Thanks for supporting orphan children in Haiti

In this season of Thanksgiving, the authors of this letter want to express their heartfelt thanks to all the people who have reached out over the past year to help the children of La Judee Orphanage in Gonaives, Haiti.

A particular thank you is extended to all those who participated the wonderful hymn sing evening held on September 26th at the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, and organized by the Prince Edward Lecture Series in support of the Orphanage. Our special thanks go to to Jeanette Arsenault and Kim Inch (of Trinity), Sarah Barrett Harris and Michael Goodwin who provided the music, and to the local businesses that helped to sponsor the event. On that evening we raised over $4000.

While this event provided a much-needed boost, the Orphanage still faces an ongoing need for resources.  A year ago we launched the “500 Club” to provide continuing support to the growing number of children of the La Judee Orphanage. If 500 people each give one dollar per week, the children at the Orphanage can be fed and sheltered on an ongoing basis. This is the aim of the “500 Club”.

The Orphanage is housed in the Bethel Pentecostal Church in Gonaives, Haiti, and is under the care of the Pastor there, Ismorin Noel and his wife Louise. They have dedicated their lives to caring for, raising and educating the children of the Orphanage.  However, without any major benefactor, the Orphanage faces a constant struggle for support. Recent natural disasters have brought additional challenges. The town of Gonaives was devastated by by 4 major hurricanes within four weeks in 2008, an event unprecedented in living memory. And following the earthquake in January 2010, the Orphanage took in even more children.

We are thankful for all those who have supported the Orphanage through their membership in the 500 Club – which stands at 250 members at this time. Through their generosity, $20,000 has been raised for the Orphanage over the past year – one dollar at a time. Every dollar given goes directly to the support and care of the children. There are no overhead or administrative costs.  Everyone involved is donating their time and services. Donations to the Orphanage qualify for a tax receipt through a registered Canadian charity.

If you can spare a dollar per week – that’s less than 15 cents per day – to help support the children of the La Judee Orphanage in Gonaives, Haiti, and you want to join the “500 Club”, you can email us at HaitiOrphanProject@gmail.com or call Robert Wilson at 613-476-7177.

Michael Smith and Robert Wilson