Preparations underway

We are currently preparing to leave for Port au Prince for what will initially be a three-month block of work in Haiti, and have identified some resources and technology that are still needed to assist us in our work there.

We are very proud of our past record of extremely low overhead as a non-profit, and our organizational goal is to continue that trend and be responsible and transparent with any money and resources that are entrusted to us. As we prepare for this trip, we are still seeking donations to cover our travel costs to and from Haiti, and also welcome any in-kind donations of services or goods that are able to fill the needs we have identified below.

Tents - There are still many people who are without even the most basic of temporary shelter as the rainy season approaches, and so the CCRP is currently exploring multiple partnerships within Canada to secure tents that can distributed to those most in need in Haiti.

Laptops - We are in need of two lightweight laptops/netbooks to aid us in our efforts on the ground in Haiti. With these resources and our background in radio and telecommunications, our teams will be able to share the reality of the devastation and rebuilding with Canadians and the rest of the world, to ensure that Haiti is not forgotten as the news cycle changes. They will also be essential to basic communication with our partners in Haiti, Canada, and the United States.

Digital SLR camera - As part of our commitment to accountability, and in answer to concerns from some Haitians regarding lack of transparency of some non-profits on the ground, we are in need of a digital SLR camera so that we can document the work of the CCRP on the ground.

Webcams - We are looking for a large quantity of webcams or similarly small digital video cameras, as we explore options for increasing security in the various internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

Shipping services - With the collection of materials such as tents, we are also in need of shipping services from various points in Canada to our warehouse space in New York City.

As the CCRP is a registered charity in Canada, we can offer tax-deductible receipts for the value of all donations received.

The economic situation in Haiti is such that costs are much higher than typical in the region -- as a basic example of supply and demand affecting costs. Some basic needs (food, water, etc.) have been described as expensive to urban American standards, and as such, any financial and in-kind donations go a long way to helping us in our goal of assisting in the development of both short-term and permanent solutions to the problems facing Haitian communities today.