Weeks after a tragic earthquake struck Haiti the Ann Arbor-based Haiti Nursing Foundation’s FSIL School of Nursing is still working tirelessly in continuing to provide medical care to hundreds of Haitians. But the need still is great, and according to a statement released by the Haiti Nursing Foundation, “Haiti Nursing Foundation and the FSIL School of Nursing are here for the duration. Your support translates into hope for the future of nursing and healthcare in Haiti, which this school represents.”
Besides the nurses and students providing much needed medical attention, the nursing school itself is one of the few buildings still standing in the city of Leogane and its grounds are now providing shelters to thousands of homeless Haitians.
So as the injured who have been treated leave and the visiting medical volunteers return to their respective countries, the FSIL will continue to provide assistance in helping the students to return to school and complete their education. But they need the help of current and new Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County supporters.
Here’s how you can help.
This week you will have an opportunity to attend a very special dining event which will consist of a traditional Haitian creole dinner provided by Guerda Harris of The Back Alley Gourmet that will benefit the Haiti Nursing Foundation. “One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Haiti Nursing Foundation,” said Guerda Harris, event organizer and owner of The Back Alley Gourmet. “Our local business partner, Google, has offered to match all the money raised for the event,” she added.
The benefit dinner will be start at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 at the Dahlmann Campus Inn, Ann Arbor. Harris plans to serve a traditional Haitian Creole meal, including red beans with rice, Caribbean chicken, Tilapia with Creole sauce, fried plantains, ratatouille, salad with lime vinaigrette, and a Haitian sweet potato pudding and cake for dessert. Cost is $50 per person.
The benefit dinner will also include raffles and a silent auction. If anyone would like to donate something for the silent auction, please contact Guerda Harris at: 734-662-1175.
In addition, according to the Haiti Nursing Foundation, Google has pledged to make a matching donation for the number of dinner tickets sold, so every ticket you buy is worth TWICE the donation to the nursing school! Your purchase or donation is 100% tax deductible.
Host: Haiti Nursing Foundation
Date: Thursday, February 4, 2010
Time: 5:30pm – 8:30pm
Cost: $50 per person
Location: Dahlmann Campus Inn, Ann Arbor
This is an open event. Anyone can attend and can feel free to invite others to attend as well. To purchase tickets online, please visit: http://www.thebackalleygourmet.com/. Besides attending the dinner on February 4, below are other ways you can assist the Haiti Nursing Foundation’s continuing work:
Helping in Haiti:
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The FSIL School of Nursing has an ongoing need for qualified nurse educators (PhD or Master’s prepared). When FSIL is back in regular operation, that need will resume. Please contact them for more information on serving as visiting faculty.
- The Registered Nurse Response Network, RNRN, is planning to send registered nurses and supplies to help in Haiti. Contact http://www.calnurses.org/
Helping In Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County:
- FSIL cannot survive, especially now, without significant help from outside Haiti. Even the $3,000 per year that it costs for all expenses at FSIL is impossible for most Haitians to manage.
- Partnerships with U.S. nursing schools and student nurses associations may be one of the best ways to support the FSIL School of Nursing in Leogane. It’s such a natural connection. There are two nursing schools that have established a relationship already, including some student trips to Haiti to work side by side with FSIL students — delivering community health fairs, attending classes, etc. It has been a rich experience for everyone involved.
- Those looking to donate time or supplies can contact the Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI) at 703-276-1914.
For more information on Haiti Nursing Foundation call: 734-353-9565 or email Executive Director Marcia Lane at: mlane@haitinursing.org or Laurie Lounsbury, communications volunteer PH: 734-7-9-7374, EMAIL: laurie.lounsbury@gmail.com.
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