THANKS FTF

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My mind can't seem to wrap around the idea of a title for this blog. How to summarize the turn of events since 4:53 Jan. 12th 2010. Hopefully writing will add some order to the confusion in my head. I am finally starting to feel much better. It is a surreal thing to be able to go from the devastation and in less than a day be able to use a phone, see a doctor within an hour, sleep indoors in a comfortable bed, eat when hungry, drive a car, get gas at will, hug your family..... It has been a busy week of interviews, developing plans to meet the requests of the people of Grand Boulage and Riviere Froide and fund raising. We already have over $10,000 on its way. $1000 got here before me even. Monday I will start transferring funds to Haiti and get the wheels literally rolling to provide sacks of cement so people will be able to start rebuilding their homes. It will be a challenge because we only have one truck lined up so far and it can only carry 400 sacks. The rains start in March/April. We estimate at minimum we will need 100-200 truckloads. Our first fund raising goal is to raise $500,000. The outpouring of support from our restaurant clientele and friends has been so incredible that I believe we can achieve this. My family is doing quiet well. The girls have been so courageous. They are focusing on catching up with their homework and sharing their experience. Kyla, who had the most difficult time in Haiti, has become our champion. Now that she has her cat friends to support her, she is the one who makes sure we don't over sleep in the morning and that all the dishes are done while the rest of us are falling asleep. For those of you brave enough to view the pictures and some video, they are now posted on our website at www.devilsgulchranch.com. There is also information there on how to donate to the recovery through our non profit, DGES, and a blog link to follow the progress. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the entire staff of POA Farmer to Farmer for all the help and support you have given us in getting us back to safety despite the hardship and lack of communication. Thank you for trusting my choice to stay until I knew everyone on the team was safe. And most importantly for your ongoing support to Makouti who are tirelessly, without respite, laying the first stones to salvage and rebuild Haiti. Myriam Kaplan-Pasternak DVM

Comments

  1. MeghanMonday, January 25, 2010

    Myriam, you are truly a champion volunteer. To have been through so much, and then while still in Haiti and even before you return you begin to raise funds and coordinate efforts to do more. Your story makes me think of part of Partners mission: "We not only dream of a better world, we roll up our sleeves and make a difference." Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. JessieTuesday, January 26, 2010

    Thank you Myriam (and your family!) for your continued dedication to Haiti and to the Farmer to Farmer program. We are so happy to hear that you are home safe and sound.

    ReplyDelete

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