Dear Friends of PIP,

At 4:47 p.m. on Tuesday, January 12, 2010, a 7.0 earthquake shook Haiti, collapsing much of the capital of Port au Prince and causing widespread destruction. A series of aftershocks – many of which themselves were classified as “large earthquakes” – continued to collapse buildings made vulnerable by the first quake, rendering them uninhabitable and forcing survivors to remain outdoors through the night.

We know the devastation is severe, but thus far – with phone lines down and electricity scarce – we have only scant information about any of our friends and partners who live and work in the areas that were so severely shaken.

Already our friends and supporters are asking “How can we help?” We first invite your prayers for the immediate victims of the devastation and their families and for those who will suffer in the days ahead as the effects are compounded. Contributions to provide immediate disaster relief can be made to:

• Catholic Relief Services
• The American Red Cross

It is too early to know how best to respond to the needs our own partners, particularly the Association of Peasants of Fondwa (APF) and Centre d’Intervention Jeunesse (CIJ), but also the schools, churches and other projects in and near Port au Prince that receive support from PIP. We anticipate there will be significant need for disaster assistance. Therefore, we are immediately setting up an "Earthquake Relief" fund that will help us respond to their needs.

DONATIONS can be made through our online DONATE NOW feature, or checks marked "Earthquake Relief" can be mailed to:

Partners in Progress
329 N. Fairfield Street
Ligonier, PA 15658

We will continue to update you via the PIP e-news distribution list and my blog. If you are not currently a member of the e-newsletter and would like to be kept updated, please register here.

Thank you,

Rich Gosser
Executive Director

Partners in Progress (PIP)

is helping the organized poor in HAITI help themselves (with a hand UP not a hand OUT)

Photo by Jim Hemphill

to overcome:

• lifetimes of misery
• chronic scarcity of resources
• decades of environmental degradation

through

• self reliance
• grassroots democracy
• communal organization

Become a partner in THEIR progress today!