Hope for Haiti Children's Centre - support from BC!!!

Langley Times
Langley man gets rolling to provide help for Haiti
Mike Estrella holds a picture of himself and his sister Danita, who runs a school for orphans in Haiti. He is organizing a relief effort to help refugees from Tuesday's massive earthquake which has killed thousands of people and left many others injured or homeless.
John Gordon/Langley Times

How to help Haiti

By Brenda Anderson - Langley Times
Published: January 13, 2010 4:00 PM Updated: January 14, 2010 3:56 PM

A Langley businessman with connections to a Haiti orphanage is hoping local residents will step up and help in the aftermath of Tuesday's devastating earthquake in the impoverished Caribbean nation.
Mike Estrella, owner of Café Estrella on 200 Street, has put out a call for funds on behalf of his sister Danita, who operates an orphanage in the town of Ouanaminthe. It is located about nine hours northeast of Port-au-Prince, on the border with the Dominican Republic.
The orphanage was spared any damage when the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck near the capital, killing as many as 50,000 people, according to Red Cross estimates. But Estrella expects survivors seeking food and shelter will soon begin making their way out of the city, which has reportedly been reduced to rubble after many of its buildings — constructed from concrete blocks — collapsed.
"We know there will be a wave of people coming to the outlying areas," said Estrella.
When Hurricane Jeanne struck Haiti in 2004, causing flash floods and mud slides, that's what happened, he added. During the disaster, his sister was able to take in 50 additional children.
There's no telling at the moment just how great the demand will be from Port-au-Prince, Estrella said. But it's likely to be significant, he added.
"As the information comes in, we're trying to build a picture, but we can already tell, it's pretty bad."
Danita Estrella, who was in Tennessee fundraising for the orphanage on Tuesday when the earthquake struck, will also begin sending trucks into Port-au-Prince in an effort to find and rescue children who have been orphaned in the disaster, he said.
When the expected refugees begin to arrive, feeding them will be an immediate priority.
"One of the biggest things is we need to start buying food from the Dominican Republic side. We already buy food there and truck it across," Estrella said.
Donated cash will be used to purchase pinto beans, rice and chicken — all staples of a Haitian diet.
Danita's Children has been operating in Ouanaminthe for the past 10 years, starting out as Hope for Haiti Children's Centre in a rented garage. Today, it is home to 570 children.
"I've always said my sister has been at the back door of this country for a purpose," said Estrella.
He has visited the island nation many times and has seen food rotting on the docks at Port-au-Prince, unless money changes hands to get it distributed.
"She personally brings (food) in through the back door," he said.
Anyone who would like to make a donation and doesn't need a receipt can do so online at danitaschildren.org or www.estrellasdeli.com. Those who would like a tax receipt for their contribution can do so through Mike Estrella's charitable organization, International Support Ministry of Canada Inc. which has an account set up at Canadian Western Bank in Langley. Cheques may be dropped off at Café Estrella, at 5932 200 St.
Another local agency is also collecting donations following the Port-au-Prince earthquake. Abbotsford-based Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) has been working in Haiti since 1958 and has a number of staff members in the country, both within the capital city itself and based in the surrounding countryside.
Those who wish to respond to the disaster through the charitable organization may do so by making cheques payable to MCC and marked for “Haiti Earthquake”. Cheques can be sent to MCC BC PO Box 2038, Abbotsford, BC V2T 3T8. Credit card donations can also be made by phone at 604-850-6639 or toll free at 1-888 662-6337 or online at donate.mcc.org. For continued updates on MCC’s response, visit mcc.org.