South End residents are responding to the cries for help in Haiti, donating time, money and goods to earthquake relief.
In Langley, several businesses will contribute percentages of their profits to relief organizations, while young workers at Island Coffeehouse & Books are setting aside their tips for the cause.
Meanwhile, Freeland residents Susan and Rocky Knickerbocker left Monday for the Dominican Republic with a shipment of medical supplies gathered from donations by local residents through the local Sister Island Project.
The Knickerbockers also will visit their daughter and son-in-law, Vanessa and Sean Janssen, who have been doing missionary work in the Dominican Republic and are helping out in Haiti.
Here are some of the local relief efforts now under way:
Members of the Whidbey-based Sister Island Project are collecting medicine and other supplies to help Haiti earthquake victims in the neighboring Dominican Republic.
Medical supplies (no prescription medications) can be dropped off at several locations through Friday, Jan. 29, said Peter Blaustein and Victoria Santos, co-directors of Sister Island Project. Santos was born in the Dominican Republic.
Needed are antibiotic ointments; bandages (especially waterproof), gauze and tape; water-purification tablets; diarrhea medication (pills or tablets, not liquid); sterile gloves; soap; and dental floss, toothbrushes and toothpaste, Santos said.
The donations will go to hospitals in the Dominican Republic which are caring for Haitian earthquake victims, Santos said.
This week, a truckload of medical supplies donated by Whidbey General Hospital and a number of island residents were sent to the Dominican Republic, she said.
In Langley, donations can be dropped off at 1st Dental Clinic,
307 First St. through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and at Music for the Eyes Carpet and Textile, 314 First Street, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In Freeland, they can be dropped off at the office of Richard S. Epstein, Inc., 5570 Harbor Ave. Unit D, through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 3:30 p.m.
In Greenbank, they can be dropped off at Rob Schouten Gallery at Greenbank Farm from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Look for containers reading “Sister Island Project.”
Supplies will be delivered with the support of Terry Clark, coordinator, Medical Reserve Corps of Island County and other aid organizations.
For more information or to donate, visit www.sisterislandproject.org.
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Youth members of South Whidbey Commons in Langley are donating all tips they receive this month while working at Island Coffeehouse & Books to the Red Cross for use in the Haitian relief effort.
The fund drive was initiated by the nonprofit agency’s Youth Engagement Squad.
Justin Bailey, an AmeriCorps volunteer working with South Whidbey Commons, said the youth board was formed to give its nine members experience in leadership. The fund drive for Haiti is its first official act, Bailey said. Several hundred dollars already have been donated.
“It’s been exciting for them to raise significant funds,” he said. “One woman gave $100.”
The group also is sponsoring a Haiti Music Festival on Saturday, Jan. 30 at the coffeehouse. Eric Vanderbilt-Matthews and Friends Jazz Ensemble will play from noon to 1 p.m., Russell Clepper from 1 to 2 p.m. and Eli and Ashley of Lake from 2 to 3 p.m. All proceeds go to quake relief.
Spearheading the fundraiser is Maelcolm Donohoe, YES vice president, with key members of the Haiti Music Festival planning committee Cygne LaChaussee, Hadassah Beason and Megan Wolfensparger.
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Owners of The Clyde Theatre in downtown Langley are shifting their charity focus to Haiti, and are looking for additional support.
Lynn and Blake Willeford will donate money collected through February in their “Magic Change Jar” at the refreshment stand to Haiti earthquake relief.
The move has the blessing of Hearts & Hammers, which was the scheduled beneficiary of the jar’s contents during the period, the Willefords said.
They also said the business match has doubled, from a maximum of
$250 each from The Clyde, Lindsay Communications and Island Athletic Club, to a maximum of $500 per business.
“Every $1 put in the canning jar on the snack bar will magically turn into $4 for Haiti,” Blake Willeford said.
He said donations for Haiti will go to three organizations: Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International and Partners for Health, the nonprofit run by Dr. Paul Farmer profiled in Tracy Kidder’s best-selling book “Mountains Beyond Mountains.”
Anyone interested in adding their name to the list of match partners for the January/February Clyde Haiti Challenge can contact the Willefords at info@theclyde.net or 730-7915.
More information about the chosen organizations and how they are working in Haiti can be found at www.habitat.org, www.heifer.org and www.pih.org.
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South Whidbey High School’s Winter Ball Dance, sponsored by the senior class, will donate all proceeds from ticket sales to the Haiti relief effort.
The dance will be from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6.
For more information, call 221-6808 ext. 5137, or e-mail Angela Czarnik at aczarnik@sw.wednet.ed.
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Bayview Farm & Garden is donating profits from all sales of primroses to the Haitian earthquake relief effort.
Employees said that even before roadside signs went up announcing the donations, people had learned of it by word-of-mouth and had come in to buy the brightly colored messengers of spring.
The primroses sell for $1.69.
Bayview Farm & Garden is next to the Bayview Cash Store at Bayview Corner. For information, call 321-6789.
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South Whidbey Rotary is organizing donations of shelter kits for Haiti.
ShelterBox is an ongoing Rotary project of the Ladysmith Rotary Club in Canada. The clubs have contributed $2,000 Canadian for two ShelterBoxes, which are part of the shipment of 200 that were to arrive in Haiti on Tuesday, said Grant Heiken of the local club.
A ShelterBox is a sturdy fiberglass container that contains a large tent, sleeping bags, cooking utensils, tools and a water-purification kit that will provide for 10people for six months.
The units have been sent to relief efforts all over the world, including Southeast Asia after the tsunami and New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
For more information, contact Heiken at heiken@whidbey.com, or call Russ DeWolfe at 331-3103.
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Langley restaurants and other businesses will donate part of their proceeds from this past Monday to the earthquake relief effort they call Langley for Haiti.
Prima Bistro and Cafe Langley will donate 20 percent of day’s proceeds to Doctors Without Borders.
Edgecliff Bar & Grill accepted donations at a free afternoon buffet on behalf of World Concern.
Mike’s Place will donate 10 percent of profits from this past Friday to Doctors Without Borders.
Useless Bay Coffee Company roasted a special Help Haiti blend of coffee and will donate all of the proceeds to Doctors Without Borders.
Maurlee’s Take-Out and Catering has a donation jar, Eddy’s will be donating a percentage of Monday sales to Doctors Without Borders, and US Bank is collecting donations for Red Cross.
Mukilteo Coffee is selling $10 raffle tickets for a gourmet brunch basket, with all proceeds going to Doctors Without Borders. Village Pizzeria and Living Green also are participating.
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Terry Welch, a science teacher at Coupeville Middle School, has set up a drive to aid the victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti.
Donors can may checks payable to CMS or CHS with Haiti Relief in the memo. All donations will be added to the cash collected at the Coupeville middle and high school campuses. Jars for cash donations are set up in the school cafeteria and the front office. Cash and check donations will be accepted for two weeks through Feb. 2.
Presidents Clinton and Bush oversee the CBHF through their respective nonprofit organizations, the William J. Clinton Foundation and Communities Foundation of Texas. All of the donations made to these foundations go directly to relief efforts.
The funds will be sent to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, c/o William J. Clinton Foundation, Donations Department, 610 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock, AR 72201.
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To contribute to the American Red Cross Haiti relief fund, text “Haiti” to “90999” to make a $10 donation, or send a check to 2025 E St., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20006, or call (800) REDCROSS (733-2767).
Doctors Without Borders donation information is at www.doctorswithoutborders.org.
