Here are some excerpts from our Hurricane Relief updates which were posted at www.haiticommunitysupport.com  and https://www.youcaring.com/haiti-community-support-inc-669011

Things seemed pretty normal in Au Centre, the day before the hurricane of the century hit the town.  The Renaissance Elementary School was in session with 200 kids reciting their lessons, filling the yard during recess.  Farmers were tending to their bean crops, and the coffee harvest under the large shade trees towering above.  

But then, on October 4th, tragedy struck. Hurricane Matthew delivered a devastating blow to Haiti. Worst hit were the mountain villages like Au Centre where the winds were the strongest, and the housing structures the weakest.

Every home in the village lost its roof, most have collapsed wells. Some perished in the storm, food stores were lost as well as all the food crops and seed supplies. While the village found shelter in our strongly-built Haiti Community Support school house, they still faced malnutrition, infection and disease.

Major aid organizations concentrate on Haiti’s large population centers, but, due to the remote nature of Au Centre, the region is last on the list for disaster relief.

Late October:  Haiti Community Support sprang into action as soon as we heard news of the tragedy. Longtime HCS supporter Emily Grasi organized a crowd funding page, and publicity to get the word out.   Within hours, HCS supporters began sending in donations.  As soon as the roads were cleared, food supplies and an emergency medical team were on their way – weeks ahead of larger relief organizations.

Mid November:  Conditions remain extremely difficult, but, with your support, we are able to offer continuing help to the village. Against daunting and often dangerous logistical challenges, the HCS team  is continuing their emergency work.

• We are getting a steady flow of food to the village; bags of rice to the communal kitchen and family packages of rice, beans, oil and canned sardines to help set up their household kitchens.
• The medical team have opened their second clinic.  Mud slides, horrendous road conditions, and a long walk uphill to the school house have not stopped them!  Medical staff are treating children and adults for malnutrition, malaria, scabies, typhoid, elevated blood pressure, gastric and diarrheal issues.
• Working with fellow agronomists, our HCS Director has miraculously sourced and readied for delivery two truckloads of yam and banana starts.