Christian Relief Fund
Although most media attention has turned to new stories and new tragedies, the disaster in Haiti is far from over. One organization with a panhandle basis is continuing the relief ef¬fort in Haiti with help from WT student contributions.
“Hot Dogs for Haiti” and the door-to-door fundraiser in the campus residence halls raised money to go to Christian Relief Fund and the efforts of Dr. Milton Jones. Dr. Jones, President of the organization, went to Haiti to continue humanitarian ef¬forts on February 22.
It’s been over a month since the January 12 earthquakes first rocked the lives of Haitians, but many Haitians are still dis¬placed from their homes as rebuilding continues. Sophomore history major Katie Perkins said she appreciates the fact that the University and the surrounding community work together to make a difference in places like Haiti.
“It is such a shame that the media have stopped focusing on Haiti,” Perkins said. “The Haitian people still need help.”
Non-profits like the Christian Relief Fund understand that the work in Haiti is far from over.
Dr. Jones left for Haiti with tents and medical supplies to help Haitians through the transitional period their country is experiencing in the aftermath of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.
This is not the first time the University has partnered with the Christian Relief Fund. Dr. Jones helped Readership WT while the group was preparing for their trip to Africa in 2009.
One of the students that participated in the Africa trip, Kirk Scarbrough, said that Dr. Jones was really helpful in educating them for the trip.
“Once we found out [Chrisitian Relief Fund] was helping [Haiti], we decided to help them out,” Scarbrough said. “[We raised] over $2,500 in all.”
Christian Relief Fund was not originally founded in Amarillo, but three of the board of trustees memebers, including Dr. Jones reside in Amarillo. This local non-profit has promised that 100 percent of the funds received for Haiti will go to efforts for the Haitians and not to any of the other countries Christian Relief Fund aids.
Facts About Philanthropy in the Panhandle
Christian Relief Fund was founded in 1971 to aid the orphaned children of a missionary who died of starvation in India. To this day, the organization is continuing its tradition of sponsoring chil¬dren and families while providing other necessities and education to individuals in underprivileged parts of the world.
The Christian Relief Fund website states that the organization is currently working in 33 countries including Haiti and is sponsoring approximately 5,200 children worldwide.
The organization allows for people to fund either children or entire families for a monthly rate. In Haiti alone, Christian Relief Fund is sponsoring 50 children and has sent $9,620 daily to feed children in Port au Prince.
You can follow the Christian Relief Fund’s efforts online at christianrelieffund.org, by becoming a fan on Facebook, looking them up on MySpace or viewing their videos on YouTube. If you want to donate to the continued work in Haiti, you can donate by phone, mail or online and just specify that you want your funds to go to the Haiti earthquake relief effort.