3rd Supply/Tent Trip another BIG success!
Guy Valcourt, Michael Samnik, Joel Dallow, Tom O'Connor and Jay McClure returned to Port au Prince on March 1st with another batch of supplies and tents for Crepsac Circle.
Please read their reflections of the trip below:
Guy's Reflections on the Trip
I don't know how to begin to thank everyone in Alpharetta and Atlanta for all that they have done to support my friends and family in Haiti! Please know that what you have done has saved lives and it continues to meet the basic needs of many who have so little.
It was nice to go down and see the Crepsac relief effort in action! We have some great leadership in place and they are working so hard to feed and care for the kids in need! Everyone my block is now eating a good meal everyday and for that I am so thankful!
Wednesday was a very emotional day for me. I was just overcome with the emotion of gratitude and I did my best to share with the kids how others had sacrificed so much for them. I am so please to be part of this great thing that we are all doing! The government and relief organizations are not doing enough and I just hope we can do more! We have got to find a way to help these kids, not only with food and aid, but also to teach them how to take care of themselves or else they are not going to make it.
Thank you everyone for all of your help!
Michael's Reflections on the Trip
Port-au-Prince was much cleaner this time around and the bugs are not nearly as bad as on the last two trips. I was pleased to see that all of the kids of Crepsac Circle are in much better health. Dazlo, Ticam, and the others are now much healthier and happier! The sleeping and living arrangements are now 1000% better at Crepsac Circle but I am still concerned about their quality of life with the rainy season coming. The funniest moment of the trip for me occurred with one of the Crepsac kids, Evans. He is convinced that I am now his dad and he is going to come back with me to the US. I was showing him some pictures of my family and home and when I got to a photo of my son Michael, he asked if that was his brother. The next picture had my home in the background and he quickly injected that he loved the picture of his new house! Another great moment of the trip was playing music from my iPod for the group. The Crepsac kids' favorite is none other than Michael Jackson. Seeing all of the kids getting down to Thriller is something I'll never forget! I am so proud to be a part of this incredible effort that is making a life or death difference in these people's lives!
Tom's Reflections on the Trip
I am overwhelmed by the destruction but relative to the last trip, things look better and the smell is better, too, but there is still a long way to go! A trip that started with such frustration turned into quite a victory as we got the tents up and the supplies organized and distributed! The kids of Crepsac Circle are as happy as they can be. They truly know how to be joyous in any circumstance!
Lovely, Manuel, and Pascal are doing an amazing job of taking care of the kids. The daily meal program that we are supporting is amazing to see in action and works much like a school lunch program. Early every afternoon, everyone gathers for a big meal, a big bottle of juice, and two bags of water. The cost of this amounts to about $3 per kid. They are also given water four times a day.
The people of Haiti get more out of nothing than anything I have ever seen! I almost feel guilty because what I have received from these people far outweighs what I have given! The most powerful moment for me was when Guy gave his speech before Thursday's meal. I could not understand a word being said but felt the intense emotion. There was not a dry eye in the place. What we have done is remarkable. We have truly built a community together! One of the most interesting moments of the trip for me was a small international summit we had late one night at Alex's cousin's home where we stayed. The five us had a chance to talk at length with five Haitian's including one national senator who was staying at the house, too. We all agreed that the biggest problem with the charitable relief organizations is that they bring in all of their own employees who need to be paid which greatly reduces the actual amount of money given for relief. They also are guilty of doing everything for the people in need. We agreed that the best solution is for the organizations to teach and empower the Haitian's how to improve their lives, and to employ and use Haitians as we do. This leaves more money to be spent on relief and gets the Haitians involved in the clean up efforts instead of sitting around with their hands out. I hope and pray that we can continue to care for the kids of Crepsac Circle. I hope that my family can adopt a little girl named Dashne. I hope that we are ultimately able to bring many of these kids to the US but also help them keep their heritage and community. I hope we can help the kids who stay in Haiti by building an academy for them. I know if we continue to give our best, the good Lord will continue to guide us as He has over the past few months....
The love given to us by the people of Haiti has been so pure and unconditional that I am motivated to give back even more to my family, friends, and others when I return to the US. I am so proud to be a part of this group and this effort!
Joel's Reflections on the Trip
I am so glad I got to go and the trip greatly exceeded my expectations! I was nervous about going down and it was a lot of hard work, but I am surprised at how much fun I had and all of the people were just phenomenal!
Within 5 minutes, I was in love with all of the kids and they had completely stolen my heart! I am so relieved that we were able to get the supplies to Haiti as I have never seen so many people without anything. I gave everything I took with me away - my sleeping bag, my watch, my clothes, my money. It is overwhelming how much we have and how much they don't have! Much has been said about the kids of Crepsac Circle, but the women of Crepsac deserve recognition for their hard work. They cook for the group all morning and seem to always be working hard doing something. I never felt in danger once while in Haiti. As many people reading this as possible need to find a way to go down and help because these people need help and our effort must be ongoing. For me, this was a life-changing experience!
Jay's Reflections on the Trip
I am so glad to have had the chance to make this trip! I fell in love with the people of Haiti, especially the kids. They are all so friendly and gregarious. There is not a shy bone in their body.
Shortly after I met them, they were already holding my hand and climbing all over me. They are in desperate need of love and attention. The people of Haiti are so resilient. We take so much for granted in America. The temperature there is so hot all of the time and the gnats are constantly at you. It is in the 90's in the day and 70's at night, and there is not any AC anywhere. We have so many luxuries like hot water and cable TV that are not a part of this culture. We have much to be thankful for that we take for granted everyday!
Driving around town, we saw trash and broken rocks everywhere. It is going to take them a long time to clean up this mess! The saddest part of the trip is the kids that are not on the Crepsac Circle roll call list. They sit outside on the street while the others get to eat. My hope is that this movement can grow larger to be able to reach more! The most touching moment of the trip for me was when Evans said his prayer that last day. They have so little but his prayer was all about how lucky they are! I have never seen such a humble, thankful heart! And then he said that he wants to grow up and be like us and help others. That about put me over the top....
The trip to Petionville was mind-boggling. These people are so desperate.
Giving out shoes to them was crazy. We were trying to fit them for sizes but as soon as we would pull out a pair, they would grab them whether they fit or not. The whole bag of shoes was gone in like 15 minutes.
Operation Crepsac Circle - Rebuilding Haiti One Street at a time
Our Mission:
1) Support the people of Crepsac Circle
2) Support the people of Heartbreak Alley
3) Help Guy get his son, mom, & sister to the US
4) Continue to collect & send supplies to Port-au-Prince
5) Fund future Haiti mission trips to help those most in need
6) Find a role in helping Haitian orphans find new homes in the US
Newest Video Slideshow - 2nd Supply Trip - Feb 7-12th
Please make checks payable to:
Helping Hands
c/o James Williamson
4460 Park Brooke Trace
Alpharetta, GA 30022
Operation Help Haiti
To donate clothes, medical supplies, toiletries, etc., please deliver to the house of:
Desiree Stoute and Scott Siegel
10400 Forest Bridge Drive
Alpharetta, GA 30022
770-878-0131
BULK ITEMS NEEDED:
PEANUT BUTTER
GRANOLA BARS
RICE
CANNED VEGGIES
TUNA
CRACKERS
OATMEAL
