Church working to help with hunger in Haiti
With recent increases in the price of food worldwide, they are reaching out to the community for donations.
"A group of us have been concerned about Haiti for a number of years," Mary Powers said.Mary Powers, who is collecting donations on behalf of the church's charities in Haitian capital Port au Prince, has been on several mission trips with her husband, Neal Powers.
Neal Powers has written a book about the country. Another church member, Jackie Settle, has been involved in Haitian relief efforts since 1979.
A local student who grew up in Haiti and is friends with the church said he is touched by its efforts.
"It blows my mind every time they rally around issues in Haiti," Lindenwood student Fredo Derazin said.
Derazin, 23, was raised in a place called Good Shepherd's Love Orphanage.
"I have nine siblings, but I was not around to know them, Derazin said. My mom couldn't support all of us."
The orphanage, where Derazin lived from the ages of 3 to 18, is supported financially by a number of churches including Dardenne Presbyterian, Mary Powers said.
Worldwide food prices have soared by 40 percent in the past year due to increased fuel prices, ethanol production removing large amounts of grain from the market and various natural disasters decimating crops according to the World Food Program.
The island nation of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere according to the World Food Program, has been hit especially hard.
Settle said food prices in Haiti have risen by six times since December.
Gas prices are at $7 a gallon, Settle said.
Several news outlets reported in April on massive protests against high food prices in Haiti's capital Port au Prince. Alejandro Lopez-Chicheri, Public Information Officer with the United Nations World Food Program said via e-mail there has been ongoing unrest in Haiti since then.
"The risk of resumption can be high if the political situation is not resolved in terms of appointing a new Prime Minister and government," Lopez-Chicheri wrote.
One of the aspects of the food crises in Haiti shocking to those in the United States is that Haitians are eating cookies made primarily from clay.
Derazin said the Haitian cookie has traditionally been used by pregnant women for medicinal purposes.
"In some other slums, some people have made it from time to time a coping mechanism (for hunger)," Lopez-Chicheri wrote.
Food is available in Haiti, but the majority of the population just can't afford it, Settle said
Currently, Dardenne Presbyterian is working with three pastors in the Port au Prince area, Pastor Jean Briesnault, Pastor Gilbert Jules and Pastor Jean Romain to coordinate services.
"Every penny that's contributed to Haiti relief will go for food," Mary Powers said.
Mary Powers said mission trips are funded through the church's mission budget and private donations.
Dardenne Presbyterian has helped construct schools, clinics, water purification systems and orphanages, she said.
Church member Jane Geist's life was changed six years ago on a mission trip to Haiti.
"Anything about Haiti is important, that's where my heart is," Geist said.
Six years ago, while on a mission trip to Haiti, she met Derazin.
"He was supposed to help me learn Creole, which I never did learn," Geist said.
"(Derazin) said he would like to go to the U. S. one day, and I said why not," Geist said.
Geist went through the process of sponsoring Derazin, enabling him to go to school in the United States.
"I do love him, it's just like your own kid," Geist said.
Derazin said her generosity and that of the entire congregation were an inspiration to "love others just like God loves you."
Donations can be sent to Dardenne Presbyterian Church, 7400 Highway N, Dardenne Prairie MO 63368, attn. Mary Powers.
Donations in envelopes marked "Haitian Relief" will be used entirely to relieve hunger in Haiti.
More information is available by calling 636-947-0370.
