I’ve been in many slums and many tent cities since day one. And I’ve always been impressed on how people quickly managed to go on with their lives. At the Ste Therèse Parc in Pétion-Ville I was amazed by how clean it was and how they had separated the camp in different sectors and assigned people in charge to make sure that it’s always clean. click for more and a short video

Naples, FL—January 15, 2009—Hope for Haiti, a non-profit organization based in Florida, will send two 757 airplanes to Port-au-Prince on Saturday, January 16, 2010. Go Daddy’s unprecedented $500,000 donation will allow the airplanes—one of which was generously donated by GE—to reach the Hope for Haiti trauma team. The planes will carry much needed medical supplies and first aid medical personnel to continue to help the earthquake survivors.

“This morning Hope for Haiti was prepared to send two private planes piloted by local friends of the organization, full of supplies, five doctors, and three nurses, unfortunately, at the last minute, we had to abort our flight due to Port-au-Prince’s overwhelmed airport and a lack of fuel for a return flight to restock the plane,” said Hope for Haiti, Executive Director, Elizabeth Davison.

The organization is coordinating its efforts with the United Nations’ Mission to Haiti (MINUSTAH) to ensure that it is able to help the most people possible with the best care available.

“MINUSTAH is quite understandably shaken—they are missing a lot of local staff, and are doing their best to recoup,” said Hope for Haiti Country Director Mike Stewart who has set up a Trauma Unit at the Villa Creole Hotel in Petion-Ville.

“Basic human services are virtually nonexistent, not only in Port-au-Prince, but in most of the country. Delivery of water, food, medicine, and qualified personnel to the people who need them most is essential,” he said.

“Much is needed to help the survivors. Below is a list of emergency, medical supplies, and medications most requested and urgent. These supplies can be dropped off at the Hope for Haiti office. Non-Naples area resident are encouraged to help with monetary donations, which can be online via the organization’s Web site www.hopeforhaiti.com. The money raised will help expedite donated supplies to Haiti.

Emergency Supplies Needed:
Headlamps
Batteries (AA/AAA)
Hazmat suits
Respirators
Medical masks
Body bags
Tents
Clothes (new)
Food
Medical Supplies Needed:
Gloves – all sizes
Hand sanitizer (large bottles)
1 Gallon size Ziplock bags
Band-Aids (all sizes)
Sutures (all sizes)
Medications Needed:
Heavy pain killers
Local anesthesia
Kwell lotion (scabies) or medical soap
Sparonox
Griseofulvin, Fulvicin (Nail fungus/infections)
Bactrim (UTI)
Ciprofloxacin
Silvadene cream
Hydrochlorthyozide (Hypertension)
Aspirin (children and adult)
Neosporin
Itrikonzole (antifungal pediatrics for head fungus)
Iodine salt (Groiders)
Amoxil or Augmentin (chewable antibiotics for children -refrigerated antibiotics are not realistic
Muscle relaxants (medication for handicap children specifically)
Children vitamins
Adult Vitamins
Tylenol
Malaquine (children malaria syrup)
Hydrogen peroxide
Topical antifungal creams
Any diuretic meds
Tums
Antacids

“I cannot even begin to thank you all for your prayers and support,” said Stewart. “Please continue to spread the word and share information. This is going to be a long hard road ahead. Blessings to everyone who is helping.”

The Hope for Haiti Naples office is abuzz with activity as volunteers, supplies and donations arrive. “The staff is thrilled to have the support of the surrounding community. Fundraisers are being held, Old Navy through Florida is having fundraisers, Blue Martini has named a new drink Hope for Haiti and the list goes on.” said Davison.

For continuous updates, follow Hope for Haiti on Twitter at @HopeforHaitiFL, or via the organization’s Web site www.hopeforhaiti.com.