August 17, 2021
Your Urgent Assistance is Needed
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Friends of the Children Respond to Haiti’s Devastating Earthquake
On Saturday, August 14, 2021, a devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake killed 1,419 people and injured nearly 7,000 in southern Haiti. These staggering numbers are expected to increase as search and rescue efforts continue. Local hospitals are inundated with victims, and desperately in need of medical supplies and staff. The earthquake also destroyed and damaged more than 36,000 homes. Aftershocks were felt after the earthquake, and they continue. Many people and families are sleeping in the streets, afraid to enter existing cement buildings. Lack of food, supplies, shelter and sanitization will plague the area for quite a while. To further complicate rescue operations, Tropical Depression Grace slammed the southern coast of Haiti on August 16 and 17, 2021, bringing sustained, damaging winds, heavy rain and more mudslides. Ironically, Friends of the Children completed a 12-day Haitian run medical clinic the day the earthquake struck. Located approximately 60 miles from the epicenter, Friends of the Children’s Haitian medical team, equipped with medical supplies and medications, will embark on the treacherous journey to the disaster site once the storm passes. They will assist the first responders and help staff the local hospital. We are beyond grateful for their virtuous efforts, bravery and compassion. We pray for their safety. To sustain this life saving mission, we have set a goal to raise $25,000. These funds will provide additional medications, supplies and essential items such as tents and tarps to support efforts in the disaster communities. If you would like to contribute, please use the “Donate” button below or send a check to: Friends of the Children 1643 N. Alpine Road Suite 104-203 Rockford, IL 61107 From the bottom of our hearts we thank you!! |
Above: Current housing arrangements
Below: Overflow patients at the hospital in Les Cayes 
Photos courtesy of NPR
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10 December 2020
Challenging Times
Donations are Needed for the December Clinic
2020 has been a year like no other. Like all of us, the challenges endured by our friends in LaMontagne, Haiti were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. But their challenges are compounded by the fact that they have so little access to healthcare. The situation is more dire than ever.
But the pandemic has also brought out the best in us. Despite the hardships that 2020 has placed on so many, we have learned that a very generous, anonymous donor has established a matching fund and has committed to match all the donations made to the Friends of the Children’s year end campaign.
This could not have come at a better time! Travel restrictions and the coronavirus have temporarily prevented our American team of physicians, nurses and lay volunteers to staff our medical clinic in LaMontagne. However the extensive training we provided over many years to our Haitian healthcare providers, including Dr. Oberson Plonquet, Pierre Oreus, Jr. and the Caritas staff has allowed our medical clinics to continue. Two clinics — one in May and the other one in October—were successfully completed by our trained Haitian staff. A third clinic is scheduled for mid-December. The outcomes of these Haitian-staffed clinics is nothing short of incredible! Several hundred patients with chronic medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes were evaluated and given a six-month supply of medication. Many other patients were treated for severe infections, malnutrition, debilitating arthritic pain, and related disorders, among other illnesses and diseases.
Your help, along with the funds from our benefactor will allow this life saving medical assistance to continue. Between now and December 31, 2020, 100% of your donation will be matched by our generous donor! This is an unprecedented opportunity for your donation to have TWICE its original impact! We realize these are difficult times for many, so any donation will be most appreciated.
Thank you in advance for your ongoing support. May this holiday season offer peace, good health and happiness to you and your family!
Friends of the Children Board of Directors
Donations are Needed for the December Clinic
2020 has been a year like no other. Like all of us, the challenges endured by our friends in LaMontagne, Haiti were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. But their challenges are compounded by the fact that they have so little access to healthcare. The situation is more dire than ever.
But the pandemic has also brought out the best in us. Despite the hardships that 2020 has placed on so many, we have learned that a very generous, anonymous donor has established a matching fund and has committed to match all the donations made to the Friends of the Children’s year end campaign.
This could not have come at a better time! Travel restrictions and the coronavirus have temporarily prevented our American team of physicians, nurses and lay volunteers to staff our medical clinic in LaMontagne. However the extensive training we provided over many years to our Haitian healthcare providers, including Dr. Oberson Plonquet, Pierre Oreus, Jr. and the Caritas staff has allowed our medical clinics to continue. Two clinics — one in May and the other one in October—were successfully completed by our trained Haitian staff. A third clinic is scheduled for mid-December. The outcomes of these Haitian-staffed clinics is nothing short of incredible! Several hundred patients with chronic medical conditions such as hypertension and diabetes were evaluated and given a six-month supply of medication. Many other patients were treated for severe infections, malnutrition, debilitating arthritic pain, and related disorders, among other illnesses and diseases.
Your help, along with the funds from our benefactor will allow this life saving medical assistance to continue. Between now and December 31, 2020, 100% of your donation will be matched by our generous donor! This is an unprecedented opportunity for your donation to have TWICE its original impact! We realize these are difficult times for many, so any donation will be most appreciated.
Thank you in advance for your ongoing support. May this holiday season offer peace, good health and happiness to you and your family!
Friends of the Children Board of Directors
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Past News
January 13, 2020
Your Help Is Needed
Ten years ago, on January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti causing 300,000 deaths. International pledges for support poured in amounting to billions of pledged dollars for rebuilding the country and improving infrastructure including hospitals, schools and hope for jobs. As has happened so many times in Haiti, the actual support and progress never materialized.
More recently the population has mobilized to protest the current president with claims of corruption and siphoning off pledged money. The country has been crushed with escalating fuel prices, rampant inflation and food insecurity. The protests forced us to cancel our fall mission trip. This is the first time in years that we felt this was necessary.
Things have stabilized significantly since so that we believe that travel is again possible.
Our next trip is scheduled for the end of March.
We are looking forward to returning to continue to work with our team of Haitian partners.
The need is more acute than ever and
we depend on your generous support to continue our work.
And, please save May 1, 2020 for our next DANCING FOR HAITIANS FUNDRAISER.
It will be at the Radisson again this year and look forward to seeing you!!
Ten years ago, on January 12, 2010, a devastating earthquake struck Haiti causing 300,000 deaths. International pledges for support poured in amounting to billions of pledged dollars for rebuilding the country and improving infrastructure including hospitals, schools and hope for jobs. As has happened so many times in Haiti, the actual support and progress never materialized.
More recently the population has mobilized to protest the current president with claims of corruption and siphoning off pledged money. The country has been crushed with escalating fuel prices, rampant inflation and food insecurity. The protests forced us to cancel our fall mission trip. This is the first time in years that we felt this was necessary.
Things have stabilized significantly since so that we believe that travel is again possible.
Our next trip is scheduled for the end of March.
We are looking forward to returning to continue to work with our team of Haitian partners.
The need is more acute than ever and
we depend on your generous support to continue our work.
And, please save May 1, 2020 for our next DANCING FOR HAITIANS FUNDRAISER.
It will be at the Radisson again this year and look forward to seeing you!!
Friends of the Children Medical Mission
September 2018
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Dear Friends,
Your support and commitment to Friends of the Children directly benefits the thousands of patients who visit our clinic twice a year. Approximately 400 of our patients have chronic medical conditions such as hypertension diabetes, asthma, and seizures. |
During each mission patients are re-evaluated and provided a six-month supply of medications. As you can image the resources necessary to provide this quality of medication is significant. It is only through your generosity that this level of healthcare can be continued. |
We thank you - our Haitian patients thank you from the bottom of their hearts.
Our Mission
Our Mission Statement:
Friends of the Children reinforces the development of individual and the collective capacity in Haiti and other developing countries by cooperating in the compassionate healthcare and educational support of its people.
Our practice in delivering medical care prioritizes treatment to those acutely ill or injured. Simultaneously, education is provided in order to promote health habits and disease prevention. Our goal is to teach the people so they don't have recurrences of the illnesses or problems. We also provide education and medical supplies to the area midwives and Caritas healthcare workers.
Friends of the Children reinforces the development of individual and the collective capacity in Haiti and other developing countries by cooperating in the compassionate healthcare and educational support of its people.
Our practice in delivering medical care prioritizes treatment to those acutely ill or injured. Simultaneously, education is provided in order to promote health habits and disease prevention. Our goal is to teach the people so they don't have recurrences of the illnesses or problems. We also provide education and medical supplies to the area midwives and Caritas healthcare workers.
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The Children - Haiti
Currently, one in five children in Haiti are malnourished...one in ten are acutely malnourished, and one in 14 will die before reaching the age of five. The effects of acute and chronic malnutrition are life-long. Severe malnutrition suffered in the first two years of life in Haiti results in irreversible physical and mental disabilities.
Our Next Mission Trip
December 2020
