Current Campaigns |Things We Need | Starthrower Foundation Haiti

Starthrower Foundation launched two new campaigns for sponsoring students in school and reinstating the food distribution program. Sadly, both have been put on hold following the earthquake. (See the blog for updates from Haiti).

The list of things we need has been modified since the earthquake, and an up to date list has be posted on our blog.

Although Starthrower Foundation welcomes individual sponsors for our students, we decided that 'many hands make light work'. That is, many small donations soon add up! The two new campaigns will be ongoing, and run in tandem.

We need to raise $20,000 USD to cover costs for our post secondary students, and a similar amount to restart our Food Distribution Program for secondary school students.

It bears mentioning that when one donates through Canada Helps button on this page, it is not necessary to register or set up an account. And already, several fundraisers have been launched (see Fundraiser Page for details).

Here is the updated list for current campaigns ~ Things We Need.

The good news is Starthrower Foundation is getting assistance with one of its major ongoing needs -- access to safe drinking water -- thanks to a water purification system. Please refer to the Starthrower Foundation Blog for details.

We only ask for hard goods donations in kind for items we cannot purchase in country, in order to continue to facilitate justice for these young people. As always, we purchase as much as possible in Haiti, but with current shipping issues, these items are requested from those who are travelling TO Haiti. If the shipping/customs issues are resolved, we will post it here.

Things We Need
hand sanitizer (large refill size preferred)
Benadryl-type antihistamine TABLETS with a long expiry date
pencil cases
back packs
ball point pens
sun glasses * baseball caps
vitamins (chewable and non-chewable)
water bottles
bar soap, face cloths, hand towels
twin sheets, pillow cases
toothpaste and toothbrushes
plastic drinking glasses (not disposable)
empty peanut butter jars with lids
Iams brand dry or tinned cat food
protein powder large size (vanilla)
protein bars
Ziploc bags

Things We do Not Need At This time
We currently have a sufficient supply of these items, therefore they are NOT NEEDED at this time: pencils • dictionaries • scientific calculators

Things We Do Not Need
coloring books, crayons (Our students are in High school and post-secondary)
Please do not send used clothing, used shoes, bubble bath or bath salts.
Please DO NOT send prescription medications (especially expired ones) for medical conditions that our young people do not have. If you would like to donate pharmaceuticals that HAVE NOT expired, please contact a hospital or clinic.

Please do not send the 'Gummi Bear' style of vitamins -- hungry people think are candy or food, and this can be dangerous.

NOTE: For those coming to Haiti : If you are bringing new items to Haiti, PLEASE remove all packaging, price stickers etc. as these things add weight, and add to the garbage disposal problems. If you think some items need to be covered (eg new underwear), please repackage in Ziploc bags, as we always need them as well.

The easiest thing to transport to Haiti is money. Many needed items that are available in Haiti are purchased there, which helps support the local economy. However, Guilene needed a brailler that was not available in Haiti. A plea went out, and was answered by 'angels' in the U.S.A. (see below).

To sponsor one child for one year in school costs between $250US and $500US; the fees vary with the grade level. Funds pay for tuition, text books and school supplies, and pay for materials and local tailors to make school uniforms. These children are very proud and pleased when they are able to dress 'just like everyone else' and attend school. Given an education and training, they are better equipped to take their place in the work force, to teach school, to apprentice in a trade. Ideally, help from international aid agencies should be a short-term solution, not the cultural and financial model for a nation.

For a detailed instructions on how to ship goods to Starthrower Foundation in Cap-Haitien Haiti, contact us via the email form.

The turnaround time is typically 4 weeks-6 weeks from the time the boxes arrive at CASXpress in Ft Lauderdale Florida and go by boat to Cap-Haitien, Haiti.

Goods should be packed in standard boxes 2 cu. ft. x 2 cu. ft. if possible, as they are handled by courier and shipping company and one may charge by weight and one by weight and size.

Remove all extraneous packaging materials from items; no point in paying for extra weight. Fill spaces between items with such things as washcloths, small towels, ziploc bags, new socks, etc.

List contents with indelible black marker on two sides of boxes, and address on the other two sides, also in indelible black marker.

Number each box 1/4, 1/5, etc so shipper knows how many boxes comprise the shipment.

Write our address in Cap-Haitien on the remaining two sides of the boxes. Cover all writing with clear packing tape to keep waterproof.

Do contact us first so we can give you the most up to date list, and prioritize goods needed.

Meet Guilene, a young Haitian girl (shown above with her family outside her home) who desperately needed a manual typewriter, a brailler, and portable cassette player to transcribe her notes.

Thanks to donors in Pennsylvania, Don H. and wife, Sharon, along with the Lions Club, who purchased a Perkins Brailler, and to Cindy W., who found a manual typewriter as well as a portable cassette player, Guilene now has 3 machines to help her further her studies.

Sadly, Guilene was injured when her school collapsed in the earthquake in January. After being buried in the rubble for 6 days, she was rescued, and made her way back to Sen Rafayel. Details on the blog at Guilene.

Currently we are sponsoring 100 students in school and trades., plus a number in post-secondary. More names have been added to our waiting list. Sadly, we have to turn away dozens more.

Generally, we bring from North America only items that are hard to find, or that are not available in Haiti, such as back packs, pencil cases, multivitamins, some toiletries and medicines.

Starthrower Foundation is unable to use items that are commonly donated to charities, such as clothing, shoes, surgical equipment, eyeglasses and canned goods or other foods.

For more detailed information about these types of donations, and why we aren't able to make use of them, please see donations in kind.

Due to an excessive strain on available resources Starthrower Foundation is not able to accommodate volunteers who wish to help out IN Haiti. However, we DO welcome any and all volunteers who wish to help out with fundraising and administration.

Use Paypal

Or use Canada Helps