High in the mountains of Haiti, there is an orphanage run by a man named Wilner St-Fort. Once an orphan himself, he began, about 3 years ago, to take care of some of Haiti’s street kids. Originally, his orphanage was in the heart of Port-Au-Prince. But when he could no longer afford the $1500 yearly rent, he remained determined to keep his kids safe and moved the orphanage to a small parcel of land in Haiti’s mountainside.It is important for everyone to understand that a Haitian orphanage is nothing more than an open lot that may or may not be surrounded by cement walls. The children usually sleep outside on the ground, exposed to the elements. There is very little in the way of sanitation because there is no running water. Few have electricity. The advantage these orphans have over the children living in the street is a sense of belonging and a sense of security. But there is a constant struggle for survival because food is so expensive and money is so scarce. The situation was dire before the earthquake, it is unimaginable now.
While I was doing relief work in Haiti at a small NGO (MMRC), we got a call from Wilner informing us that he was out of food and supplies. We packed the truck and made the 3 ½ hour trek up the mountain to make a delivery of food and other essential items. While there, Wilner asked if I would like to buy one of the necklaces made by his wife and the kids. I asked him if the kids could make a big bunch of them, so that I could take them back to the U.S. and sell them to help raise funds for his orphanage. Later, I made the same offer to the other Haitian orphanages. All the money raised from selling these necklaces goes directly to providing food, medication, educational material and shelter for some of Haiti’s most vulnerable children.
Diana Heimann has been kind enough to show case these beautiful necklaces in her store. Please help support some of the sweetest children you will ever meet. Diana’s store is located in the lobby of The Ritz Carlton Westchester in White Plains, New York.
Diana's contact info:
http://www.dianaheimann.com
3 Renaissance Sq
White Plains, NY
914-467-5880
Thank You,
Cory Gould
I have these fabulous necklaces and am constantly complimented which thrills me because I get the chance to explain how much love each represents. These precious jewels remind me of what Mother Teresa said, "Good works create a chain of love." (or something like that) Each of these necklaces & bracelets is a 'chain of love', indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much. I know it seems like such a little bit of money, but it makes a huge difference in the life's of these kids. xox Cory
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