The following is a report from Bruce Loganecker from Lincoln Park Market on their contribution to the Haiti relief effort:
Over the past several months customers have approached us and asked if we were doing anything for the Haitians, since the earthquake. Due to the lack of transportation, we said no.
A few weeks ago we found out that a friend of ours was involved in a project to send survival kits to Haiti. He had asked if we could get him the products in the kit at cost. He said that he was going to try to send 100 kits.
Our friend introduced us to John Shattuck. He is the Vice Chairman of U.S. based Friends of the Orphans. John accepted this paid position but refused a salary. He also stipulated that any money or supplies he brought to the organization would be 100% given to the Haitians and St. Damien’s Hospital. Additionally, John sits on the board of a group called the NPH (Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, Our Little Brothers and Sisters) a Latin American based organization that has Orphanages based in nine Latin American countries. John has agreed to use his connections to assist with the distribution of the kits. Because of his involvement in the NPH, Customs inspects all the containers that are sent to Haiti at the Hospital, not in the customs yard, so there is no risk of theft. Also, all donations are manifested and all manifests are available for viewing at www.friendsoftheorphans.org.
Once we talked to John we realized that this could be a great community project, and that 100 kits just were not enough, so we began talking to our vendor whose products will be in this kit, and asked them if they would be willing to help us in this effort. Our grocery supplier Nash Finch Corp. agreed to give us the product at their cost. We began this as a non- profit program and our vendor agreed to do the same.
Our friend will be sending 250 survival kits to Haiti and we, with the community’s help, will send another 250 kits.
The relationships we’ve made through this project has helped us realize that we can help those in need and know that the help we are giving is going to get there safely and untaxed.
Bruce Longanecker Sr. and Jr. –Lincoln Park Market