Dear Friends,
Recently, you received news that FOTCOH was in need of additional volunteers for our January 2020 Medical Clinic. Key volunteer positions were un-filled and we asked for your help. Almost immediately the emails, phone calls, and texts started flowing in. Within three days we had the volunteers we needed. Thank you for your amazing response. It’s truly remarkable what can be achieved when the FOTCOH community pulls together around a common goal.
It makes it even harder to share with you that the volunteer team for the January 2020 Medical Clinic has just been canceled. The current political instability, coupled with the volatile protests and violence in Haiti (including the Jacmel area) makes it impossible to send a volunteer team. Also, basic necessities such as food, water, and fuel are becoming increasingly harder to secure. Sending a team of Americans to Haiti would use up valuable resources that the Haitians desperately need at this time.
We held off on the decision for as long as possible, hoping that some progress would happen, or some indicator showed it would be possible to send a team. At this point we see no other way.
On a positive note, our Haitian team will be geared up and ready to open the doors of the clinic as scheduled. Our patients will still experience the quality care and loving spirit that is the hallmark of FOTCOH.
Please keep our Haitian staff, our patients, and all of Haiti in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate these turbulent times.
Thank you for your continued support,
Nathan Ruby
Executive Director, Friends of the Children of Haiti
