“Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked,
to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?” Isaiah 58:7
Disaster Strikes South Haiti
On Saturday, August 14, 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake occurred in the southern part of Haiti. More than 2,200 people were killed in the quake when homes, hospitals, and churches collapsed. Just over 12,200 people were injured and 130,000 houses were damaged or destroyed. Haiti’s Office of Civil Protection stated that about 800,000 people were affected.
With the help of our friends and partners, Love A Child responded after the earthquake by working with our Haitian staff and local contacts in the affected areas, including Mayor Yvrose in Jérémie. Together, food and emergency supplies were distributed throughout southern Haiti, including rice, beans, cooking oil, and other much-needed items.
Mayor Yvrose, a strong Christian woman, worked tirelessly to help her people. During the days Bobby and Sherry were there, she barely rested. At one point, she laid cardboard on the ground near the food supplies just to lie down for a short moment before continuing the work of distribution.
These photos show the early days of disaster relief, when food and supplies were being prepared and distributed to families who had lost so much.
Everyone came together to help, including the children from the Love A Child Children’s Home. Donated blankets, sheets, handmade children’s clothing, medications, and other disaster relief supplies were prepared and distributed to families who had lost so much.
After more than 2,200 family tents were given out, Bobby and Sherry could not stop thinking about the families sleeping in temporary shelters. The tents provided immediate protection, but they were never meant to be a permanent solution.
The tents were for the people to sleep in who had lost EVERYTHING. But the tents would not last forever.
Each Gabion House costs more than $9,000 to build and includes three bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen. The three-bedroom design is important because many Haitian families live with extended family members, including grandparents, cousins, and other loved ones who also need a safe place to stay.
Love A Child continues building these homes as funds are available. Every gift helps provide a strong, lasting home for a family rebuilding after disaster.
We are so thankful for the friends and partners who make this work possible. Pastor Gregory Dickow of Life Changers Church International helped launch this project with the first $45,000 for the first five homes.
We cannot do this alone. Together, we are helping poor families in South Haiti move from temporary shelter into safe, strong homes.
Love is something you do!
On February 11, 2022, Love A Child dedicated the very first Gabion House to its new owners in South Haiti. It was a powerful moment of celebration, answered prayer, and new beginnings for families who had lost so much.
Since then, more families have continued moving into strong, safe Gabion Houses. Each home represents more than shelter. It gives a family dignity, stability, and a place to begin again.
This project is especially meaningful because the materials are local, and Haitian workers are being hired to build the homes. The Gabion House project not only provides safe housing for families, but also helps create much-needed jobs in South Haiti.
From the beginning, the workers have shown incredible dedication. Their commitment reflects the heart of this project: when there is a need, we come together and help solve it.
Thank you for “hearing the cry of the poor” and providing your support… Our office number is (239) 210-6107; call or donate securely using your credit card. You may also give online at www.loveachild.com, or by mail to Love A Child – 12411 Commerce Lakes Drive, Fort Myers, Florida 33913.
Update:
Close to where the August 2021 earthquake struck, another earthquake hit on January 24, 2022, in an area called Anse-à-Veau in the Nippes. More homes were lost, and many families were injured and seeking aid. Not one of the Gabion Houses built in this area was damaged.
Love A Child continues to build Gabion Houses in response to both earthquakes. Families continue moving into these homes as they are completed.
Local staff is being hired, which is very encouraging considering the great need for jobs in Haiti. By using local labor and local materials, this project helps Haitians help themselves and their communities.
Each home has enough outdoor space for families to grow their own gardens. We are thankful for Hope Seeds, which has helped provide seeds for planting.
Even as Haiti continues to face serious challenges, Love A Child continues moving forward with this project as the Lord provides. Each Gabion House offers a family safety, stability, and a stronger foundation for the future.
The Lord continues to answer prayers through this work.
Love is something you do.