Feature News

Supplies abound, problem is how to ship them to Haiti

Church is filled with donations, but packing, shipping require volunteers, cash

Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Marlene Quaroni - Florida Catholic

MARLENE QUARONI | FC As part of a human chain, Haitian-American Ferdinand Nifty passes a plastics bag filled with relief supplies to Belen Jesuit senior Juan Carlos Gonzalez. They are moving supplies from a vehicle in the parking lot to the courtyard at Notre Dame d'Haiti Mission in Miami. Belen students have been helping out at Notre Dame since the week after the earthquake.

MIAMI – Notre Dame d’Haiti Church is overflowing with relief supplies for victims of the earthquake in Haiti. What they need are packing materials and the money to get the supplies to the stricken country.

“That’s the missing link,” said Monica Lauzurique, mission coordinator for Amor en Acción. “None of us are logistics people. Volunteers are buying shipping cartons and wrapping tape with money out of their own pockets.”

In the courtyard at the church Feb. 13, volunteers were sorting through piles of plastic bags filled with clothes, toys and food. Constantly, vehicles pull up to the Notre Dame parking lot bringing relief supplies. A human chain passes plastic bags from an SUV into the courtyard.

“We just finished wrapping several pallets loaded with relief supplies,” said Lauzurique. “Twenty-seven pallets are going to be shipped to Haiti on the Lady Lotmore this week. The ship owner’s will ship bottled water for free; however, other pallets cost $200 to $300 each.”

MARLENE QUARONI | FC The sign at Notre Dame d'Haiti lists the donations that are needed for Haiti's earthquake relief efforts.

The church rented a forklift which Fritz Armando, a skilled operator, was using to load up a truck supplied by Notre Dame parishioner Renauld Jean-Baptiste, who is in the delivery business. The truck was not available until the afternoon because Jean-Baptiste had to attend to his business in the morning.

In addition, a lot of garbage is being generated, consisting mainly of plastic bags and old cartons. A large garbage bin and pick-up service is needed, said Lauzurique.

Notre Dame d’Haiti’s pastor, Father Reginald Jean-Mary, said that priests in the Florida Keys are trying to get friends with boats to transport supplies to Haiti.

Father Tony Mullane, pastor of St. Peter Parish in Big Pine Key, is in contact with friends who own shrimp boats based in Tampa that could transport relief supplies to Haiti.

“We have to wait until they’re not busy,” Father Mullane said. “We don’t know yet when that will be, maybe just after Easter.”

Ten years ago, Father Mullane took two lobster boats with 50,000 pounds of supplies to a parish in Mole Saint Nicolas and maintains a relationship with the people there.

Father Leslie Jean, parochial vicar at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Key West, is coordinating with Father Mullane. Father Jean said that what is needed are building materials, tarps and tents to provide shelter for the people of Petit Goave, his hometown.

“We’re working with the Sisters of Wisdom and the pastor of Our Lady of Assumption Church in Petit Goave,” he said.

The collected supplies will be kept at a warehouse on Stock Island in Key West until they can be transported to Haiti, he added.

Father Jean-Mary said that the church is trying to deliver goods to northern ports in Haiti, such as Cap Haitien, because people have migrated there. At ports such as Port-de-Paix, Gonaives and Saint Marc, the shallow water means that goods must be unloaded onto small boats to be transported to the docks.