An update from Andy

Andy Hartnett Home (Andy Hartnett):

"There are many roles for anyone who cannot necessarily swing a sludge hammer all day. I have noticed that I am fatigued much easier than normal, I was not in the best shape of my life but I can definitely feel the effects of the heat and the diet. I spent 3 days on a rubble crew this week and 2 days on a project at another medical staging area building showers for them, We build 8 outdoor shower stalls with concrete bases and proper drainage. The rubble crew is nice as it is not only a good workout but a good interaction with the community as they typically like to assist, especially the little kids."

CIDA’s Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund: millions raised, nothing spent - The World Desk - Macleans.ca

CIDA’s Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund: millions raised, nothing spent - The World Desk - Macleans.ca:

"When I was in Haiti, a 19-year-old American in military fatigues showed up with boxes of latex gloves. His heart was in the right place, but he didn’t really know what he was doing and had a nervous breakdown after picking up an amputated leg when he was asked to clean a hospital’s waste-strewn yard. He went home the next day.

Some of us had a good laugh about the episode. But at least he accomplished something. He gathered dirty bandages and let Haitians know they mattered to him. That’s more than CIDA has so far accomplished with the more than $100 million Canadians have donated to its Earthquake Relief Fund."

Philip Kiracofe · Adventure Capitalist

Philip Kiracofe · Adventure Capitalist:

"Every night after dinner we have a group “meeting”—updates from the field, news for tomorrow, special items like “don’t throw TP in the toilet” and cleaning duty sign-up for the next day.

The St. Bonaventure gents also use this opportunity to share a nightly “Top Ten List” with the HODRers.

For example “Top Ten Things Not to Say to the Egg Sandwich Lady.”"

Haiti Update Day 5 (by Katie) « Philip Kiracofe · Adventure Capitalist

another great update! Be sure to read the whole thing!

Haiti Update Day 5 (by Katie) « Philip Kiracofe · Adventure Capitalist:

"I want to devote a special paragraph here to the gentleman of St. Bonaventure for providing non-stop commentary, singing, laughter, games and Michael Jackson squealing all day long. All day. The whole time. They are karaoke on wheels. Plus, Rob was suffering from heat exhaustion yesterday (revived by Philip’s Cytomax and Cliff Shots—TriLifers, roll your eyes here), and what I thought was a really subdued, quiet guy from a farm in upstate is now a singing machine. With Phil at the wheel, there are now scores of Haitian children running around screaming “Jamona” (a phonetic spelling of a Jackson exhortation). The Bona guys also taught them red-light, green-light and how to skip rope. You have these moments when your back is breaking, it’s ridiculously hot and you feel like you’ve pushed the wheelbarrow a zillion times—and as much as you want to take a sledgehammer and go John Henry on one of them, all of a sudden a little Haitian kid grabs his crotch and does a Thriller spin—with big, hairy Phil next to him and it’s pretty impossible not to smile through the sweat, sunscreen, and Deet. Again, that’s something I wouldn’t be able to bring to the table—I guess we call it a Team (Baby Jesus) for a reason."

Katie in Haiti update 4 « Philip Kiracofe · Adventure Capitalist

Katie in Haiti update 4 « Philip Kiracofe · Adventure Capitalist:

"But not to fear, Phil (the very large, hairy guy from Bono) had us singing in the tap-tap on the way to the site.

He and his two friends ran a car-wash at their school to raise money for their trip—which included a marathon singing of “Hey Baby, won’t you be my girl.”

So, at the top of his lungs, Phil belts this out (and also note that he knows all of the lyrics, including the “hoo” “hah” intervals) and of course we all join in.

Soon, all the Haitians we pass on the street are singing and clapping—and for once, they are all smiles when looking at us.

The ultimate moment though, was when we pulled up behind the Canadian military guys riding in their covered tank—and they start singing along too."

HODR group photo 1 march 2010

group photo 1 march 2010
Originally uploaded by Hands On Disaster Response

As one who has seen the battles some of you had to fight to go help, let me thank you! Thank you from the Haitians you are helping, but also for all of us here who need to be reminded that we do not only help when it is convenient and safe.

To donate to HODR, please go to HODR.org.