An Update: The Children of New Jerusalem Orphanage in Haiti

At our recent Haiti Committee meeting we received an update about how Pastor Kenold Chrispin and the children of the New Jerusalem Orphanage fared during the terrible storms that devastated Haiti. Patrice Schwermer has been in phone and email contact with Pastor Kenold and learned that the children were safe and that he had been able to offer shelter to some of his neighbors.

In a more recent email, we learned that Pastor Kenold has emergency needs for food and supplies for the children and their teachers. The committee discussed these needs and decided that we would send him funds from our Haiti Account. Fortunately, someone from the diocese will be leaving for Haiti this week and will take these funds directly to Pastor Kenold for the needs of the children.

The funds that we have sent are funds that YOU have so generously given in the three collections that have been taken and earmarked for our Haiti project. So YOU will have made it possible for Pastor Kenold to buy food and supplies for the children and their teachers. I know they will be very grateful for any help we are able to give them.

Members of the Haiti Committee also spoke about fundraising projects for the future. Some of the ideas include St. Elizabeth T-Shirts, bus trips, selling candy and "pennies from Heaven", which is collecting people's extra change. You will hear more about these projects as plans take shape. The Youth Group has also become involved and they have begun making greeting cards for the children.

As our parish becomes more involved in this project, you will be learning more about the children of the New Jerusalem Orphanage and how you can help make their lives easier.