Haiti Relief Supplies Reach People Faster with the Help of 40-Year-Old Distribution Network

"Now more than ever, churches are a lifeline for the Haitian people." - Wess Stafford, president and CEO of Compassion International

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Jan. 27, 2010—For more than four decades, Compassion International has been working to bring children out of poverty in Haiti.  Today, relationships forged over those 40 years may be the key to delivering desperately needed aid for earthquake survivors. 

"A huge challenge now facing the relief effort in Haiti is figuring out how to distribute the aid that is pouring in," said Compassion International President and CEO Wess Stafford.  "Because Compassion committed long ago to partner with local Haitian churches , we already have a network in place for getting relief into the neighborhoods that were hit hardest by the quake and into the hands of those who need it most."

Compassion's Director of Child Advocacy Tim Glenn just returned from Haiti on Sunday.  While in Haiti, he visited with many of Compassion's church partners. 

"The church remains central to the lives of so many Haitians," said Glenn. "Even for those churches where the buildings are just piles of rubble, the church community remains.  Now more than ever, Haitians will look to their churches for the help they need to rebuild their lives."

Working through its network of local churches, Compassion will provide food, clothing and other basic necessities.  Compassion's first shipment of supplies- two weeks worth of basic necessities for more than 77,000 people-arrived in Haiti on Saturday, Jan. 23.

Tomorrow, an additional 500 pounds of relief supplies will arrive in Haiti to assist Compassion's partner churches in meeting the immediate needs of children and their families.

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Opportunities to Help

Compassion is urging those seeking to assist in its Haitian relief efforts to:

• Visit Compassion.com to make a donation
• Text "disaster" to 90999 to give $10
• Become a sponsor of a child in need, helping him/her to thrive, not just survive
• Child sponsors exchange letters, emails and photos, and some even visit their Compassion children

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Interview Opportunities and Quotes

Wess Stafford, president and CEO of Compassion International:

• "Now more than ever, churches are a lifeline for the Haitian people."
• "A huge challenge now facing the relief effort in Haiti is figuring out how to distribute the aid that is pouring in." 
• "Because Compassion committed long ago to partner with local Haitian churches, we already have a network in place for getting relief into the neighborhoods that were hit hardest by the quake and into the hands of those who need it most."
• "Compassion will stay and grow, committed to the church of Haiti as we have been everyday for over four decades-long before the rumblings of that massive quake."

Tim Glenn, Compassion's director of child advocacy

• "The church remains central to the lives of so many Haitians."
  
• "Even for those churches where the buildings are just piles of rubble, the church community remains.  Now more than ever, Haitians will look to their churches for the help they need to rebuild their lives."
  

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About Compassion International

Compassion International is the world's largest Christian child development organization that permanently releases children from poverty.  Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1 million children-pre-natal through higher education-in 25 of the world's poorest countries.  Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works through local churches to holistically address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children-enabling them to thrive, not just survive.  Compassion has been awarded eight consecutive, four-star ratings by Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator.

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