By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
Miami…
Catholic Charities is prepared to assist in-country Haitian organizations and
families by providing temporary shelter in the
Archdiocese of Miami for Haitian children who have been identified as at-risk.
The
Archdiocese of Miami is not advocating for a mass exodus of at-risk Haitian
children or placement of these children in foster care or adoptive homes, but
rather, an orderly temporary humanitarian parole process which will protect the
most vulnerable victims of this tragedy.
Catholic
Charities is currently cataloging all offers of homes for fostering/adoption of
Haitian children. Please email ([email protected])
the following information if you would like to join the registry:
Name, mailing address, home phone, cell phone, email address Languages spoken
in the home Interested in fostering/adopting/either (indicate one choice)
Parish (if applicable) # children currently in the home # children you would
like to foster/adopt Age of children you prefer to foster/adopt Able to support
children on your own/would need assistance to cover costs?
Financial
donations continue to be accepted via mail or internet donation:
Catholic
Charities
Attn: Earthquake Victims
1505 N.E. 26th St.
Wilton Manors, Fl 33305
Please make checks payable to: Catholic Charities/Earthquake Victims.
Donations
can also be made online at www.catholiccharitiesadm.org.
One
hundred percent (100 %) of the money being donated through church collections,
online and check donations for the earthquake victims will go directly towards
Haitian relief efforts.
Items being collected: Medical supplies, water bottles, cooking
oil, dry beans and rice (20-, 50- or 100-pound bags), canned foods, new clothes
and hygiene items.
Items
can be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at these locations Monday- Saturday:
Notre Dame D’
Haiti Mission
110 NE 62nd
St.
Miami, 33138
St. Clement
Catholic Church
2975 N. Andrews
Ave
Ft. Lauderdale,
33311
Comments from readers
How can we get in touch with you?
We would be interested in one child, age 3-8, preferably a girl. However, we would consider siblings if a home was needed. I am employed full time and would not have any problem supporting an additional child or two.
God Bless.
Dear First Lady Obama,
I am writing to you as a mother to plead for your help for the children of Haiti. They can�t wait a month, a year, a lifetime for someone to do something. They need help now. They can�t wait for all of the red tape and bureaucracy. They need help now.
Even before this crisis, there were thousands of orphans in Haiti. Now there are many more that have lost their parents or even extended family and have no one to care for them or love them. I have thought for many years that I would like to adopt a child from Haiti one day. This is, after all, the poorest country in the hemisphere with very little social services provided for those most in need. I thought I would never be able to realize that dream.
Unfortunately, my husband was diagnosed with leukemia a few years ago. After a successful transplant, he has been in remission now for almost 2 years. In addition, I have a 5 year old daughter who is smart, funny, and visually impaired. She is the light of my life and amazes me every day. With all of this going on, I thought who in their right mind would let us adopt a child? I don�t know what the future holds for my family. What I do know is that right now I can provided a loving home, either temporary or permanent, to a child in desperate need. The most important thing we can give a child is simply love and that we have an abundance of. The reality is that it will be generations before Haiti will be able to recover from this disaster and the children can�t wait that long.
There are thousands of families here in the United States who are willing to either foster a child until their families can be located or adopt them and give them a safe and loving home. So why isn�t anything being done?
My husband is first generation American. His father was born in Haiti and his mother was born in Italy as a Jewish refugee from Yugoslavia. This country can provide an opportunity to a new generation of children in need. I implore you to help cut through the red tape. Talk to the Haitian authorities. Talk to the State Department. It breaks my heart every time I see the faces of children suffering on the TV when I know we can help them. We need to do what is best for these children. Airlift them out NOW and bring them to safety.
Sincerely,
Susan Lilavois
Springfield VA
Name, mailing address, home phone, cell phone, email address Languages spoken in the home Interested in fostering/adopting/either (indicate one choice) Parish (if applicable) # children currently in the home # children you would like to foster/adopt Age of children you prefer to foster/adopt Able to support children on your own/would need assistance to cover costs?
Sandy
What I understand from the explanations of World Vision, UNICEF, SOS (the hottest defendants of keeping the orphans in Haiti) the most vulnerable place for these orphans is in Haiti. Bring them to the United States and other countries that are willing and let the well meaning citizens take care of them, protect them, and feed them.
COUNT ME IN as one who will take as many of the beautiful Haitian children as I am able. I am hoping and praying with all my heart the Archdiocese of Miami can bring to fruition the Pierre Pan plan or a variation of it. I refuse to accept that it is better for the children to live outside being vulnerable to the elements and disease, lacking food and water, literally starving to death waiting for reunification, when they can wait here, in a foster care system, safe, happy, protected and loved.
My prayers go to all the people of Haiti.
What can we do to help? What steps can we take?
Our home is open with love
We are empy nesters, I understand the there may be filghts of orphaned children coming to your parish. i am a born and raised catholic and would raise these chidren with the same values.We also would welome to our home a mother and child as another option
What can we do to make this a reality for this group of hard hit people
My husband and I are intrested in information regarding the adoption of Haitian orphans through Piere Pan. We adopted our son 4 years ago and are currently paper ready to adopt internationaly again. I also have a sister who is intrested and has been approved ofr foster care in the past. Thank you for all your hard work and helping these precious children.
young enough to care for a couple more. We are active parishioners at Sacred Heart Parish in Spokane Washington.Please let us know how we can
help. Our home and hearts are open and full of love.
Peace and LOVE
The Lambert's
Thank you!!
Maria
Lynda & Kurt Hubbard
I was wondering who I contact regarding adopting a child from Haiti. I am a mother of 4 ages 8 - 19. I was adopted myself when I was young and would love to be able to give back by helping an orphaned child from Haiti, especially in this time of great suffering and need.
Please let me know who to contact or how to proceed.
I am the mother of 4 children ages 7-17. I am a licensed social worker. My husband and I are very interested in the Peter Pan flights and would be honored to care for/ adopt a child from Haiti. I thank you for the work you are doing on behalf of the children in Haiti. I live north of Boston, MA. and if I can be of any assistance please contact me. I leave the rest in God's hands and have no doubt that He will take care of his children in Haiti.
in Haiti.. I have worked with children in Residential programs for 17 years. and have alot of experence in the clinical feild, I have wanted to adopt or be a foster Parent for a very long time,because I'am also adopted and would have a lot in common with the children who may experince detachment disorder. May The Lord bless and shine his face upon all that seek his guidence in time of need. God Bless
My husband and I have raised 3 children and have love and an empty home that can welcome those in need.
I enjoyed reading of your efforts with Operation Pedro Pan helping place the children of Cuba in the early 60's and appreciate your efforts helping children and families of need. Thank you .
The Venuto Family
God bless you
Looking forward to hearing some updated.
Thanks a lot!
Ana.
Thank you for considering us and God bless you for all the work you are doing for these children...
God bless you in your efforts to help~ Amy Jett
God Bless your work, and our Brothers and Sisters in Haiti.
God bless in all the work you do.
Love and prayers,
The Felix Family
Our prayers our with the children and the all the people of this country.
Our contact information including licensing worker's contact information have been emailed to the "info" email.
We would love to be used by God as a resource in the relief efforts.
Katie Brady
St. Sylvester Parish, Gulf Breeze, FL
Dios los bendiga a todos por la ejecuci�n de la labor que EL les ha encomendado para salvar la vida de tantos ni�os.
Somos una familia colombiana y quisieramos adoptar algun ni�o que ha vivido la tragedia en Haiti, �ser� posible?. Pedimos al Espiritu Santo que si es su voluntad, asi sea.
Jana Ebertowski
PLEASE LET ME KNOW ANY INF.
THANKS
LUCIANA
Thanks you so very much,
God bless all
Maria Alejandra Aranda
Please keep us up to date on these efforts.
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that tore through Haiti causing a hospital and several other buildings to collapse, we ask that your healing hand of restoration would
be upon this country. We also pray and lift up the surrounding areas affected by the trauma.�
Bless and cover them with your love and peace as many await to hear from loved ones.�We pray for communication channels to be opened so as to expedite the speed of services
to those affected.�As aid is identified and needed, we pray that an abundant supply will be at their disposal.
Knowing and believing that you are willing and able to supply all that is needed, we ask in Jesus Name.
Amen