Since the recent earthquake and Tropical Storm Grace, hit the southern peninsula of Haiti, Heritage Community Church of Fruitland Park and members of the mission organization S.H.I.N.E have been monitoring the best way to address the immediate needs of those affected by these two disasters.

For seven years, Heritage Community has worked alongside  S.H.I.N.E. in Haiti, by sending missionaries, the building of a school and church house, as well as providing orphan care, and the development of sustainable resources like fish and tree farming and micro loans.

Now, Heritage and S.H.I.N.E. are linking arms with local Christian organizations in Haiti who are on the ground providing immediate relief to people in the city of Pestel and the surrounding mountain regions who have been devastated by these disasters. With the earthquake alone, more than 2,000 deaths and 10,000 injuries have been reported.  In Les Cayes, one of Haiti’s largest cities in the area, many of the homes and businesses have been completely destroyed, forcing families and individuals to camp out in the open and all of this amidst a global pandemic. Nearly 20 miles north of the city of Les Cayes, in the village of Maniche, it has been said 98 percent of the town has been obliterated and the most urgent need at the moment is items to provide immediate shelter.

In light of this urgent need,  Heritage Community Church will be collecting money to purchase in bulk, tarps and tents that will be sent in a shipping container that is being filled and prepared to leave for Haiti on Sept. 24.  If you would like to participate in this mission endeavor, you can do so by sending a check payable to the office of Sustainable Hope in Necessary Endeavors located at 101 E. Berckman St., Suite B, Fruitland Park, Florida 34731 or you can drop a check off at the office from Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, you can go to https://shinemission.org/join-our-mission/ and click on DONATE to give via PayPal. The cost of a four-person tent is $75 and tarps can be purchased for $10 each. Updates on the work will be provided through SHINE’s facebook page https://www.facebook.com/SHINE-Matt-516-247307612672063

S.H.I.N.E. is a Christ centered, mission minded non-profit organization created to help bring sustainable hope to underprivileged communities. For more information, you can contact Jeff Bell at (352) 396-2537 or Rev. Sidney Brock at (352) 267-2939.