Monday, February 7, 2011

new arrivals

After nearly three months, we are very happy to report that our last shipment of hospital beds and medical supplies has arrived in Haiti! Our partners at Hôpital Sacré Coeur recently shared the following photos with us:

hospital beds arrived at HSC hospital beds arrived at HSC
hospital beds arrived at HSC

It is exciting to see these 70 beds in place and even more exciting to know that our efforts are supporting the essential work of our partners at the hospital.

The arrival of these beds at HSC is complemented by a recent expansion of the hospital’s physical plant, which now includes a maintenance building and storage warehouse, situated adjacent to a prosthetic lab and a solar powered water purification system. As our partners at HSC enter their 25th year of improving healthcare in Haiti, we are also happy to report news of an upcoming conversion and expansion of on-site facilities to include a library and a housing compound for additional volunteers and students.

Despite the many media reports focused on the difficulties in creating change in Haiti, we are proud to have worked with an organization that has made the most of opportunities born of the January 2010 earthquake by improving and extending the quality of care available in the north of Haiti. Moreover, as we close the chapter on this project, we are thrilled to recognize that we have successfully accomplished, and surpassed, our initial campaign goal of supporting this organization, by bringing a total of 130 beds to Haiti in the past twelve months.

None of this project could have happened without your support, encouragement, and generosity. We thank you and hope you can share our sense of accomplishment, knowing that our small project to bring hospital beds to Haiti is making a real impact upon Haiti’s healthier future.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

one year later

I am one of many finding it hard to believe that today marks the one-year anniversary of the 2010 Earthquake. The staggering losses caused by the 7.0 magnitude quake that shook Haiti to its core are still hard to comprehend: almost 300,000 people lost their lives, 400,000 were injured, and more than 500,000 homes and buildings were destroyed, leaving approximately 1.3 million people homeless. As though the immensity of the challenges facing Haitians, no strangers to prior suffering, weren’t Sisyphean enough, recovery needs in Haiti have been compounded over the past year by ongoing political instability, a damaging hurricane season, a devastating outbreak of cholera, and the unmet promises from the international aid community.

In reflecting upon these grave realities today in January 2011, it is hard to not feel incensed by the continued distress in Haiti, just as it was impossible to not feel shocked and horrified in January 2010. However, the sentiments of outrage and convicted compassion that brought about the 100 Beds campaign in the first months of last year, have been met with feelings of appreciation, accomplishment, and hopefulness at the beginning of a new year.

Never would I have imagined that, in less than a year’s time, an idea emerging from a sense of powerlessness in the face of tragedy would be transformed into a sense of powerfulness and into an initiative compelling hundreds of others to help get hospital beds where they were most badly needed. I am one of many inspired by the generous and collaborative efforts of people like you contributing to Haiti’s recovery, that have helped us move from 0 to 100+; beyond the website, the events, the awareness raising, and the surpassing of our initial goal of sending 100 hospital beds, I know that I am not alone in being impressed by the concerted work of a few people to accomplish something tangible, green, and compassionate. For all of these efforts, I would like to extend my thanks to each of you that have helped make this project a reality over the past year, through which worn-out cots and mats have been replaced with durable hospital beds, to help support Haiti’s healthy recovery.

In the past year our partners at Hôpital Sacré Coeur have treated over 1000 earthquake victims and their families, as well as 1000+ cholera victims, through surgeries, prostheses, and first class care. On this day, as we continue awaiting the delivery of our latest shipment of beds and medical supplies to HSC, we reflect upon the work of our partners, and strong Haitian communities, that directly support living and healing with dignity through more than temporary solutions.

Despite the enormity of needs and the challenges faced in Haiti today, one year later, I am comforted by these varied small achievements, remain determined to see Haiti's healthy and prosperous future, and implore others to keep fighting because there is still so much work to be done. On today’s momentous anniversary, I’d like to ask you to remember those that lost their lives and livelihoods, and to think of those that persist and fight to survive. Please continue to support Haitian recovery through direct contributions to ongoing relief efforts and by appreciating the important message that comes forth in the story of Haitian survival: one of our shared humanity, our abilities to collaborate to create change, and the essentiality of perseverance.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

shipment number three - 60 more beds for Haiti!

While Hurricane Tomas drenched Haiti with sheets of rain and heavy winds on Friday November 5, the 100 Beds team was creating a stir of our own as we prepared our third shipment of beds for our partners in Milot.

the goal: beds into the shipping container
Two storage containers full of hospital bed frames and a shipping container at Lexington Health Care Center

The exciting day began with the collection of 60 hospital bed frames generously donated by the Lexington Health Care Center, a Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Lexington, Massachusetts. Thanks to the logistical help of Mission and Relief, our team was able to load two 40 foot shipping containers with 60 frames. One container was filled completely with 45 frames and is being shipped directly to Haiti from Massachusetts. A second container was packed with the balance of 15 bed frames, before it was driven to make a second pick up, in New Jersey.

transloading beds from storage to shipping container
transloading bed frames into the shipping container

Our friends and partners at Medical Angels, an organization that collects medical equipment and caregiver supplies to redistribute them to people and organizations in need, very charitably provided the complimenting 60 hospital bed mattresses. Volunteers from the 100 Beds team connected at the Medical Angels facilities in Hackensack, New Jersey to help load these mattresses and additional medical supplies and equipment into the second container, which will ship to Haiti from New Jersey this week.

moving supplies from Medical Angels warehouse to the shipping container volunteers helped load hospital bed mattresses and medical supplies
transcribing the seal number for a dock reciept for the shipping container sealing container two: 60 mattresses and more
volunteers helped load supplies into the shipping container before it was sealed for shipment to Haiti

Thanks to the generous support from Medical Angels, we were ultimately able to send Hôpital Sacré Coeur far more than 60 beds. Our shipment of donated medical supplies included bedside tables, reclining medical chairs, wheelchairs, walkers, crutches, diapers, blankets, liquid food & protein drinks, rehydration supplements, gauze, latex gloves, dressings, respirator systems, lancets, orthopedic bandages, catheters, tracheotomy care supplies, anti-diarrheal drugs, vitamins, and batteries.

lots of medical supplies!
in addition to 60 beds, our shipment included medical equipment and supplies

Our biggest thanks and utmost appreciation is extended to both the Lexington Health Care Center and to Medical Angels, whose philanthropic donations made this all possible. Likewise, this exciting collaborative effort couldn't have happened without the invaluable logistical guidance from Mission and Relief and the ongoing support and encouragement from the friends and fans of the 100 Beds for Haiti campaign. We thank you so very much for your enduring commitment to supporting Haiti's healthy recovery and look forward to sharing updates with you about the arrival of these beds to Hôpital Sacré Coeur.

some of the 100 Beds team celebrating after the move!
some members of the 100 Beds team back in NYC celebrating after the move

If you would like to view more photos from our exciting day, please visit our flickr site here.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

updates: many movements!

On the heals of a cholera outbreak that left nearly 450 people dead and more than 6500 hospitalized, Haitians are preparing for the arrival of yet another threatening disaster, Tropical Storm Tomas. Yet not all things headed to Haiti are so ominous! After two months of organizing offers and coordinating partners across the northeast of the US, we are very excited to be updating you from Boston with news that our next donation of beds for Haiti is ready!

Some of us from the 100 Beds team have traveled to help pack up hospital bed frames in Massachusetts. With help from logisticians in Pennsylvania and volunteers from New York, these frames will be matched with mattresses in New Jersey, and then shipped to our partners in the Caribbean on a shipping line from the Mediterranean!

On the eve of our next major shipment of beds to Hôpital Sacré Coeur in Milot, Haiti, we are incredibly grateful for the support and encouragement received from friends and collaborators across the country and around the world. Your financial generosity, and the incredible commitments of volunteers near and far, have made this amazing process possible and it’s really quite moving to see all of these efforts coming together.

It is our hope that everything goes well with our packing and shipping tomorrow, and we look forward to sharing pictures and stories from this next step with you soon. Keep your fingers crossed for us and for our friends and partners in Haiti, with wishes that they weather the upcoming storm, and await our next shipment of beds, with resilience.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Love and Beds in the Time of Cholera

Apologies for the long break from posting, but we wanted to share some developments with everyone who has supported the 100 Beds campaign through an incredible year so far.

Foremost, the recent Cholera outbreak in Haiti continues to to be of grave concern to our partners in Cap-Haitien and Hôpital Sacré-Coeur. CRUDEM and the hospital continue to take in patients, which only reinforces the need to deliver more viable beds. While there has been some good news regarding the veracity of the crisis, there is still a greater danger of the outbreak spreading to the still-reeling populace in Port Au Prince.

So far, 259 Haitians have died, with another 3,300 afflicted. Partners In Health has provided a thorough news round up, here, and official Haitian government and UN statistics are available within the Cholera Situation Update, here.

We at 100 Beds have been collaborating with new partner organizations, including Medical Angels, to help secure more quality beds as well as emergency medical supplies. We continue to reach out to new sources for the next shipment and should have some good news to share very soon. As always, you can donate to the campaign here, and help us BEAT our goal of sending 100 beds to support the continuing recovery of Haiti and her people.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Imagine This: a track and video supporting Haiti

It takes a certain type of person to dedicate their craft to helping educate others and create social change, and the 100 Beds for Haiti Campaign has relied on this type of creative generosity and talent from the very beginning of this project. We are thrilled to share the newest contribution of this type of compassion and talent, from the amazingly talented JGROMMA, a music producer, emcee, and singer living and making music in New York City.

JGROMMA has written and performed Imagine This
, an awesome track that he has dedicated to the people of Haiti affected by the January 2010 Earthquake. Touched by the ongoing recovery efforts, JGROMMA will generously donate all proceeds from the sale of Imagine This to the 100 Beds For Haiti Campaign. Please take a moment to hear the track and watch this great video, arranged by Daren McKelvey using photographs from friends of the 100 Beds Campaign.

"Imagine This" by Jgromma from 100BedsForHaiti on Vimeo.

Support our campaign and purchase this track for $1.29 via iTunes or Bandcamp. Stay tuned for more amazing music coming from JGROMMA and learn more about his work on his myspace and facebook pages, follow him on twitter, and catch more of his videos on youtube.

Friday, August 27, 2010

35 More Beds Arrive in Haiti


Our second shipment of 35 beds arrived in Haiti this month, bringing our grand total of delivered beds to 70!




Initially the beds-- a second generous donation from the Bethanien Hospital in Germany -- were scheduled to arrive in July. However, do to the overwhelming traffic of aid and supplies headed into Haiti, our beds were delayed for a few weeks in Caribbean.

And if you are wondering how well the first shipment of beds were received: not long after the beds were installed and patients were transferred into the first shipment of 35 beds, we received word from Jacques Raymond Delnatus, HSC CFO, that patients immediately felt safer and more secure in the new beds. We wish them all the the best in their recoveries!

We are now well within our goal of sending 100 hospital beds to HSC, and through the generous donations of sponsors from our various fundraising events, outreach, and online donations, we should have some pretty exciting news soon! Stay tuned!


Only 30 more beds to go!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

breaking records for beds

Great news! The 100 Beds for Haiti campaign and its supporters have set a new world record!!

During our July 16 fundraising event, A Night of Art, Film, Dance and Fun: Raising Funds for a Healthy Haiti 6 Months After the Earthquake, we challenged attendees to help us set a world record with the The Universal Record Database:

Using the neat new product SQUARE, we collected credit card donations via iPhones throughout the evening. The attendees at our Manhattan event donated a total of $401.72 using SQUARE, setting a new record for Most Money Raised Using Square At A Charitable Event!


Thanks for the cool tool, SQUARE, and thanks to all the attendees and donors that helped set this record!

Think you can beat our record? Give it a go, or set your own new record at URDB!

comings and goings

In early July we sent our second shipment of hospital beds to Haiti: the 35 used beds were donated by the generous Bethanien Hospital in Germany and were scheduled to arrive in Haiti in early August.

Much like the delays from traffic jams and winding security lines during the heavy summer travel seasons across the US and Europe these days, our exciting shipment encountered some delay in the Caribbean due to the huge amount of cargo destined for Haiti during the busy summer months.

After three weeks of delay, while our partners at Hôpital Sacré Coeur have continued caring for patients on makeshift cots and temporary beds, we are very happy to announce confirmation that our shipping container has arrived! The precious container was discharged this week in Cap Haitien and the beds will reach the hospital soon.

We hope that all our supporters and fans are enjoying a great summer of smooth sailing and fun travels, and that you will stay tuned for more updates and pictures!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

and the thanks continue...

We are still reveling in all the positive feedback from last week's event and wearing big smiles of gratitude towards all of our supporters and collaborators that made this event possible. On behalf of the entire 100 Beds for Haiti campaign and our partners at Hôpital Sacré Coeur, 100 thanks are extended to:

Our fantastic venue and hosts:


Our three beat-slinging and dance-inducing DJs:

Justin Miller
, of DFA records
DJ SABO
, of Sol*Selectas/Bersa Discos/Mo'Glo' Radio 91.5 FM,

The great graphic design and photographic talents lent by
TYTHEdesign
Color Me Katie

Excellent sound and visual elements supported by:
Kiss Brooklyn

v.KA$H (888 Life) visuals
Dubspot
electronic music production, DJ School
Barry Heyman entertainment law
Daren McKelvey
video production

The wonderful friends, artists, and companies that supported our auction and helped create a fantastic ambiance throughout the affair:

the artist Rojmeck
HIMANE
/Trashy Chic
The Team at Collective Hands Foundation (CHF)
Nadege Fleurimond of Fleurimond Catering
Kombit
Bar & Restaurant
The Universal Record Database (URDB)
Square Up
Happy Faces Party Goods
The Mattress Insider

Facilities Management and Student Affairs at Columbia University Medical Center

Our generous alcohol sponsors and donors:

Bushmills Irish whiskey
Brooklyn Brewery



"Complimentary Bushmills Irish whiskey" - Share Bushmills Responsibly. 21+
"Beer has been lovingly provided by Brooklyn Brewery”

 
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