The coastal community of Petit Goave (Little Gulf) on the north coast of the Haiti peninsular will be the next community to benefit from Salvation Army Earthquake relief efforts.

Major Emmanuel Michaud and Captain Serge Lainne, Haitian born Salvation Army Officers serving in Chicago, IL and Miami, FL respectively did an assessment yesterday to determine the post Earthquake circumstances of this community where a Salvation Army Corps and School is presently located.

In describing what he saw in Petit Goave Major Michaud said, “Getting there will be ragged and rugged because the roads are badly damaged but with caution, care and God’s help we can transport volunteers, materials and hope to these people.”

Captain Lainne noted that the Corps and School facilities appeared to have minor damage but are fully usable.

The Mayor, when visited by these two officers, expressed appreciation for and pledged full cooperation the efforts of the Army’s efforts, in partnership with The United Nations. This city of 200,000 is estimated to have lost 1,500 and had another 3,000 persons injured in the Quake.

Within a six mile radius there are approximately 6,000 living in temporary housing such as tents and “make-shift” shelters.

Beginning January 25, 2010 the two officers who did the initial assessment will be assigned as the Advance Coordination Team for the Petit Goave effort.

Major Cedric Hills, The Army’s International Emergency Services Program Command Officer for the entire Haiti effort expressed great glee for this very important “next step” as the Army’s response team expands its efforts to assist

Major Lecien Lamartiuere, Haiti Divisional Commander, as he leads his officers, soldiers, staff and volunteers in this entire recovery effort. Major Lamartiuere first encountered The Salvation Army in 1982 when a friend invited him to attend a Corps meeting in Port au Prince. He, as a Baptist, was so blessed, inspired and moved by the spirit of Salvationists in worship that when he went home to Petit Goave, he started a corps. Of course, as a non- Salvationist the work was not given official Corps status until eight years later when the, now Major and Divisional Commander, sent himself to the Army’s Training College in Kingston, Jamaica. Because his successor was a Salvation Army Officer, the work in Petit Goave was officially recognized. Major Lamartiuere said, “I understand the official and non official dates but, in my heart, the Corps opened in 1982.”

He added how happy he is that the relief effort will start in Petit Goave.

Monetary donations and prayer are the two most critical needs as supplies and personnel are mobilized

• Donors can text the word HAITI to 52000 to donate $10 to The Salvation Army’s relief efforts via their phone bill. It is important for donors to confirm their donation with the word, “yes.”
• Monetary donations can also be made through:
  • http://www.SAmilwaukee.org  and via PayPal
  • 1-800-264-6412
  • The Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters
    Haiti Relief Effort
    11315 W. Watertown Plank Rd.
    Wauwatosa, WI 53226
    *Please note that your donation is for Haiti Earthquake relief*
• Even before donations are processed, The Salvation Army is committing and spending money on relief efforts in Haiti. Donations are critical now and also help ensure that the long-term needs of the Haitian people are met.

The Salvation Army has had a presence in Haiti since 1950 and its personnel who were affected by the earthquake are now working to assist others in need

• The Salvation Army operates schools, clinics, hospital, feeding programs, children’s homes and church-related activities through some 60 Corps community centers across the country.
• For more information about The Salvation Army’s activity responding to the disaster in Haiti, please visit http://www.salvationarmyhaiti.org/ or their Facebook pages at http://bit.ly/8AAgWs  , http://bit.ly/6T7KHa, and http://bit.ly/6e9aUs.
• Bob Poff, the Director of Disaster Services for The Salvation Army in Haiti, shares his story about the earthquake here: http://bit.ly/721Jk2 .

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