[LGT-National] Haiti, disability specific relief efforts

[Mark_Johnson at shepherd.org]

Web Site:         http://www.portlight.org/

Blog:
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/Portlight/comment.html?entrynum=29#commenttop

Announcement:
http://communities.kintera.org/REEVE/blogs/daily_dose/archive/2010/01/15/69062.aspx

Update from Portlight Strategies, Inc.

Our efforts to date include:

-Secured ground, air, and sea freight for transportation of relief
supplies.
-Securing a truck which will be delivered by weeks’ end to facilitate
delivery of goods.
-Creation of a sustainable distribution protocol which will serve to create
a local network.
-Shipment of a container of durable medical equipment into Haiti through
the Dominican Republic.  These goods are in the hands of clinic and shelter
personnel and being used.
-Formulating ongoing strategic shipments of relief goods.
-We are encouraging individuals, groups and companies to ship durable
medical equipment (wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, splints and braces
especially), as well as clinical supplies (wound care goods especially) to:
Portlight Strategies, Inc.  4900 Lewis Road, Stone Mountain, GA  30083.
-Transportation of two water filtration systems capable of providing the
needs of 3500 people per day.  These systems will be placed strategically
to serve the needs of people with disabilities.
-Provided on scene financial assistance to our partners on Hispaniola.
-Are placing a local coordinator on scene in Haiti. Our on scene
coordinator, Richard Lamarque, will be leaving for Haiti in a few days. He
is from there, is well connected there, and has a skill set and life
experiences which will be invaluable to our work there.
-Secured a satellite phone for use by our coordinator.
-Identified several disability related  and other organizations in Haiti
with which we can work to most effectively serve needs.  These include the
Lambi Fund of Haiti, several Catholic agencies, and other organizations
providing hands on service to people with disabilities there.
-Established a blog @
http://www.wunderground.com/blog/Portlight/comment.html?entrynum=29#commenttop
 to facilitate communication with our supporters and workers.  Please visit
our blog frequently.  It's also a good place to leave questions or ideas.
-Secured funding from our support network to ensure the success of our
efforts.

Our most pressing need moving forward is for funds to facilitate
transportation and delivery of relief supplies.  Even with discounted
freight rates, we still have transportation expenses.  We are the only NGO
focusing specifically on the needs of people with disabilities.

Our Haiti coordinator, Richard Lamarque, will also need funds for
unforeseen expenses on site.  Because people with disabilities have
traditionally been so segregated from Haitian society,  he is going to have
to spend some time and energy finding them in order to strategically assist
them.

Portlight Strategies, Inc., has years of experience in serving the post
disaster needs of people with disabilities.  We have worked on scene in
Indonesia after the tsunami, Iraq after the invasion, New Orleans after
hurricane Katrina, and Texas after hurricane Ike.  Culturally, people with
disabilities are stigmatized severely in Haiti.  And, frankly, their
numbers have swelled since the earthquake.

Paul Timmons is coordinating all stateside activity for Portlight.  He can
be reached at (843) 817-2651 or at presslord at aol.com.

Our most urgent needs are:

1.)    Medical equipment and clinical supplies shipped to our Stone
Mountain warehouse.

2.)    Funds to support our work.  Contributions can be made through the
PayPal button @: http://www.portlight.org or checks can be mailed to :
Portlight Strategies, Inc.  2043 Maybank Hwy.  Charleston, SC, 29412

Please contribute...but also please forward news of our work far and wide.
E-mails, tweets, facebook status updates, blog posts are invaluable.  Also,
please consider organizing some sort of fund-raiser.  Even a simple yard
sale can have a huge impact.

Also, please help connect us with other groups with whom can work.


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