In the weeks  since the massive earthquake that devastated Haiti, people all over America, (including JNESO members), have shown great generosity in giving relief efforts to help those suffering from the quake and its aftermath.

To that end, the International Union of Operating Engineers (JNESO’s International) are pledging to match all donations to the International Union’s Charity Fund, dollar-for-dollar, which will go to support rebuilding efforts in Haiti. From the IUOE’s letter to member unions:

It now has been three weeks since the 7.0-magnitude earthquake devastated the island nation of Haiti and its people.  The Haitian people for the most part always have been impoverished.  What little they may have had is now gone and they desperately need help.

The words, pictures and videos in the daily media describe in graphic detail the destruction wreaked by the earthquake.  The crumbled buildings, the crushed bodies, the dead piled on city streets, the maimed lying helpless are horrific sights.

The most gripping images are those of the survivors.  They have nothing and need everything, from water, food and shelter to medical care.  They need a helping hand as they strive to surmount the horrendous carnage and to put their lives back together.

The world has opened its heart to them, as relief supplies and medical assistance is pouring into the country.  First-responders, medical professionals and volunteers are doing heroic work in providing sustenance, care and hope to the survivors.  More – much more – still is needed.

As you know, Operating Engineers historically have been most generous in responding to calls for help for victims of natural and man-made disasters; we take pride in helping those less fortunate.

Accordingly, at the meeting of the General Executive Board yesterday, the Board members authorized asking every local union, on behalf of its officers and members, to make a voluntary monetary donation to the International Union’s Charity Fund.  The Charity Fund will match dollar for dollar all donations received.

Please make your check payable to:  “Operating Engineers Charity Fund – Haiti” and forward it as soon as possible to my attention at International headquarters.  We assure you the monies received will be put to good use to assist the people of Haiti.

Thank you in advance for your humanitarian kindness and generosity.

Fraternally,

Vincent J. Giblin
IUOEGeneral President

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The following are a list of resources for Nurses looking to get help with relief efforts in Haiti following Tuesday’s devastating earthquake. We will update with more information and links as they become available. For the latest news, we recommend the BBC’s live Haiti updates: http://news.bbc.co.uk/

Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders are sending nurses to Haiti who have previously worked with the group.  If you have experience with DWB and would like to help, contact Jeannette Gabriel at (732) 745-2776 or at jgabriel@jneso.org.

You can find out more information about DWB, as well as donation information at their website: http://doctorswithoutborders.org/

Registered Nurse Response Network
Organized by the California Nurses Association and the Nation Nurses Organizing Committee, the Registered Nurse Response Network is a national network of direct-care RNs that coordinates sending volunteer RNs to disaster stricken areas. For information about the group and how to sign-up, go to:  http://www.calnurses.org/rnrn/rnrn-volunteer-form.html

The Red Cross
The Red Cross is accepting donations through its International Response Fund.

You can also text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross relief efforts for Haiti. The amount will be added to your cell phone credit card bill.

Partners In Health
PiH has been operating in Haiti since 1987, originally to deliver health care to the residents of Haiti’s mountainous Central Plateau region. PiH now also operates clinics in Port au Prince and other major Haitian cities. With hospitals and a highly trained medical staff in place, Partners In Health is already mobilizing resources and preparing plans to bring medical assistance and supplies to areas that have been hardest hit.

Donations to help earthquake relief efforts will be quickly routed to the disaster:  www.pih.org

MADRE
The women’s group MADRE has also worked in Haiti for many years, supporting community-based organizations, and has activated an emergency response through its partner organization,
Zanmi Lasante Clinic. The doctors, nurses and community health workers there are working to bring medical
assistance and supplies to areas that have been hardest hit.

MADRE’s partners are expert at reaching those in crisis and stretching resources to meet the myriad needs facing Haitian women and families. Donate at: www.madre.org

UNICEF
Despite heavy damages to its own offices in Port-au-Prince, (and the loss of between 100 to 150 United Nations workers at the destroyed UN Mission in Haiti) the UN relief organization UNICEF is coordinating donations of things like blankets, toothpaste, canned food and other basic staples.

Call 1-800-4UNICEF or go to unicef.org for information.

U.S. Government
The U.S. State Department has also set up a toll-free number for Americans to check on U.S. citizens living in the disaster zone, and the White House blog includes aid resource information as well.

There are numerous ways to help groups already on the
ground. One of the best,

Teams from the group Doctors Without Borders
(http://doctorswithoutborders.org/)
were already working on medical projects in Haiti and have
been treating victims of the quake since yesterday.
Gifts to to the group’s new Haiti Earthquake Response
(https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=197&hbc=1&source=ADR1001E1D01)
will support emergency medical care for the men, women,
and children affected by the earthquake in Haiti.