The “Gait Toward Hope for Haiti” orthopedic drive has come to an end!  All of the equipment is either in Haiti, on its way or awaiting an upcoming scheduled transport.   By the time the equipment reaches Haiti’s injured, it will have taken quite a journey!  

Donated equipment came from over 30 participating sites; having traveled to our warehouse by car/minivan/truck, on to a staging area by shuttle bus/semi and on to either a cargo plane or a container ship via the ports of Norfolk/Wilmington/Miami.  Despite this disparate journey, the end result is the same – the Haitian people benefitting from the generosity of people thousands of miles away!    

THANK YOU for your donations, your efforts and support in making this drive a reality!

Our final inventory includes donations of over 800 pieces of orthopedic equipment to Haiti!  We were able to send 105 canes, 370 pairs of crutches, 236 walkers and 33 wheelchairs, in addition to over 60 boots/immobilizers/braces!    Stop for a minute and think about the hundreds of patients who will benefit from this equipment….

Thank you again and kind regards,
Kerri DeLair

March 3, 2010: Kerri, beautiful words and beautiful work! In addition to what Kerri has said, I want to take this opportunity to thank each of you as well. I am a United Methodist pastor and am heading up the Haiti relief staging center and other related efforts for the folks in Haiti (and now Chili as well).

Every time a vehicle came to our staging center with all the gorgeous donated materials you provided, I stood in amazement at your generosity and thoughtfulness. I continue to rejoice as well knowing that so many hundreds of people will benefit from your generosity. Kerri helped me understand the uses for some of the equipment, and with her explanation, I could visualize the joy so many will have because they have the proper equipment to help them.

As Kerri said, many of your donations are already in Haiti, others are in the process. Rest assured, everything will find its way quickly to our hurting brothers and sisters in Haiti.

On behalf of those hundreds of people who will never be able to communicate directly with you, let me say thank you, thank you, and thank you. You are awesome!

Reverend Jo Elaine Harris Raleigh District Pastor of Missions The United Methodist Church Knightdale, NC 27545

March 8, 2010: Kerri- Jo Elaine's eloquent words say it all- you found a perfect calling at a perfect time. Not only did you collect more than 800 pieces of orthopaedic equipment, you inspired some others who heard about your work : some of the Rotarians are still collecting through Senior Centers and Senior Communities. Your work lives on! You will never know how many lives both here and in Haiti have been touched.

Recent pictures from friends who have just come back have illustrated the extreme need for all these simple to use items that will restore a measure of mobility. The hope that these gifts represent are as much a part of the healing process as the orthopaedic equipment itself. The Haitian people put great stock in evidence that they are not forgotten and that they are valued. There is no way to evaluate the impact that human dignity has on restoring health.

Thank you and all the others who helped in their own quiet ways. This was a fantastic idea and very well done. It was a privilege to work with you.

Taki Donovan Staff, Hearts with Haiti www.heartswithhaiti.org Apex Sunrise Rotary

 Background

The devastation in Haiti has left tens of thousands of people with broken bones, crush injuries and amputations. Without assistive aides such as walkers, canes, wheelchairs and crutches – regaining mobility will be almost impossible. Gait Toward Hope for Haiti was a focal point in the Triangle area of NC for collecting the gently used orthopedic equipment that many of us had sitting unused in our attics and basements to make a significant and positive impact towards the rehabilitation of Haiti’s injured.