While our hearts and prayers go out to the people of Haiti, as Scouts who are always ready to lend a helping hand, our minds wonder what can I do to help?
Rescue efforts are currently underway by professionals trained in disasters. The immediate need is for emergency supplies that have to be purchased. The Boy Scouts of America is partnered with the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) and locally the Greater Pittsburgh Council is partnered with the Brothers Brother Foundation (www.brothersbrother.org) for cash donations.
How your unit can help immediately!
Until the end of February, we are encouraging Scout units to collect items for “Care Buckets” that will be shipped to Haiti. We have partnered with the Brothers Brother Foundation because of their ability to deliver the buckets to Haiti in addition to their ethical reputation and strong track record with international relief efforts.
Download this flyer describing the items to be collected along with suggested collection methods and information on where to deliver the filled buckets. Empty buckets can be picked up at Flag Plaza. Please e-mail Jacob Kraus and let him know how many buckets you will need so we can assure they are available to you.
This project ends on February 26 so start NOW!
How your unit can help in the future!
Donations to the World Friendship Fund can be designated to help the Scouts in Haiti with long term rebuilding projects. Please consider asking for contributions during your Blue & Gold banquets, Courts of Honor, leader meetings, roundtables, Klondike derbies or other Scouting events. Please contact Jacob Kraus for collection materials and information on where to send the money.
As it becomes available, we will continue to post information on the Council website (www.gpc-bsa.org) on ways Scouting can help with the relief efforts. We are in the preliminary planning stages of allocating some of Scouting for Food collections to the people of Haiti. This would require a huge effort by all Scouts to redouble our collection efforts and set new records for food donations!
Council contact: Jacob Kraus Jacob.Kraus@scouting.org (412) 325-7963
More information:
Boy Scouts of America response to Haiti:
http://scouting.org/AlertHaiti.aspx
World Scout Bureau Haiti Solidarity Blog: www.scout.org/blogs
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