The Greater Fort Erie Chamber of Commerce

January 20, 2010

FORT ERIE – Fort Erie organizations came together this week at the Fort Erie Multi Cultural Center to partner and coordinate efforts to help victims and families of the recent earthquake in Haiti.  The group represented Niagara Catholic District School Board (ESL), Casa El Norte, First Baptist Church, Central Avenue United Church, Matthew House, Bethel Pentecostal Church, Intercede International, the Fort Erie Multi Cultural Centre and the Town of Fort Erie.  They identified the needs in Haiti and those of the 167 members of the newcomer Haitian Community in Fort Erie.  It was recognized it would be helpful to coordinate local fundraising efforts and determine a point organization to receive funds. Also, to determine the needs of the local Haitian Community.  The large national and international aid organizations such as the Canadian Red Cross, World Vision, UNICEF, etc are set up to recognize and manage the needs on the ground in Haiti.  Locally, many Haitian families are trying to locate and reunite with family members.  Many local Haitians are foregoing food in order to redirect their scarce funds to pay for long distance telephone calls to Haiti in an attempt to connect with friends and family and determine the whereabouts of loved ones.  Many local Haitians have now discovered family, friends and relatives have died in the earthquake while those who survived are not having their most basic human needs met.

The group of organizations decided it would be best to coordinate local fund raising efforts through one agency.  The Fort Erie Multi Cultural Centre will receive cheques payable to the “Fort Erie Multi Cultural Centre – Haitian Family Reunification Fund” where these monies will be held in trust to assist Haitians living in Fort Erie to help reunite families and support local Haitian Community needs.  The first step is to enlist a coordinator to be located at the Fort Erie Multi Cultural Centre who will partner with a local Haitian coordinator to mobilize efforts to identify and document local Haitian people living in Fort Erie, reunification needs as well as other basic needs. Immigration requirements include the need to lobby the Federal Government to reasonably and responsibly accelerate immigration efforts to enable people to leave the misery of Haiti and reunite with their families in Canada and Fort Erie.

Contact was made with Mrs. Arlene Heron, mother of Vanessa Johnson, who is with Mission of Hope located outside Port Au Prince.  Brian Williams of NBC Nightly News recently profiled Mission of Hope demonstrated the significant amount of aid and resources distributed in such a short period of time to so many who are desperate for help.  Members of Vanessa’s family continue to live in Fort Erie.

Planning is already underway for a number of local fundraising events including Intercede International, “Help Haiti Heal” an international relief day on Saturday, January 30, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at All Nations Mission Centre, 3397 Garrison Road, Fort Erie; Pasta Night at the Italo Canadian Club hosted by Casa El Norte on March 11, 2010; Musicians Night at Crystal Chandelier on February 5, 2010 hosted by Elton Lammie. Many other events are planned at local churches and schools, including a Mission of Hope Fundraiser by Niagara Christian College and Pancake Tuesday at St. John South Adult Learning Centre.  An Interfaith Church Service will be held at the Leisureplex Banquet Hall on February 6, 2010 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Many opportunities are available to help Haiti. It is also important to reach out and help Haitians who have recently made Fort Erie their home, to reunite with their families and to help them cope with the unimaginable loss and devastation this disaster has caused for their people in Haiti.


For further information please contact:

Martha Mason, Director,
Fort Erie Multi Cultural Centre,
52 Jarvis St, Unit 2
Fort Erie, ON L2A 2S4
Phone: 905-871-3641 ext 31,
After Hours: 905-994-3599
Fax; 905-871-2231
email: mmason@firststepsincanada.com

Pastor Gary Page
First Baptist Church
165 Bertie Street
Fort Erie, ON
Phone: 905-871-6577
Email: drgary@cogeco.ca

 Eliud Herrera and James Eagles
Intercede International
201 Stanton Street
Fort Erie, ON
Phone: 905-871-0882
Email:
eherrera@Intercedenow.ca
jeagles@intercedenow.ca