Another Opportunity to Help in Haiti

Last night, Lori Asay (my neighbor) came over to my home and gave me some information about her mother and brother (a dentist) and others who are heading to Haiti at the end of this month to help, in conjunction with the LDS Church, the people of Haiti.

Here's the story -- Bret Tobler, a local dentist, has made many trips to Haiti to serve the people with his skill of dentistry. In the past, he would make trips, along with other dentists, for a week at a time and the people of Haiti would walk for miles and miles to stand in lines for hours (beginning at 3 a.m.) just to get a chance to have their teeth worked on. There are many touching stories of the people there and this blog doesn't have enough room to write them all, but suffice it to say that the service these dentists (and doctors) gave was a god send to these wonderful people who they described as having "the biggest hearts on the planet".

Now, here is where YOU can help. This group of doctors and dentists will be going down at the end of the month and meeting up with members of the LDS humanitarian group that are already there and/or on their way to Haiti. That group is prepping everything now in the nation's LDS meeting houses, which will be used as clinics.

Here is the great part -- NONE OF THIS has to be shipped (thus, no shipping costs to take off the top of the donations). Their "luggage" will be the supplies that we donate. Their carry-on luggage is all that they can use to bring their personal items. All the other pieces of their luggage will be medical supplies.

Here is what is needed:

Sterile saline bottles (lots)
Hibiclens bottles (you might have a difficult time finding these)
Neosporin (the dollar store has them for $1 and they work just as well as the name brand)
Gauze pads
Kerlex Wraps
Ace Wraps
Coban
Adaptic Vaseline Gauze
Bandages
Arm Slings
Gloves
Crutches (which can be taken apart to fit in suitcases)
Splinting material

Look at the dollar store, the medical supply stores, WalMart, Target, K-Mart, Sam's Club, or if anyone wants to put together a big "order" for your ward, neighborhood, etc., you could call StatMedical in Salt Lake City (you can find them on the web) and they LOVE to help with things like this and can have the order ready for you quickly. I have worked with them in the past and they are FABULOUS.

At any rate, if you can pull together ANYTHING (big or small), please call Lori Asay and arrange to meet her to donate your items. If you think that just a little donation of a box of bandages won't help, think again. There are a lot of good groups out there helping and each one needs help from someone -- and even just a small donation from a lot of people will make a HUGE difference.

Oh, I forgot to mention the name of the humanitarian group -- it is called IASK and here is a link where you can read all about them and their past experiences. http://www.iask4kids.org/docs/IASK_Mag_2005.pdf Look all the way through the newsletter because there is great and helpful information all the way to the end (spattered between all the ads :)... They obviously have lots of experience in Haiti and know the people well. It is 100% non-profit with no paid staff. Participants go at their own expense.

PLEASE, IF YOU CAN DONATE ANYTHING, please give Lori a call and help this group out. Her number is 801-373-2665 and her email is Lori.Asay@imail.org .

I am so touched by all the stories I am hearing of fundraising and donations to the people in Haiti. You will be blessed for your sacrifice.

Thank you!

Susan