Updates to all that is happening ...

Update February 11, 2010   Our children/staff/families are all accounted for. We are regularly in touch with them. Slowly, life is returning to some semblance of routine. They come each day, gather as a community, eat, talk, dance play, make art. None are physically injured. The emotional impact has been huge and they are depressed even though they smile for the camera. Anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder are setting in.
Jen and Guy Pantaleon of Zanmi Lakay make an annual trip to Haiti to conduct photo workshops with ACFFC and also with a group in Cite Soleil. They decided not to cancel when the earthquake struck, headed in via the Dominican Republic and have been in Jacmel for the past few weeks. They have been absolutely amazing, organizing activities for the city of Jacmel, helping coordinate relief work with our team, as well as going forward with the workshop (more normalcy for the children). They brought the young men they sponsor in Jacmel who make music (hip hop) together with ACFFC as they have in the past, together also with the Cine Institute group. Yesterday, they held a Fete, to show the photographs taken by the group to family and friends, and tents were presented as well. Incredible! (Tents have a story - Jen called her sister who was able to purchase tents from the manufacturer at cost, arrange to ship them to the Dominican Republic, have them flown in. Read -'no large aid organizations involved'!)

We have finally received aid, 8,000 pounds of food, airlifted in from the Dominican Republic, thanks to G.O. Ministries (see below). We received a most recent shipment donation just this past Monday (February 8). The children, staff, families will continue to eat without waiting in line for hours at tent cities. This is how it works. (Again - read, 'no help from the "big guys" who get the millions of dollars in donations!)

Schools will not be open in Jacmel for some time. We are bring in teachers to begin classes at the Foundatoin to add one more level of normalcy to a horrific abnormal situation.

WE NEED ALL THE HELP WE CAN GET NOW AND FOR A VERY LONG TIME TO COME!



UPDATE - February 2 2010
Everything seems to happen because of connections via twitter, facebook, emails, etc. I was directed to the amazing people at GO Ministries who said they would help us and actually did! They sent a plane from the DR with 2500 lbs of food and supplies, we were able to coordinate, unload, etc. And then we received a call that a second plane was to land and as they could not reach designated recipients, could we manage to unload/use/share another 2500 lbs of food and supplies. Yes and back everyone went ... We will have photos but internet not working the last few days in Jacmel.Astounding, amazing and we are so grateful - These folks are incredible. http://www.go-ministries.org/


UPDATE - February 1 2010 - our friends Jen and Guy Pantaleon of www.zanmilakay.org who partner with us all the time are now in Jacmel with our children. For a full report, please go to ACFFC blog or to http://www.zanmilakayblog.org/ to read and also to view images. Very difficult, sad, powerful.

January 20 2010
Another earthquake today ... everyone is frightened yet still ok. We are grateful. Still no significant aid into Jacmel. We have several days food left so we are keeping our fingers crossed. Please click on link to blog and/or Facebook Cause page for continuous updates. Mesi anpil.

January 19 2010 - People keep asking what to do to help.

1- Please donate as much as you can. We need funds desperately!

2- CAM and Western Union will be open in the next few days and we can send money to buy food from CAM which is a wholesaler. They will try to deliver in Jacmel.

3- People from the countryside are coming in with vegetables, etc. and we need cash to buy.

4- The children are all pulling together as a family

5- ACFFC is becoming a central coordinating agency in Jacmel.

6- We are trying to find a way to Jacmel via the Dominican Republic to bring in supplies and hope to be able to do so asap.

I spoke with several of the children just now as well as Georges Metellus - they were able to get through - and they are all heroes and thank you for everything you are doing for them.

January 13 2010- Many of you have contacted us regarding the situation in Jacmel and the well being of our ACFFC family. The answer is, we have not yet had any word. We do know that much of Jacmel has been destroyed. We also know that our children are a true community and I have to assume and wish and hope that they are ok and if they are, I know that they are out there doing what they can, as the did post hurricanes. They became mini-rescue teams. We do have a month's supply of food (assuming our building is standing) and water as well. All we can do is wait which is very difficult. I know that our needs will be great and I ask that you please contribute whatever you can, knowing that we will hold funds until we know how to best use them for rescue efforts. Our children, our staff, their families and all of Jacmel need your help. We make every dollar stretch as if $2 or $3 so please do what you can. I will post as I have information. Blessings. Judy Hoffman