A big thank you to everyone who has supported our Haiti appeal so far. Oxfam is now beginning to get aid through despite immense challenges. Our staff in Haiti are currently providing shovels and picks for local civil workers to clear rubble to search for trapped victims in the capital, but the destruction continues to severely hamper aid efforts. Our immediate priorities will be providing safe water and shelter materials for the people who have lost their homes.
A horrific picture of need, and the vast obstacles to getting aid to people in need, is emerging. While international efforts are focused on dispersing aid in the capital, the actual epicenter of the quake was in the countryside. There is no access to rural area, so no picture yet of the disaster there and scale of people’s needs.
Oxfam are planning a response costing several million pounds, and I’d like to ask you to do anything you can to help, and to do it as soon as you can. Could you contact your local supermarket, rail station or theatre and see if you could hold a collection there? You’ll be amazed at the generosity of others, especially while the earthquake is at the front of everyone’s minds.
One of our volunteers, Charli, spent Wednesday afternoon baking cakes. Yesterday, she went round the office block asking for donations in return for cakes – and made £137! This morning, she had just four left to sell – and from these four cakes, she made another £45 – amazing!
Our heartfelt thanks go to Charli and everyone else who is working so hard to raise money for Haiti. You can donate online at www.oxfam.org.uk. Whether you bake cakes, hold a raffle at work, shake a collecting bucket or organise a fundraising event, you can make a real difference – thank you. If you’d like any materials or advice on fundraising, please do give me a call on 07917 323 538.