The Friends of St. Vincent's Center is a volunteer group formed in 1997 to help the children and staff at St. Vincent's Center for Handicapped Children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti obtains the resources needed to educate and care for the children. The Friends of St. Vincent's Center is an interfaith outreach ministry of St. James's Episcopal Church in West Hartford, Connecticut..
The Friends of St. Vincent's Center mission statement is to provide service, supplies and support to the children and staff at St. Vincent's Center, a residential school, day school, orphanage and hospital for approximately 350 handicapped children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.
2005 has been a very difficult year for our colleagues and the children at St. Vincent's Center due to the political situation and civil unrest. The Friends of St. Vincent's Center continued their support in many different ways as it was not possible to conduct medical, construction and education missions in Haiti.
Due to the unstable situation, the Dallas Chapter of the Friends flew into the International Airport in Port-au-Prince to deliver 460 gifts, extra food and over $5000 US. They were not able to visit the children.
Bill Harris and Donna Brown attended the Haiti Connection Conference in Miami. The location was moved out of Port-au-Prince per request of Bishop Duracin and the dangers of traveling in Haiti.
Hope Lennartz and Solange Rossignol traveled to the Dominican Republic and met with Fr. Fritz Desire and his wife. The Desires traveled by bus for 7 hours for this meeting. It was decided it was not safe to travel to Port-au-Prince due to the kidnappings. The Friends now have a better understanding of the needs and Fr. Fritz's dreams for the Center.
Fr. Fritz's major concerns include:
While the Friends were unable to implement the planned missions, the group increased their efforts to collect, inventory and pack supplies to send to St. Vincent's Center. In May over 30 volunteers packed a 40 foot land-sea container with supplies valued at $109,044 and send to St. Vincent's Center. It included $5000 worth of food and 6 new bus tires for their school bus as well as bicycles, sewing machines, wheelchairs, medical and school supplies and clothes.
The Friends continue to air ship medications which are greatly needed. This year 21 boxes were sent.
This year the Friends increased efforts to request financial support to help feed, clothe and educate the children at the Center and to support the staff. For the first time, several letters requesting donations and explaining the needs were sent to supporters. Responses to these requests were generous.
The Friends of St. Vincent's Center continue to develop support from a variety of sources. The owner of Highland Park Groceries donated $1000 in food supplies that were sent on the land-sea container.
This year we are pleased to provide financial support for 10 high school students and one orphan student now attending the university. Our dream is to provide higher education to all the orphans at St. Vincent's. This year a special request was made and we provided funds for the uniforms of the younger students at the Center.
The dental room and the women's bathroom was remodeled and dedicated by Bishop Duracin.
Generous donations made it possible for the construction of the new Brace/Prosthetic Shop. Physicians for Peace are willing to provide supplies, equipment and training for brace/prosthetic makers if we provide the building. Their involvement has been so helpful to complete this dream.
For years we have been working on opening a Montessori primary program at St. Vincent's Center. The Friends have funded the education of two Montessori teachers and now is helping set up the classroom. Soon the first class will begin.
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Thomaston Interact Club |
Funds for the construction of the new Brace Shop |
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Silas Deane Middle School in Wethersfield |
Conducted a multi item drive for needs at the Center |
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East Hartford / Glastonbury Magnet School |
Collected school supplies |
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Guilford L akes Elementary School |
Collected food |
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Montessori School of Greater Hartford |
Collected used Montessori Equipment |
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VSA Arts of Connecticut |
Collected office supplies |
Many churches (total of 19 parishes), community groups and organizations supported the Friends work during 2005. Special acknowledgements and thanks for their continued support are offered to The UPS Store in Newington, Stor-U-Self in Newington, Chariots of Hope in Granby, the Dental Practice of Dr. John Bierly and Dr. Peter Peterson, Highland Park Market in Manchester, and Connecticut Business Center - West Hartford.
The Diocese of Maine has just signed a Companion Relationship with the Diocese of Haiti. We have been talking about ways in which they can join the work of the Friends.
A complete list of the church, school and community supporters is located at http://www.friendsofstvincents.org.
Total volunteer time for Friends of St. Vincent's Center chapters during 2005 is 1892 hours.
Hope C. Lennartz
RN MSN CS Volunteer Executive Director of the Friends of St. Vincent's Center
Updated on 8/28/06