RIESTER

On behalf of the RIESTER Foundation, thank you to everyone who donated generously and helped to spread the word regarding our friend’s situation in Haiti.

Some updates:

Excerpt from an email sent by Toby Banks from Haiti:

Our facilities in Haiti sustained considerable property damage in the devastating earthquake on Jan. 12. None of the staff or orphans in our care were injured but one house was destroyed and the orphanage needs extensive repairs. Our organization has served the people of Haiti for more than 30 years; we were here before the earthquake and we will be here long after the various large crisis organizations are gone.

We have been blessed by so many people through prayer, encouragement and financial support during this crisis. We have also been blessed by a large construction firm in Ohio who will come alongside us with engineering expertise and construction supervision in building a new orphanage facility that will be stronger and meet the evolving needs of the girls in our care. Repairs on the existing orphanage building have started and once completed, the girls will return there temporarily until the new facility is finished.

We have already begun the process of long-term community relief to assist with the needs of our Croix des Bouquets neighbors. We are meeting immediate needs for food, medical care and temporary housing. Our plans for rebuilding focus on encouraging neighbors to help one another and providing economic stimulus to the area by paying a stipend for work completed.

Pa Bliye Ayiti (Don’t forget Haiti).

>>>>>>>>End dispatch from Haiti<<<<<<<<<

We would like to thank Brad DiIorio of Salt Lick Publishing for donating space in Q Salt Lake to run the following ad:

An update regarding the attempt to evacuate:

After the earthquake there was a major effort to evacuate from Haiti. Toby Banks, and the girls at the orphanage, received paperwork to come to the U.S. until the situation stabilized in Haiti and the buildings at the orphanage could be rebuilt. The paperwork was revoked after the U.S. and Haiti made a policy change. This was around January 21. Since then efforts continued to find a way out, however, the bureaucratic realities were daunting. For now, everyone at the orphanage is settling in to their new routines. Toby and Tim Banks would still like to evacuate temporarily, though their expectations of that happening have diminished considerably. RIESTER did what we could to help with the evacuation. Though many federal officials were helpful, in the end we were not able to make any progress–so far.

The purpose of the Hope Center for Orphaned Girls is to raise young women who will be leaders and productive members of Haitian society. These are not children that are candidates for adoption. Toby and Tim Banks, and their parent organization, are committed to helping Haitians learn how to help themselves.

Spread the word:

Tell your friends about our efforts in Haiti by directing them to http://www.riester.com/haiti

To support the Hope Center for Orphaned Girls please click on donate below to make a donation from the RIESTER Foundation PayPal page:

Or send a check to:

RIESTER Foundation
802 North 3rd Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85003

Please write “Haiti” in the memo line of the check.

Your donation of $10 or more will go a long way to help our friend Toby with the amazing work she, her husband, and others are doing.

All contributions are welcome and will be used for the orphanage.