Help the Haitian relief effort

I hope I never have to stray this far from the subject of food on my blog, but I feel compelled to make a plea to anyone who reads this post to help the millions suffering in Haiti as a result of the earthquake there on January 12th. I'm seeing stories about infants and small children having limbs amputated with rusty hacksaws and without anesthesia, and other kids who have lost their entire family. Other stories recount the abhorrent lack of drinking water, medical supplies or any semblance of organization in the relief effort. Yes, people from this country and many others are doing what they can to assist the people of Haiti, but the total absence of infrastructure is making relief efforts almost futile. I say "almost" because there are stories of life-saving miracles, but those stories are far too few.

As a testament to the spirit of the Haitian people, I will retell a story I heard on the news this evening. It is the story that moved me to write this post. A man from a small town several miles down the coast from the capital of Port Au Prince was desperately searching for his wife in the rubble that had been an apartment building in which they lived. Keep in mind that he was holding out hope for her rescue six days after the earthquake had occurred. While bulldozers were scraping debris away from the collapsed building, a cry came from under the rubble. It was, as the man had hoped, his wife calling out for someone to come to her aid. Within three hours, firemen from Los Angeles had cleared enough debris to pull the woman out from the pile of gnarled cables and concrete dust. She emerged largely unhurt, save some broken fingers, and to everyone's amazement she began to sing a Haitian song that declared she was not afraid of dying.

When I saw this story, I was so moved that I felt it was my duty to write this plea to all who stumble across my obscure blog. I have only made a single ten dollar donation personally, but if my post can cause even one other person to make a donation, then this entry was worth the effort. I wish I could do more, and I intend to make additional donations as I am able. Until then, please click on the link to the Red Cross relief effort and make your ten dollar donation. So when you are chowing down on dinner tonight, or snuggling into your warm bed, please think of the poor Haitians who have no dinner, no bed, no water, and have lost one or more of their loved ones. Please help those who cannot help themselves.