< Back to front page
Text size
–
+
Mass. health volunteers safe in Haiti
From Caribbean
to Boston
to Boston
UPDATED 8 p.m.
Several Boston-area people who have spent dozens of years helping the poorest Haitians high in the western mountain town of Fond des Blancs are safe but shaken after yesterday's devastating earthquake. And they are already finding ways to help others.
Among them are Sarah Hackett, the 83-year-old Gloucester native who runs a clinic and sewing cooperative in Fond des Blancs, and Nannette and Fred Canniff and their daughter-in-law Linda. Nannette Canniff founded and still heads the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation of Randolph. Her husband and daughter also help out with the hospital run by the foundation in Fond des Blancs.
Hackett, who runs a non-profit called Haiti Projects Inc., said in her initial email last night that the walls shook and pots were knocked off the stove, but the damage was nothing like that in Port au Prince, the capital, about 70 miles to the east of Fond des Blancs.
In an email this evening, Hackett was clear about what should be done now:
Here's a Google map showing Fond des Blancs in relation to Port au Prince.
View Larger Map
I wrote a profile about Sarah Hackett and her work in Haiti in the Globe in November. Here's a link.
The story also noted the impressive work of the St. Boniface Foundation, and its hospital in Fond des Blancs. Both Hackett's Haiti Projects Inc. and the St. Boniface Foundation were awarded the prestigious Isabel Allende Foundation Award last year for their years of work for the people of Haiti.
Nannette Canniff's grandson, Derek Forrest, said by telephone that the Canniffs reported by instant message last night that they were fine but shaken, and that walls and buildings had suffered some damage. They kept having to run out of the house every time there was an aftershock, Forrest said.
Here's a photo of Sarah Hackett, taken in November by the Globe's John Blanding:
Several Boston-area people who have spent dozens of years helping the poorest Haitians high in the western mountain town of Fond des Blancs are safe but shaken after yesterday's devastating earthquake. And they are already finding ways to help others.
Among them are Sarah Hackett, the 83-year-old Gloucester native who runs a clinic and sewing cooperative in Fond des Blancs, and Nannette and Fred Canniff and their daughter-in-law Linda. Nannette Canniff founded and still heads the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation of Randolph. Her husband and daughter also help out with the hospital run by the foundation in Fond des Blancs.
Hackett, who runs a non-profit called Haiti Projects Inc., said in her initial email last night that the walls shook and pots were knocked off the stove, but the damage was nothing like that in Port au Prince, the capital, about 70 miles to the east of Fond des Blancs.
In an email this evening, Hackett was clear about what should be done now:
"When people keep asking what they can do, tell them to call their congressperson and tell them to get aid here right away. All they have to do is imagine if their house fell down in Boston and they just got out with the clothes on their back, what would such people need??? Everything and right away!!!!
We are quite cut off here as the phones don't work but two people on motorcycles got through today so tomorrow a car is going to try.In the afternoon tomorrow there is a funeral for our driver's 3 year old who was crushed in the rubble when the house collapsed in Port au Prince. And as I write, the 8 students that St Boniface houses in a student house in Port au Prince have just arrived just with the clothes on their backs, having escaped as the house was collapsing.
We here in the back country have not suffered except for the continuous news of the losses and for the feelings of helplessness. Mostly we have the jitters still even after 24 hours and that is because the aftershocks have been frightening - strong and continuous.They say there have been as many as 40. Still a few."
Here's a Google map showing Fond des Blancs in relation to Port au Prince.
View Larger Map
I wrote a profile about Sarah Hackett and her work in Haiti in the Globe in November. Here's a link.
The story also noted the impressive work of the St. Boniface Foundation, and its hospital in Fond des Blancs. Both Hackett's Haiti Projects Inc. and the St. Boniface Foundation were awarded the prestigious Isabel Allende Foundation Award last year for their years of work for the people of Haiti.
Nannette Canniff's grandson, Derek Forrest, said by telephone that the Canniffs reported by instant message last night that they were fine but shaken, and that walls and buildings had suffered some damage. They kept having to run out of the house every time there was an aftershock, Forrest said.
Here's a photo of Sarah Hackett, taken in November by the Globe's John Blanding:
About this blog
Worldly Boston is James F. Smith's report on people from our community who are making an impact in the world, and on people from abroad doing noteworthy things in Greater Boston. We live in the most global of communities. Worldly Boston helps share those stories.
About James F. Smith
Jim Smith came home to his native Boston in 2002 to become the Boston Globe's foreign editor after spending 22 years abroad. He was previously based in Buenos Aires and Mexico City for the LA Times, and in Johannesburg, Tokyo and The Hague for the AP. In 2007 he became the Globe's national political editor, coordinating presidential campaign coverage. He is a Yale graduate, and has an MBA. He is married to Maxine Hart and has two sons, Matthew and Daniel.
Global Events in Greater Boston
|
Is your organization holding an event? Post it on our calendar (use "worldlyboston" for the keyword).
|
