| Following the tragic earthquake that took place on January 11th, 2010 in Haiti, members of the Joplin community began to brainstorm ways local churches, organizations, companies and individuals could have a direct impact on the Haitian people. The initial plan was to gather local doctors and other medical personnel and plan trips to Haiti to help with the massive number of injuries and health issues. Many are already on the ground or on their way. Then came the addition of local hospitals, medical schools, businesses, organizations and individuals donating medicines, medical equipment, food, camping equipment and other basic needs for the people of Haiti. The outpouring from this community is completely overwhelming.
Something very rare in the realm of gifts and donations during extreme times of need is the ability to track where your specific donation goes, to see it at work. Accountability. Also, once you text your donation or write the check it all becomes "out of sight, out of mind." The excitement fades and the involvement of the community dwindles. Of course the need is still there and in some cases worse than ever because the spotlight fades and we simply forget.
We asked the question, "What would happen if the people of Joplin could see what their donations of money, resources and time were doing on the ground in Haiti?" We believe strongly that the excitement might not fade so quickly, the giving might continue, and more needs would be met.
From this was birthed the idea to develop a website where the people of Joplin could follow their gifts of money, resources and time as it worked on the ground in Haiti. Its founders were Len and Suzette Clevenger and Jacky Pierre.
This website was set up to function as a portal between the people of Joplin and the people of Haiti. Through this website the community of Joplin are able to follow doctors and individuals, they likely know, who are giving weeks and months of their lives to serve on the ground in Haiti. Through this website the community of Joplin can follow their physical donations as they are delivered by their friends and neighbors to the devastated people of Haiti. Through this website the community of Joplin can learn in real-time about ongoing needs of a nation digging out of the rubble. Through this website the community of Joplin can hopefully be inspired to continue to give.
Several of the people active now have been actively involved with Haiti for over 30-plus years.
Commentary by Bart Paden
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