With the transfer of an additional $101,500 to ecumenical partners in Haiti, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) through Presbyterian Disaster Assistance has now contributed more than a half-million dollars to immediate emergency relief in the island nation following the Jan. 12 earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands.
PDA Coordinator Randy Ackley announced the most recent money transfer on Feb. 17.
PDA sent $100,000 immediately after the January earthquake, using funds from the One Great Hour of Sharing offering, received each year at Easter time. An denomination-wide emergency appeal was issued and a few days later an additional $109,000 was sent to partners on the ground in Haiti.
These donations have helped the organization’s ecumenical partners to establish 15 food and water distribution stations, distribute 20,000 tents, and provide other needed services and supplies.
“In addition to providing immediate relief, we will continue to assess long-range recovery needs and develop a comprehensive plan to help the Haitian people rebuild their lives over the next several years,” said Ackley.
PDA has also approved a $200,000 grant to Hôspital Sainte Croix and an affiliated nursing school in Léogâne, Haiti.
More than $2.8 million has been gived to PDA’s Haiti account (DR#000064). Presbyterian Disaster Assistance continues to accept donations online; by phone at (800) 872-3283; and by mail: Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, P.O. Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
Presbyterians are contributing to Haiti relief in countless other ways, from the assembly of health and personal hygiene kits for shipment to Haiti, to special “Love offerings” received on Valentine’s Day Sunday. At least two PC(USA)-related racial ethnic schools — Menaul School in Albuquerque and Presbyterian Pan-American School in Kingsville, Texas — have conducted special fund-raising activities to gather donations for Haiti relief.
Susan Lindsey, senior communications associate, contributed to this story.