The Friends of St. Vincent's Center is a volunteer group, formed in 1997, to help children and staff at St.Vincent's Center for Handicapped Children in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, obtain resources needed to educate and care for the children. The Friends of St. Vincent's Center mission is to provide service, supplies and support to the children and staff at St. Vincent's Center, a residential facility, day school, orphanage and hospital. This fall, St. Vincent’s Center increased the residential population to 150 by adding 25 residential handicapped students, aged 6-10. Another 150 students attend the day school. In March 2007, we will have provided support to St. Vincent’s for 10 years.
The Friends of St. Vincent's Center is an interfaith outreach ministry of St. James's Episcopal Church in West Hartford, Connecticut and recently became a 501c(3) non-profit organization. The Friends give special thanks to Bill Harris who has dedicated years of hard work to make this non-profit status occur.
The success for this year was the building and completion of a new brace/prosthetic shop to replace the shop that was in great disrepair. This new, well designed building was made possible by the joint efforts of The Children’s Medical Mission of Haiti, Holy Innocent’s Episcopal Church, Atlanta, GA, Hester Biven of Augusta GA, the Partners of Americas and the Friends of St. Vincent’s. The Friends have strengthened our relationship with the Children’s Medical Mission of Haiti through Bill Harris being a member of both boards.
2006 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. Since kidnapping all over Haiti has become such a severe security problem, Bishop Duracin, the Episcopal Bishop of Haiti, has asked us not to conduct missions to Haiti.
The Friends continue to collect, inventory and pack needed supplies. In May, 2006, thirty-two volunteers helped pack another 40 foot land-sea container weighing 22,219 pounds valued at $61,717. During 2006, the Friends also sent 27 boxes of medications to St. Vincent’s Center though Lynx International air service.
The Friends worked diligently throughout 2006 to increase interfaith awareness and support for St. Vincent’s Center. Our National Episcopal Church requested that the Friends participate in the Lutheran Global Mission Event held in Amherst, MA during July. Much interest evolved from presentations given over a three-day period, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Vernon has become actively involved in the work of the Friends. This is a wonderful example of how the Episcopal and Lutheran Churches can work together on global issues.
Twenty-two churches, six businesses or organizations, and two schools continue to support the Friends, along with our faithful Board and individuals.
During 2007, the Friends will address issues of enabling older children to move out into society with useful skills, and provide scholarships for students who attend local high schools.
Respectively submitted,
Hope C. Lennartz, RN, MSN
Founder and Volunteer Executive Director of the Friends of St. Vincent’s Center
Updated on 1/17/07