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Miami's Haitian Community Helps Victims Of Hurricane Ike

POSTED: Monday, September 15, 2008
UPDATED: 1:54 pm EDT September 15,2008

"This is what God wants. Help your brother and sister," said Billy Baptiste, a parishoner at Notre Dame d'Haiti Catholic Church in Miami.

Church members were hurrying to pack all of the incoming donations that have been collected to help the victims of Hurricane Ike in Haiti.

"I believe we have enough things to fill a container and a half," said the Rev. Reginald Jean-Mary.

There are more than 800,000 victims of what seems like an unrelenting storm season. In recent weeks, four major storms have hit Haiti.

At Notre Dame d'Haiti church, cars and vans filled with donations arrived all morning.

"This is the heart of the Haitian community, so what we do here will be felt there," said Jean-Ronel Galette, a man who came to donate clothes and toiletries.

There were also donations of toys and baby formula.

But what is really needed the most is food -- basics like beans and rice, and canned foods that don't require a can opener to be opened.

Father Reginald, who was in Haiti just before Hurricane Ike struck, said he wishes the government would strengthen the infrastructure -- its roads, bridges and build levees -- so the people could have a chance to do more than just survive each hurricane season.

"It's really affected me and it's a little bit frustrating to see us going through the same cycle each year," he said.

How You Can Help Victims Of Hurricane Ike
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