How Can Things Ever Improve: Re-Forestation Can Help

An article in the Gaurdian on efforts to prevent the flooding and massive erosion caused by even the mildest of storms:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/23/forests-flooding

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This ran in many papers yesterday...

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All packed up & waiting

Unlike the food where weight conveys a lot, it's hard to describe the amount of your donations but  today we re-packed all the clothes, blankets and toys and here is some perspectives:

1.  There were over forty boxes packed;

2.  These were loaded onto 4 pallets;

3.  This did not include strollers and many of the big, oddly shapped toys;

4.  We ran out of boxes today, so we bought some more tonight;

5.  More people dropped off clothes and toys tonight.

We are going to pack like crazy first thing in the morning since the shipping container shows up at noon!  

Questions: email us at haitifooddrive@gmail.com
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Toys & Clothes Galore!

The container arrives tomorrow!  We are packing it all up today.  There is a mountain of clothes, toys & blankets.  

Questions: email us at haitifooddrive@gmail.com
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The container pick-up is now scheduled for Nov. 17th.  So, we have a full week to collect clothes, shoes and toys.  Over the weekend families around Madison and Huntsville donated bags of clothing and boxes of toys.

Pictures tomorrow of the growing mountain of donations!

Need a pick-up?  Email:  moore.troy@gmail.com

Questions: email us at haitifooddrive@gmail.com
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Updates on the school collapse

The death toll sits at 82 for now but there is an incredible amount of rubble to dig through and it's mostly being done by hand!  

The BBC has a recent video that really illustrates the devestation (warning:  some images are disturbing)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7717756.stm

Swissinfo.ch's story details the challenges in responding and why heavy equipment is difficult to deploy

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/news/international/Death_toll_climbs_to_82_in_Haitian_school_collapse.html?siteSect=143&sid=9945767&cKey=1226174960000&ty=ti

Summary of all news:

http://news.google.com/news?rlz=1C1GGLS_en-USUS292&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=haiti+school+collapse&um=1&hl=en&sa=X&oi=news_group&resnum=1&ct=title

Questions: email us at haitifooddrive@gmail.com
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School collapses in Haiti with students inside

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/11/07/news/CB-Haiti-School-Collapse.php

PETIONVILLE, Haiti: A school building collapsed Friday in the hills above Haiti's capital, killing at least two people and injuring at least 20 students.
Hundreds of bystanders and rescue workers frantically dug through the rubble of the concrete building. As rescuers emerged carrying the injured, the crowd erupted with wails and prayers. United Nations peacekeepers and Haitian Red Cross workers rushed to the scene.
An Associated Press reporter saw the bodies of two women who died and counted at least 20 injured children, including some bleeding profusely from head injuries.
It was not immediately clear what caused the second story of the building to collapse onto the first. A portion of the wall facing the street remained standing, and the extent of the damage to the first floor was not immediately known.
The school building in Petionville, a relatively affluent suburb, included a kindergarten as well as classes for older students. A police officer estimated as many as 200 students may have been inside the building, but no official count was available.
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Drive extended! We have a full week!

We had some changes in logistics which means we have an additional week to fill the container!  That's right, the pick-up is now scheduled for Nov. 17th.  So, we have a full week to collect clothes, shoes and toys.  Let's make the most of it!

Questions: email us at haitifooddrive@gmail.com
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Frequently Asked Questions

Lots of questions today about what should be donated.  Clothes & shoes for adults, children and babies are all needed, all sizes work!  The orphanages we visited needed toys of any type, so we are looking for new or used items for all age children.

Questions: email us at haitifooddrive@gmail.com

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We need your help...fast!

The shipping contain is arriving on Monday morning and we have two hours to pack it up.  It's larger than we imagined and there is plenty of room left.  We want to fill it up!

So, we are asking for your help.  We have 4 days in which to work.  Here is what you can do:

1.  Gather together toys, blankets, clothing and diapers

2.  Contact me at moore.troy@gmail.com

3.  We'll schedule a pickup (that's right, we'll come to you!)

4.  The container gets filled!  We help those in desperate need!

This is a great way to clean house in preparation for the holidays.

We don't have much time, so tell your friends, let's act quickly!

Questions: email us at haitifooddrive@gmail.com
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25,000lbs. of Food: Weighted, Packed and Ready to Ship

A hard working crew packed the donations up today.  And the total is:  25,000lbs!  That's right...12.5 tons of rice, beans & milk were donated by the people of Huntsville, Alabama!  Simply incredible, thanks again to everyone that came out and donated.

The Packing Crew

The trucks will be here next week.  We'll update you when they start pulling out.  

Questions: email us at haitifooddrive@gmail.com
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