Thank you, so much, for responding to our request to support our precious children in Haiti in light of the recent security issues. We’re almost 3/4 of the way to our goal in just 4 days and the outpouring of love and support for our kids – who I agree should not have to live with bullets flying over their heads, wondering if gangs are going to jump over our walls – is incredibly touching. It’s not a way to live, and as a result of the money you’ve donated, we’ve already hired more security guards who are on our grounds now, and we’ve engaged contractors to help us assess our buildings for a safe house.
Your donation made that possible in just 4 days. You made that possible.
Here’s a thank you message I posted yesterday, in case you missed it:
Join Madrigal Chorale and Detroit Country Day School singers for an evening of pop songs to benefit the music program at Have Faith Haiti Mission & Orphanage. Music is an invaluable source of expression and joy for the children at Have Faith Haiti thanks to classes taught by Dennis J. Tini, distinguished Professor Emeritus of Music, Wayne State University.
Hear Mitch Albom and Tini speak about the importance of music education at the orphanage and how you can make a difference in countless young lives.
March 17, 2023 | 7:30 p.m.
Seligman Performing Arts Center at Country Day High School 22305 W. 13 Mile Rd. Beverly Hills, MI
Our friends at Hôpital Albert Schweitzer have announced activation of their Emergency Operations Plan after an armed group descended on their town of Desjardins, breaking into homes and kidnapping victims at will. Within hours of the attack, at least 12 people had been kidnapped. The hospital has suspended non-emergent care, and are accepting only emergency patients.
Based in Haiti’s Lower Artibonite Valley, the 200-bed Hôpital Albert Schweitzer Haiti is the only 24/7 full-service hospital serving a population roughly the size of Anaheim, California — more than 350,000 people.
Intervention is needed to help re-establish safety, and according to the poll conducting by Haiti Health Network, Haiti’s people are asking for help.
A message from Mitch Albom
Friends, Haiti is falling into utter chaos. When hospitals are getting attacked, things can’t get much worse. Please read this, and help if you can. And send the message, however possible, to our leaders, that Haiti needs intervention now from the international community, before something beyond tragic happens. See the poll that shows an overwhelming number of Haitian citizens want outside help. When doctors and nurses are fleeing, we must do something. Thank you for your kind consideration.
Siem Lafleur and his mother, Clodine, pose in front of where Clodine is now living in Edward, Haiti, after the earthquake hit on Aug. 14, 2021.
Mitch Albom wrote about Siem leading relief efforts, and the emotion toil of being torn between college in Michigan and his earthquake-ravaged family. You can read this moving story in the Detroit Free Press right now by clicking here.
The supplies we are bringing to families in need of relief in Haiti focus on the elements: tents, flashlights, tarps – literally ways to protect from the rain, sun and darkness.
On this next trip to Jeremie, we were able to take some time to visit with extended family members, some of whom have not been able to keep in touch with kids for years. Here, Esther’s uncle gets emotional watching a video message from her.
On this next trip to Jeremie, #Haiti, we were able to take some time to visit with extended family members, some of whom have not been able to keep in touch with kids for years. Here, Esther’s uncle gets emotional watching a video message from her. pic.twitter.com/UF6TS5PPJb
Siem is returning to Aux Cayes, while a group of teens — Samanza, Djouna, Appoloste, and Nahoum — accompanied Mitch Albom to relief efforts in Jeremie to distribute food, shelter, solar lights, tarps, tents and more to extended families in the area. Repeated flights will be made to Jeremie and Aux Cayes throughout the weekend.
UPDATE, August 27th:
Siem successfully made it to Aux Cayes despite the treacherous roads, distributing relief packages that include food, tents, lighting, and other essential general supplies. Mitch Albom will be returning next week with more. Your generosity has made this possible.
We have confirmed that three of our children’s families have had lost their homes – and what little they had. But they are just three of the 50,000 whose lives have been further upended. The latest reports put the death toll at 2,200, with 12,200 people injured.
And by some small miracle, the effort to distribute aid has received some actual security support. Haiti’s National Police has deployed extra units to protect aid being shipped into the country, and even a notorious gang leader pledged a temporary truce with other warring factions so that aid trucks can make the journey from Port-au-Prince to the southwestern area hardest hit by the earthquake and storms. Driving conditions are already difficult, and at one point nearly impassable due to mud and rock slides.
More updates to come, please check back soon.
UPDATE, August 19th:
Siem is heading to Aux Cayes this weekend, and will be leading efforts to provide supplies, food, shelter (tents) and more to the families of our kids affected by the earthquake and storm. At least five have been left entirely homeless, and we are still waiting to hear the status of many more. Any remaining supplies will be distributed to neighbors.
UPDATE, August 18th:
We welcome donations to support Have Faith Haiti’s education and care of our children, which will continue whatever the natural or political disaster that we face. We expect to take in more children affected by this last earthquake and storm, and will be traveling to the area the first weekend in September to address needs of any family members of our students in Aux Cayes.
If you are looking for addition organizations who help provide immediate aid, we can share the following trusted partners:
UPDATE, August 17th:
Mitch Albom published a new Bulletin post with updates and reactions from our kids. Subscribe and read “How much could you take?” here.
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti on Saturday, August 14th, about 80 miles away from Port-au-Prince. Kids at Have Faith Haiti Mission felt the shaking, but the campus’ structures are in tact. The children are a bit rattled, especially those who remember the last one. We are worried about those in coastal areas including Jeremie and Aux Cayes. Some of our children come from Jeremie, admitted after the devastating effects of Hurricane Matthew, from which many still have not recovered. Many of our newest are from Cayes.
Within two weeks, we will be heading down to Les Cayes area to check in on the families of the nine children we took in last month who are from there. We are prepared to help any children who have suffered in this latest tragedy, including taking them in if we need to.
It is with great sadness that we share the sudden passing of a beloved teacher at the Have Faith Haiti Mission, “Mr. Phedre.” Born Vladamir Delinois in Haiti, he lived in Brooklyn and Florida as a child. As an adult, he served in the U.S. Army, and returned to Haiti, where he joined the Mission teaching English. He worked with our high school students on their TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) preparations, which is required for students to do well on if they are to gain admission to a college or university in the States.
Make your check payable to “Have Faith Haiti Mission” and send to
Have Faith Haiti Mission
c/o A Hole in the Roof Foundation
29836 Telegraph Road
Southfield, MI 48034
Have Faith Haiti is operated by the A Hole in the Roof Foundation, a 501(c)(3) org (TAX ID# 27-0609504). Donations are tax deductible.
About the Mission
The Have Faith Haiti Mission is a special place of love and caring, dedicated to the safety, education, health and spiritual development of Haiti’s impoverished children and orphans. You can learn more here.
It’s time to answer some questions.
There has been a great deal of media attention to the evacuation of our staff, volunteers, and founder. It’s likely you’ve read or watched the story by now.
Our founder, Mitch Albom, addresses the questions that may be running through your head; they are likely the ones we grapple with every day.
