Haiti is going to need help quickly

Dear Friends,

RMI is already mobilizing to provide immediate relief in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaac.  Due to our 30 plus years of experience with hurricanes, we know what the impact will be on the south of Haiti therefore we are working on a pre-emptive basis.  Also, we know that many churches will be interested in helping with relief, thus we want to inform them of RMI’s relief plan so that leadership can be discussing possible involvement, even over this weekend.  Check out the following post on CNN this morning (Friday).

http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/24/us/tropical-storm-isaac/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews

Right now the center of the proposed path takes it ashore at our base of operations in Les Cayes and is supposed to go right over the southern peninsula, impacting the majority of areas where RMI and MEBSH minister.  This means it will be going right over all of our Sister Churches in Haiti! This tropical storm/hurricane will have hurricane force winds and drench Haiti with 8 to 20 inches of rain.  Those living in tents will be severely affected as well as the torrential rain and very high winds will severely impact crops, kill much of their livestock, and limit immediate food availability.  Mudslides, major flooding and road washouts can also be expected.

HELP US PROVIDE 2000 CASES OF FOOD TO THOSE IN IMMEDIATE NEED!

Food availability will become a major crisis very quickly as most Haitian families gather and/or buy their food on a day by day basis.  Many families will not have food stocked up, their gardens will have been washed away, and even if they have money for food, it will be very hard to get until outside areas are able to send food stocks to the impacted regions.  This could take up to several weeks, depending on how badly roads are washed out, when mudslides are cleared away, etc..  Once it does arrive, it will be very expensive and unaffordable to the poor.

Right now we have about 2000 cases of food on the ground for our school hot lunch program.  However, our goal is to IMMEDIATELY provide 2000 families with kids with a case of food in the areas that are in the most distress after the passing of the hurricane.  WE NEED YOUR HELP TO DO THIS!

Would you help us provide 50 cases at $25 a case (10,800 meals for only $1250) to a Sister Church for distribution?  Would your church help provide 100 cases (21,600 meals for only $2500)?  Our desire is to be able to provide each of 20 badly impacted Sister Church areas with 100 cases of food each.  Unfortunately, we simply can’t give these cases away.  We have to be able to replace them for our Hot Meal program.  By faith we are already ordering 2 more containers to replace these cases.  So the more money we raise, the more cases we are able to provide.  We are also looking into getting a container quickly for longer term aid. 

If you are not able to give toward 50 or 100 cases, any amount ($25 sponsors a case of food) will help and will go toward this relief response.  Thank you for whatever amount you can give! (Donations under 50 cases will be directed to the neediest areas.  50 cases or more can be designated for specific areas.)

You can give by clicking the “Donate Now” button on this email.  You can go to our website (www.rminet.org) and donate.  Or you can send a check written out to RMI, and sent to:  5475 Lee Street, Suite 301, Lehigh Acres, FL  33971.

FYI:  The pre-prepared packets are a packet of rice-based food that, when cooked, will provide 6 meals full of all the vitamins, minerals, and protein needed to combat malnutrition and hunger.  It looks and tastes like Chicken Rice-A-Roni.  It provides far more nutrition than simply rice and beans.  A case of these packets contains 216 meals, enough to provide a family of 6 a good meal a day for a month.  The cost is less than .12 A MEAL or $25 a case.  This simply helps us to cover our costs of acquiring the food, shipping, customs, transportation, and distribution.

Any questions, please call the office at 239-368-8390 or my cell at 239-222-9793 any time.

Working together to meet the need, 

Daniel Shoemaker

President

RMI