas at Minority Development & Empowerment, [email protected] to find out more about how you can help. Haitian culture is rich with proverbs and now more than ever, one of our favorites rings true. Men anpil, chay pa lou. Many hands lighten the load.
