Helping Haiti, HHS-Style
By Chi Zhang
Earthquakes shook Haiti in January 2010. To this day, the small country still struggles to recover from the damage. Thankfully, people everywhere are striving to make a difference to improve conditions in Haiti through donations, community service, and other methods. Here at HHS, one group of people is helping Haiti in its own way every week. These generous students, staff, and community members make up the Helping Haiti Club.
Founded by Sophie Bartels, a junior, and Janet Daniels, a new staff member, Helping Haiti meets every Tuesday during activity period. The club’s goal is to help out a project in Haiti that is creating a self-sustaining community by teaching the natives how to sew so they can sell their work and make a living. The club raises money to buy them sewing machines, fabric, and other things. Some of the ways the cub raises money is through sewing quilts to sell and having bake sales. Every so often, Sophie or Janet takes a trip down to Haiti to give the people the raised money and resources.
The club is run by students. Sophie is the club president. Janet Daniels is the sewing instructor and she also inspired everyone’s love for sewing and Haiti. Maureen Doyle provides a space for the weekly meetings and the materials including sewing machines and fabric. All the other club members provide their generosity, effort, and love.
If you’re interested in joining the club, you only need to show up to Madame Doyle’s classroom in room 244. Activities involve sewing and quilting lessons, creole language training, informational sessions on working in developing countries, and guest speakers. Everyone and anyone is welcome to drop in to the club. All the help in selling, volunteering, or speaking will be greatly appreciated. There’s even a March Intensive offering created by the club devoted to helping Haiti.
Whether you want to learn about Haitian culture, help out a cause, or do something during Tuesday activity periods, then come to room 244 and hang with the Helping Haiti crew!