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A very public cry for help was photographed by Andy Atkins of Stoufi'ville in Haiti last week. The experience was just hours after landing in Canada. Unable to land directly in Haiti, the trio’s plane landed in the Dominican Republic. where they stayed for two days creating a pipeline of relief before they drove across the border into Haiti. Prior to the earthquake, Haiti and the Dominican Republic, although neigh- bours, were not exactly on friendly terms. The Dominican Republic was a tourist hot- spot, while Haiti was known as the poorest country in the western hemisphere. Hovirever, aid workers like Mr. Atkins and the Locks were able to freely cross the border. “The Dominican opened their hearts. their borders," said Mr. Atkins, who noted the country's government put together its own truckloads of food and supplies and drove them to areas of Haiti where few, if any, relief organizations could get to. ’People were garbage parliamentarians to orphans’ Mr. Atkins is not new to pmviding relief aid to counm'es ravaged by natural disasters, so he thought he knew what to expect then the group finally made it to Pon-au-Prinoe. He was wrong. “I've never seen devastation“ ’on this scale.” he said. “We saw body bags on the road that still hadn’t been picked up. I was overwhelmed and couldn't help but cry." Being surrounded by corpses was dif- ficult enough. but what was perhaps even more disturbing was how they were being WOMEN'S FASHIONS. FOOTWEAR AND ACCESSORIES. A #PPERTREE KLASSIC§ SUPPORT OUR 2010 VANCOUVER OLYMPICS AT Stouflville aid workers return from quake zone From page 1. treated Since the earthquake, Canadians have donated more than $67 million to Haitian relief aid, whidw the federal government says it will matdl. Another $16 million was raised during last Friday's Canada for Haiti telethon. "Thanks to whatever you’ve done - small or large,” Mr. Atkins said According to Mr. Atkins, it costs $5,000 to fill a small tnrckload of supplies, which consists of about 8,000 pounds of rice, beans, cooking oil, sardines, water and tarps.The food will feed 600 to 800 families for three to four days. “lust like garbage -â€" they pushed them back in the truck and dumped them," he said. “People were garbage â€"â€" from parlia- mentarians to orphans off the stneet.” Which was in bomplete contrast to how the counny's dead used to be treated â€" with lavish funerals and proper burials. What has also changed is how survi- vors greet one another. According to Mr. Atkins, prior to the earthquake, people would cheerily say: 'Hello. How are you?’ Now, it's a much more subdued: ‘Hello. You’re alive. Tell me about your family.’ If people's homes weren't lev- eled, what structures are left are unsafe to WHAT YOUR MONEY BUYS live in, which has forced about halfa mil- lion people onto the streets. This included Mr.Atkinsandhisfellowaidworkerswho slept in tents and under mosquito nets on the Freedom House Bethesda grounds, which is in Port-au-Prince. In the still of the night, just as everyone would be falling asleep, Mr. Atkins said singing and clapping could heagcl, “The Haitian spirit is cheerful and happy," he said. “The violence and chaos â€" I know it’s there. But it does not cap- ture the reality of the day People were desperate but calm. Life was going on as it could." Over a five-day period, Mr. Atkins and the Locks helped distribute thousands of pounds of food to countless numbers of Haitians, yet they know they were able to only assist a handful of those in need. “The immediate need is huge. The short-term need is massive and the long- term need is incomprehensible," he said. isn't going to be taken we of in months or years." Emmanuel International sent two more people to Haiti this week to help co- ordinate aid relief. “Over the course of the next year we will send more people,” said Judy Atkins. Mr. Atkins' wife and assistant at Emman- uel lntemational. “It's going to be a long- term commitment." Formore infonnation. go to emicanadaorg PHOYOIAM WINS ; ‘Stouffville for Haiti’ ? backs local charities Aneveningotinformationandentertainmentwilltalreplaoe Feb.5atEastRidyEvangelicalMissionaryChmch. Wiorflaiti,michisendorsedbythe$touflvilleMiniste rialAsociationmillieamreupdatesfromEmmanuellnterna tional,CBM Canada and International Child Care otCanada. The event begnsat 7:30 pm. 'ihe (event) was inspired while watching the Canada for Haiti hindraiserandobservingmatnoneotthe(three)charitiesthat haveaStoutlvillebaseorstrongStouflvillerootswereincluded among the nine charities they were raising funds for: said Tim ' Jacobson, a member of EastRidge church. “these (three) chariâ€" ties have been serving in practical ways for many years in Haiti and have demonstrated long-term commitment“ meevening'sentertainmentwill be provided bythegispel quartet Hill Top Vocal Band, Diane Stover and Bdon Wideman and his band. A free-will offering will be taken Cash and cheques, made payable to any of the three charities in attendance, will be Anothet fundraising concert for Haiti taking place that night is Young and Young-At-Hean at St. James Presbyterian Church. For mom infonnation, see Jim Ibomas’ column on page 5. mesmdentsatStouflviue DistrictSecondarySchool raised $1,200 in five daysthtough donations, a bake sale and by colâ€" lectingloosechange. 'Iherewetesomanysmdentsmatcame mmugh.wecan'teven mention mm," said Sandy Bush otthe school's Student Suc- oesspmgamfltwasjustwonderfultoseehowmuch caveso many smdents had for the batting (in) Haiti.” $1,200 raised at Stouffvllle Secondary Students at Oscar Peterson Public School will be doing the dishes. walking the dog and cleaning their room all without promptingbymomanddad in ordertoraisemoneyforthe relief organization Canadian Medical Assistance Teams. Each student participating in the fundraiser will have his/her name prominently posted in the school's hallway. Cash for chores at Oscar Petetson Student, 8, Inspires fundraiser Markham'sTown Centre Montessori School is collecting dona- tions for Haiti, thanks to Grade 3 student Deeya Ramdhanie of Stoufiville. The school does not normally hold fundraising events. but eightâ€" year-old Deeya felt an exception needed to made in this case, ‘ A so she asked the school do so. Her argument was that as an educational instiurtion, it is impor- tant to improve a child's knowledge about other parts of the world, said her mother, Maya Ramdhanie. A few days after making her flea to the principal, a letter and pledge fomrs were sent home. , me school is also holding a casual day tomomw. Students can wear their ciwies for $2. with all proceeds going to Haitian relief. b Is your school, business, church or other organization supporting Haitian relief. E-mail us at jmason@yrmg.com â€" Sandra Bolan