Today the TW4H logo continued to self-propagate out of control, non-stop all over the cyberspace. The word is getting out thanks to your help and more and more people are finding out about us. Great job everyone!
Let us start with Karen who wrote about us on her blog today. Karen is not only offering many of her talents to the group including vocal performance, event coordination, and ESL tutoring but also has used her blog to let people know about us. Thanks for such catchy and enthusiastic promotion of TW4H Karen!
We all know someone who got a mortgage, who is thinking of getting a mortgage, or who will get a mortgage. Chris, also known as Son of a Broker, is our favourite mortgage broker and he has posted a video on his blog about TW4H and his commitment to this initiative. He will be donating $200 from every mortgage, irrespective of the size or type of mortgage. Thanks Chris!
Sophie wrote about TW4H on her blog as well. She points out how TW4H is beneficial for both clients and service providers and provides excellent networking opportunities internally and externally. We are especially grateful that Sophie labelled us a pretty cool bunch.
Let’s keep the energy going – we’re only 12 days away from our one month anniversary. TGIF to you all!
Just because it’s Saturday doesn’t mean we stop our efforts to raise funds for the work in Haiti! We’ve had some significant progress in raising awareness and raising funds for the Haitian relief efforts (see yesterday’s blog about our mention in the Globe and Mail and by UBC Alumni Affairs), but like the aid agencies who are still removing debris and rubble in hope of finding survivors, we need to keep moving.
Today, there was a report that 24-year old Wismond Exantus was found by rescue workers under the remains of the Napoli Inn Hotel. Mr. Exantus, now in stable condition, was found 11 days after the Haitian earthquake and hours after the Haitian government declared that they would be ending the search effort for survivors.
While there has been debate about whether the search should continue, there is certainly no doubt that there is more work to be done. An estimated 1.5 million people are homeless and the city of Port-au-Prince has suffered a huge loss in infrastructure. While some camps have been set up to house the homeless, we should not forget those who lived outside the city itself, and for whom aid has been slow in coming, if at all. BBC News reports that in the town of Jacmel, an estimated one-third of the town is in ruins, and many survivors are not able to get the medical aid that they need.
Even if the search has ended, we need to continue raising funds to support the medical and health teams that are dealing with the aftermath, and to help re-build the local infrastructure. This weekend, send an email, Tweet or Facebook message to your friends, let them know about Toronto Works For Haiti, and ask them whether they can volunteer their services or if they can use the services of a volunteer and help donate to the cause.
It’s day two here at Toronto Works for Haiti and it’s been eight days since the earthquake struck Haiti. The number of the dead continues to rise, and the concern now is about bodies decomposing in open space, let alone identifying them or giving them proper burial. Nonetheless, the living needs to be taken care of too. Grandparents, mothers, fathers, children, pregnant women, and babies who have seen and remember everything. Yes, the aid is arriving. We don’t know when it’ll reach everyone who’s in need. With 1.5 million people homeless and 500,000 in tent cities, the need is great and urgent, and it will increase for some time.
If you’re visiting this site for the first time, a very warm welcome to you – we hope to see you participate as a volunteer or as a client. In fact, today we welcome Sophie, Ryan, Lida and Patricia to the team!
Sophie is an amazing social media consultant and if you know what social media means, you will benefit from her expertise and experience. (We all see how the Haitian people were using social media to get the message out about their situation and communicate with their families!)
Do you struggle every morning deciding what to wear? Ryan will help you with style consultation. Sit down with him and based on your lifestyle, needs and goals, you’ll get a chance to understand what you already own and go shopping with the style expert!
Lida, being a highly sought-after editor and a proposal writer/evaluator by day, will help you polish your writing.
Patricia is a great tutor and she’s waiting to hear about your learning needs.
We’re happy to report that there will be piano teachers and more tutors joining the team soon. So think about what you have been wanting to learn! We will very likely have someone who can help you with it.
It’s great to see excitement and interest in our project. Don’t forget to let us know if you have any ideas. Let’s keep our hearts together for people of Haiti!
"Hi, I'm a medical doctor and researcher at University of Toronto. When I first heard about Toronto Works For Haiti, the idea just blew me away.
Selflessly dedicating time and energy to help people in need is such a beautiful idea and a powerful image. It provides a much greater bond than donating money alone. On top of that, Toronto Works For Haiti delivers expert service with the warm feeling of doing the right thing. These are the reasons why I proudly support the excellent work of TW4H."
Thilo van Eimeren, MD
, used TW4H for babysitting service
"I needed photos of myself for my business website and TW4H put me in touch with a great photographer. Elliot really put me at ease during the shoot and the result is photos that are probably the best photos I've ever had of myself. Thanks."
