(Courtesy of Nancy Morrison, Publisher, Avery Journal-Times)Each year in March, Dr. Steve Cook of Banner Elk leads a medical team that travels to Haiti to help with much needed medical treatment for the vast numbers of Haitian citizens living in abject poverty. His team also takes supplies, toys, educational material, Bibles, and anything else useful that can be carried or shipped. Dr. Cook is using his medical expertise and his knowledge of the area to help with the Avery County part of the worldwide relief effort being mounted. The current crisis in Haiti was generated by the devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck on January 12 near Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital city.
Cook's team is affiliated with Grace Mission, based in Florida. For the latest news postings from Grace Mission to Haiti, go to gracemissionpage.org. Grace Mission supports 29 churches, 20 schools, a medical program and medical clinic, a food distribution program, and a Bible Institute.
At present, Cook said, checks can be sent to Banner Elk Presbyterian Church in Banner Elk at P. O. Box 158, Banner Elk, NC 28604 and please clearly mark them "Haitian Relief Fund," as the church has a number of other missions. Church office administrator Rob Clemmer will be overseeing donations. The phone number is 828-898-5406.
Cook also recommends sending monetary donations through Samaritan's Purse in Boone. You can donate online at samaritanspurse.org. Samaritan's Purse already has a team on the ground working in Haiti and, according to Cook, the organization has excellent resources and contacts in Haiti.
Please be generous. Monetary donations are so important right now, and as soon as safe channels for goods can be ascertained, dry goods donations will be needed desperately. Suggested goods are: white rice, dried beans (especially red, black, and pintos), pasta, oatmeal, and other dried goods.
Drop off points for the dried goods in Avery County are:
Newland – The Avery Journal-Times (335 Linville Street beside Avery Tire) and Medi-Home Care (located in the old Newland fire department building).
Banner Elk – Dr. Steve Cook's office (110 Park Avenue, Banner Elk beside the Banner Elk Pharmacy) and Dr. David Kimmel's office (150 Park Avenue, Banner Elk).
A doctor and his wife affiliated with Cook's team flew into Haiti and landed about an hour before the quake hit. No one had been able to contact the couple for most of the first 24 hours. On Thursday, Cook was quite relieved because he had gotten word that his friends were safe.
"You just won't believe how I heard," Cook said. "A friend of the couple managed to get word out on Facebook!"
Cook said there was a team of 10 people on a mission trip to Haiti from Georgia and he had just heard that all ten were fine.
(Updates will be posted on our Web sites as we receive new information.)
