After the Earthquake: One Thousand Tents for Haiti

As the extent of the destruction in Haiti becomes clear, so do the priorities on the ground. The majority of Haitians affected by the earthquake are now homeless, and the need for shelter is urgent. There are many ways to help for those who cannot afford to donate money, and innovation has become a major theme in many of the smaller grassroots efforts.

One example is a US-based initiative whose mission lies in the name, One Thousand Tents for Haiti. Created by Seattle activist Johnny Fernandes, the beauty of the project is that it is both simple and practical. Anyone can participate. The initial goal is to collect 1000 extra tents from around the US (and now Canada) by the end of February to send to Haiti.

“I felt compelled to act on a purely humanitarian level,” says Fernandes. “The re-building of the affected areas will take years. The vast majority of the people have no shelter, no homes to go back to—men, women and children are all sleeping outside, exposed to the elements. This is for those who want to help but don’t necessarily have money to donate, but may be able to give a used tent they have in their garage.”

His goal cuts right to the most immediate needs of Haitians, as there have been numerous reports out of Port-au-Prince from aid groups stating that tents are a top priority right now.

Fernandes has already received a massive a show of support through a rapidly growing Facebook group, where most communication is done. Fernandes has seen support for the project increase faster than he imagined: “We have over 1000 members since January 21, and at the moment the effort is being driven by about 10 individuals.”

The tents are being directed to one location in Florida, where they will be then shipped to Haiti.

“We will be collecting used and new tents around the USA. The tents will end up in Florida before making their way to Haiti. We’re working with Haitians in America and in Haiti to ensure full transparency and accountability in the distribution of the tents. I expect at least one member of the group to be present for the distribution,” he says. “So far, we've had about 300 tents pledged. One person in Texas has pledged 150 tents. We're trying to figure out the logistics of getting the tents to Miami.”

In addition, a similar Canadian initiative has also been started by a member of the group. One Thousand Tents for Haiti has also joined forces with a Veteran’s group in Miami who will be providing warehouse space: “They are setting up flotilla of about 100 vessels to go to Haiti, and that will probably happen in March- they’re still working out the details,” says Fernandes.
Once the tents arrive in Haiti, the group will be partnering with Fondation Seguin (http://www.fondationseguin.org), a Port-au-Prince environmental non-profit. Fondation Seguin, which has been around for about six years, will now be leading the distribution efforts on the ground.

While both used and new tents are welcome, Fernandes prefers if people don’t spend money on new tents, and instead “let ingenuity, determination and community prevail.” Despite this request, he also recognizes that those who want to help “One Thousand Tents for Haiti” financially should be able to.

“Soon we should have the ability to donate online. Several people have expressed the desire to donate cash. Some of them are overseas- others felt that was the way they could contribute.”
Online donations will be made via Barefoot Workshops (www.barefootworkshops.org), a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in NYC.

Says Fernandes, “I wanted to shy away from a habit we tend to rely on too much, which is ‘Click on the donate button and you're done.’ I wanted people to come together and use their creativity instead of their wallets. As concerned people of conscience, we can have a direct impact. As individuals, the task may seem monumental, but as a group the goal is more achievable. Most people want to help, but sometimes need a catalyst.”

If you have an extra tent to donate, contact Johnny Fernandes at johnny.a.fernandes@gmail.com johnny.a.fernandes@gmail.com johnny.a.fernandes@gmail.com or through the Facebook group, “One Thousand Tents for Haiti“.

Those interested in sending tents directly to Florida can do so with the addresses below:

One Thousand Tents for Haiti
c/o Make a wish Veterans Inc.
3255 NW 7th Ave Circle
Miami, FL 33317

One Thousand Tents for Haiti
c/o 12632 NE 2nd street
Bellevue, WA 98005

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