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Buy a Bandage |  |
01-15-2010, 04:39 PM
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Buy a Bandage
I am about to make this public announcement:
"Buy a Bandage" What is "Buy a Bandage"? It's a Rennwish (a 501C3) partnership with Pwoje Espwa, based in Les Cayes, Haiti, to subsidize the Hospital in Les Cayes, Haiti for emergency medical care, supplies, food, and basic necessities for its operation and relief of earthquake victims. As of today - all those items are depleted. To help - please visit http://rennwish.org Summary: Again - I wanted to thank all of you for your words, ideas, support and encouragement. As you know, many of your comments I've shared with some of our friends in Haiti. They are more appreciated thank you may know - or, maybe you do know? Over the past several days - I've been trying to understand exactly "how" Rennwish can make the greatest impact given our limited exposure and, well - to be frank - limited resources. From our previous projects, we have selected programs, which are guaranteed to directly impact and influence the lives and education of children within Haiti. We believe we have been successful with our "partners" in those efforts - namely the children themselves, the villages, and our more formal partners, such as Pwoje Espwa. The current crisis and disaster has only strengthened our commitment to the same credo - do as much as we possibly can to effect immediate improvement to those children, women, and men who, as I write this - are suffering unimaginable injuries and trauma. Therefore, after communicating with Fr. Marc Boisvert - we believe, that together - you, Rennwish and Pwoje Espwa - can assist those injured children, women and men who might be otherwise overlooked immediately by the tremendous International Aid effort underway in Port-au-Prince, Petionville, Jacmel and some additional regions The Goal: Immediate Requirement: $75,000 ($21,000 Medical/Supplies and $54,000 Emergency food/relief). In the last few days, Rennwish has received exactly $5,042.00 in contributions earmarked for relief, with another $4,550 committed. All of those monies will be released for their intended purpose specified below. The remaining roughly $65,000 we hope to raise in the next few days - and with your help - by gosh - we can and will do it. Mission - short term: To subsidize the Hospital in Les Cayes, Haiti for emergency medical supplies, food, and basic necessities for its operation and relief of victims. As of today - all those items are depleted. In short, we will buy and distribute Medical supplies for the Les Cayes Hospital, re-stock Pwoje Espwa's medical clinic and provide medicine, food an comfort for many of the injured children, women and men who are strewn throughout the Les Cayes hospital grounds awaiting any relief whatsoever. The Purpose: All monies will be wired to Fr. Marc Boisvert at Pwoje Espwa directly into Haiti. As well - that is the same orphanage we partnered with to construct one of several planned Technical Schools. I trust Marc and his staff implicitly and since they are "on site" in the Cayes region - represent our partnership locally for this huge effort. As well, Marc assures us that if he had the money to acquire the medical supplies and food - he has access to them. So - let's get Marc that money so he can do his part to assist those most in need. So - here is the deal…. As true to Rennwish's and Pwoje Espwa's legacy - we believe that getting your donations directly into the hands of those most in need sends a powerful message. While we could purchase the items outside of Haiti, pay for packing, pay for shipping, pay for delivery into Haiti and pay more to get them into Les Cayes - that option becomes both cost prohibitive and doesn't allow the emergency supplies to get into the hands that need them most - when they are needed most… Further, it also dilutes your donations with unnecessary packing/shipping/delivery charges. Our intention has always been - and will always be - 100% of what you donate goes to the programs. This program. "Buy a Bandage" is "one of those programs. You may also ask that isn't this program outside what Rennwish has traditionally undertaken? Yes, it is. As you know, in the past - we have succeeded at building infrastructure in the care and education of children who can go on and change their own community as they mature. However, Rennwish has always responded to where there is the greatest need - which is why we have a legacy of programs in Haiti today. Today's need in Haiti is both acute and life threatening. We are obligated to respond to those same needs today. Working directly with Fr. Marc, his staff, Pwoje Espwa and the hospital in Les Cayes as they struggle to make a difference in basic human life isn't an option. It's a requirement of "life" for us, the living. We must not fail. It really is that simple. Our thanks, John Dunkle Rennwish.org Fr. Marc Boisvert Pwoje Espwa - Haiti |
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01-15-2010, 09:39 PM
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I have been asked to update this thread with any information... This post is difficult... Again, my thanks to a few of you.... I'd almost run out of words.. However - I just received this note from Adrien for Port-au-Prince.. I asked him to go to PAP to check on our friends and his family. This e-mail from him is NOT EDITED.... It is what it is - and why we are doing all this.. As you read his note, he has NO IDEA I would post his comments - and please know this is one of my guys - who I trust without question.
My dear brother, The situation in Haiti is very complicated today. Port-au-prince is broken down and the town should be repaired Most of the buildings that are broken are the state’s building, like The palace, laws court and some of the Government representative are died during a meeting they had at Montana hotel some of our artist died in Le Flambroyant hotel they had a meeting for the carnival next February, most of the universities are collapsed with student who made an examination at that time and most of them still alive under the ground and they send message text to their family and close friends. Some die because they can’t breathe and others because they had hurt. Now Port-au-Prince is very smell bad because the deaths are everywhere in the streets they the obliged to dug holes to bury the deaths, they put them in a dumbstruck to throw them in holes. And a lot of crying everywhere in Haiti. What which is hard for some people is because they may be lost a close and they will not see them anymore. There is no communication, the way is broken the circulation to go there is not good. I have some of my cousins who hurt but not to bad and their houses are broken. The people live in the street because they are houseless some who have houses sleep outside because they are afraid of the houses even the people in les cayes they sleep in the street for the same reason. Even the strangers who come to the country for help, it is true they help but they more focus on the hotel of Montana where they have some their own nation as representative in Haiti. The people in Port-au-Prince are waterless and foodless. Most of them leave the Capital to go to different places. Now in Les cayes all the hospital are full with people and we don’t have enough doctor or medical assistant to take care of them. The representing we have in les cayes to ameliorate the situation and to welcome the new comers let the people leave in the soccer field and ask to every people to come with their help, like to bring water, food, clothes because some of them escape from the Capital with only one clothe and most of them are not from in les cayes so, they don’t have any one here they know they come because they find only the opportunity to escape the Capital and they profit to leave. Most of them are died by painful. The situation is very sad. Now everything is very expensive like thought, like food, gas, even clothes and for the electricity they only give us power for some hours and all the institutions is closed like bank, school, university and all the state’s institution. Now the situation is very hard, sad and complicated in Haiti. For the money I could not take it from western union but I borrowed it from a friend that I used to buy cement and Iron,when I get the money,I will pay it back.I went to Port-au-prince,I bought waters,juice,breads and some snacks and brought them to the people and then I share the rest of the money to them and their neighbors.They were very happy,they told me thank you and I told them to thank God and my brother John Dunkle and his wife. My brother it is very Sad.I took some pictures,the internet conection is not very good now,I will send you them next time. I love you Jen and my brother very very much. Adrien. |
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01-15-2010, 09:41 PM
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My Reply:
Hello Brother.... You are not alone - I cry with you for all Haiti is today, after the earthquake. I cry for the people too. What Jen and I and all of Rennwish do is so small compared to the hurt of the people there. I am so sad also to read about what the international community try to save - but, as I say to you another time, I know they try to save their own first. that makes me sad... Today, I start a new program to save the hospital in Cayes. We try to raise money - and then have Fr. Mark at Espwa buy medical supplies , food, beds for the Haitians at the hospital in Cayes - not for our use - BUT for the use for the people of Haiti - the children especially and those people who are like those who you mention. Your people, family and friends. I think "our" people. I think we can do all that - just for the people. Not for the USA or for the Chinese or for all the countries, alone - but - more importantly - only for the people in Haiti... It is OK my brother to cry about all that happens in PAP and Haiti - and all that you see. All that you live through. It is all OK.. You - and the people in Haiti do not cry alone. We cry with you. You are not alone. We are with you. All who support Rennwish... Please tell people in Haiti who want to give us a hug - all of us hug them back even more. And please tell them they are not alone either... I love you, Your Brother, John |
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01-15-2010, 10:05 PM
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I wonder if we can set up with our employers a weekly payroll deduction so we can continue to help the Rennwish organization for the long haul... after all, this effort will need to be perpetuated for years - it won't be over in a month or two. Think of it, where else can we be guaranteed that 100% of our donations go directly to the people who need it the most - the victims... not a penny of our dollar will go to administrative or logistical expenses... it's a volunteer organization. You employers might look into some way that your employees can contribute in this manner if they so wish.
If not a payroll deduction, how about an automatic monthly checking account withdrawal? There must be a way. I'm going to look into this at least for Kathy and me. I urge anyone else who wishes to contribute long-term to look into this as well. |
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| The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Dean Romig For Your Post: |
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01-16-2010, 06:30 PM
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#7 | ||||||
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Hi Dean,
My thanks.. As well - you asked if employers can deduct? Yes - in fact - what they require to do so are copies of our EIN, conformance certification by the IRS that we are a 501c3 and a copy of our articles of incorporation. All of those have been made available previously to corporations that have asked, so again - simply - thank you.... As well... Apparently there are a number of copies of this thread in the various forums and sites, so I apologize to all of you is you have read this post in one of those threads as well... You see.... I just came home from work - and while I'm trying to prepare to get into Haiti as part of a rescue, if we get clearance, I wanted to say this... You folks - all of you - are amazing. I am humbled, speechless - and a lot more than a little proud to be your voice to so many in Haiti who have no voice. In short - what we are trying to do - and will do - is actually "adopt" a hospital for the next few weeks and give the children, men & women (I believe there are about 1500 in dire medical need at that hospital as I write this) - the medicine they require, food, water - and most importantly - simply *hope* that we - or rather YOU - have not forgotten nor forsaken them... I don't really know anymore the right words to say. I do know that those in Haiti do not have the right words, either - to express to all of you their thanks. If you doubt that - please read Adrien's e-mail posted earlier, OK? As well - on to the "nut-and-bolts"... In the past 28 hours - Rennwish has raised approximately $23,000 for this effort alone. The prelimary figures are: $14,267 - PayPal $8,100 - Committed as "checks in the mail"; $700 - eChecks not cleared but in process I shake my head in disbelief, because - just like you - I find it amazing that so many could care so much... And we have just started on attacking that $75,000 goal. I know - we will "just get it done" - as you and Rennwish has so often in the past... To the number of folks that asked if they could defray the PayPal processing expenses, my thanks - but the answer is "no". It's been our "mantra" that if you give "$1" - then "$1" goes to that Rennwish Program. Jen and I have traditionally offset any PayPal or wire transfer or bank expenses from our end. We will continue to do so - as I made that guarantee that your "$1" reaches the children and the people intact and in full. It's what we do and will continue to do... A few have asked how we intend to get the funds into Haiti to acquire the supplies, etc... That's easy... We need to get some funds immediately into those purchasing the medical supplies - so they can get them into the hands of the hospital and the folks. So, we'll send enough via instant wire services to make the initial purchases for the first few days. At the same time - we will bank-wire direct into the Haitian financial banks the major portion of your funds, but it typically takes those funds about 4-5 days to clear within Haiti. So - in short - we'll start getting your supplies into Haiti as a trickle, while the major banks clear the majority of the assets - which will insure the funds, medicine, food and necessities of life continue to flow... This is all being done from "within Haiti" itself... Finally - here and an edited private e-mail I sent to a contributor, who was worried if he'd done enough... ....Honestly? I am so overwhelmed by you and others - I am speechless... Since the earthquake - in private - I've been a mess. I've lost some "friends" - and given the situation, have felt like "what can we really do?" - which pales in comparison to all the International Aid, syndicated charities, etc... But then - as I got in contact with my folks (like Adrien and Marc), knew that there was so much to do... All we want to do is get aide to the people who need it... One person to one person.... Giving an entire hospital - which has been forsaken so far - medicine, supplies, food, water, - HOPE - is what we do best. In fact -- it is what "we do"... That "we" is you and the folks who have contributed - have done. It's "person to person". That's personal. That is you. You made a huge difference - simply by choosing to care.... So, my thanks.... My "job" is easy... My "job" is to ensure that $1.00 donated goes to $1.00 of aid. No newspaper articles. And no clips on major network TV news... No pictures.... No pat on the backs.... Just simply - people-to-people. My thanks for that, John |
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| The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to John Dunkle For Your Post: |
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01-18-2010, 04:17 PM
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Just thought this should be brought back to the top. God speed John
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| The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Eric Eis For Your Post: |
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01-18-2010, 04:51 PM
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Just a couple of notes... First - thank you...... All of you - whether you have contributed, or will contribute, or have let others know about all we are doing - just - well, thank you...
I have NOT posted this before, but.... A quick update.. We got the first money INTO Les Cayes early this morning - and I'm walking a bit of a tightrope. You see - if I send too much, it won't be distributed, as available money in Cayes from the banks and the wire transfer agencies are in short supply (yes - I mean that..).. When they "run out of money" - they close. So - if we send too much - it won't be distributed. If we send to little, it won't do much at all given the prices of food, medicine and fuel (in fact - you can't buy fuel today)... Anyway - today, we have our first first small victory for those in Les Cayes. Today, we were able to get some money there, and have started purchasing and distributing medicine and food and those much needed goods will be distributed to: - one of the local hospitals; - a village that is hosting many refugees from PAP which is now out of food; and - and a smaller orphanage outside Les Cayes that is in dire need. We are fortunate, as many "non-profits" are still struggling to get any money "in country". We have done so - and we will continue to do so. While it is one small step - we are indeed moving forward. My thanks to all of you... John. |
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| The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to John Dunkle For Your Post: |
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01-19-2010, 07:19 PM
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I've said it before - and I'll keep saying it - thank you..... After many PMs and a few phone calls, I was asked to update this thread.. So here you go - it includes a release - and a sincere thank you... So - here goes...
If you have contributed to this program and I have your e-mail - you should have gotten a "semi-personal" thank you..?? What's "semi-personal"??? Well - it was an e-mail sent out to over 200 folks who have contributed... I'm a little humbled by all of you... I always have been - and I always will be... For that - it gives me great pleasure to make public our first "press release".. It was edited and authored by many of you - and requested by many more... If you would like - feel free to use it and distribute it as you will.. This success is not to my credit - but rather - to yours collectively.... In short - we have reached nearly 50% of our goal of $75,000 since last Friday afternoon.... And while we still have a long road ahead - we can - no rather, we will do this.... Here is that press release..... (<--- Click there if you want to read it...)... My sincerest thanks, Always, John |
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| The Following User Says Thank You to John Dunkle For Your Post: |
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