Haiti orphanage rebuilding after hurricane

Hurricane Matthew, which recently hit the Caribbean country of Haiti, left destruction in its path. Among the areas struck was an orphanage in Leogane that is part of the ministry work of Hands of Friendship, a thrift store east of New Prague.

“We were hit pretty bad,” said Amanda Bivens of Hands of Friendship. She explained that the 90 children, ages 3 to 17, who were at the orphanage all got out safely and were transported to a temporary orphanage near Port au Prince. The children are sleeping on floors, plus there is the cost for food and clean water.

The orphanage near Leogane had a surrounding cement and rock wall washed away, along with the road leading to the site and the orphanage’s kindergarten building. Bivens said an entrance to the orphanage has been created at the back of the site. A local farmer has made a temporary road through his field. A chain link fence is also being built to temporarily replace the wall that was damaged. “This week we hope to be relocated back to Leogane,” said Bivens.

Anyone that would like to help out the orphanage can make donations at Hands of Friendship’s website, hofmissions.com, or drop donations off at the store at 656 W 280th St, east of New Prague.