The Friends

The Friends of St. Vincent's Center is a small group of volunteers formed to help the children and staff at St. Vincent's Center for Handicapped Children obtain the resources needed to educate and care for the children. We have provided food, medical, educational and musical supplies to the children of St. Vincent's since 1997. The Friends of St. Vincent's is an interfaith outreach ministry of St. James's Episcopal Church in West Hartford, Connecticut and has 501 (c) status.

The mission of our group is to continue these efforts and expand the facilities at St. Vincent's to accommodate more children and adults throughout Haiti. Click here for a detailed history of Friends work and activities.

Hope Lennartz with students at the Center

Solange Rossignal visiting with students at the Center

David Hewitt fitting a child with a prosthetic

Brief HISTORY

This organization is the result of a 1997 visit to St. Vincent's in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti by Hope Lennartz and Solange Rossignol. These women, both experienced registered nurses, were moved by the desperate conditions of the children living at St. Vincent's. They were determined to do everything possible to improve the lives of the children living at St. Vincent's. Upon returning to their home in Connecticut, they set about collecting medical and other needed supplies to send to Haiti.

The effort of collecting donations for St. Vincent's put Solange and Hope in contact with many different people. Many of these people joined Hope and Solange in their efforts and a fledgling group was formed. One of these people was David Hewett, a prosthetist. David traveled with Solange and Hope when they returned to Haiti in 1998. Though there is a brace shop at St. Vincent's, David was not able to secure the proper materials or equipment to fabricate legs there.

After this trip, David, Solange and Hope were even more determined to assist the children at St. Vincent's. In early 1999, a 16 year old young woman from the Center came from St. Vincent's to live in West Hartford, Connecticut for approximately 2 months. While she was here, she received two prosthetic legs with the help of Hope, Solange, David and many others. Many people in Hope and Solange's community have been inspired by their efforts and moved to help them. In early 1999, a the group decided to become an 'official' non-profit under the name of Friends of St. Vincent's Center for Handicapped Children. Non-profit status was obtained in the fall of 1999.

Until the political situation permits, the Friends will not be able to return to Haiti. However, the group continues to support the Center with scholarships for high school students and supplies sent on land-sea containers.