Lowcountry part of Haiti aid effort

Operation Unified Response arranged its first airdrop to Haiti this week to deliver food and water to victims of the earthquake. The C-17 loaded with supplies included a Charleston crew.

The air delivery, which requires proper ground coordination, was an experiment to determine if Haiti could support such an operation, according to Maj. Jeff Daniels, mission aircraft commander with the 437th Operations Support Squadron.

The airport in Port-au-Prince has been overcrowded with flights, affecting the delivery of relief supplies and medical teams.

The seven-hour mission Monday delivered 14,000 Meals Ready-to-Eat and 14,000 quarts of water, according to the Air Force.

"We actually had more than one challenge," Daniels said in a release. "It wasn't just the (air delivery). The (delivery) was just the final portion of this gantlet we had to run to get to Haiti. The first part was basically getting into such a confused airspace system right now that we have in Haiti, with aircraft coming from everywhere with limited aircraft control capabilities around Port-au-Prince. It's not necessarily the most organized flow right now. It's better now that the Air Force is helping run the operation, but it's still a lot of uncontrolled flying out there."

Help also is arriving from other parts of Charleston.

Seacoast Church reached $287,000 in its "Hope Epidemic" campaign that ended in December, according to Missions Pastor Jason Surratt.

The church decided last year to focus on providing clean drinking water to those without, Surratt said. T-shirts were sold for $5 and people were encouraged to drink only water for three weeks, donating the money they would have spent on soda, coffee and juice to the campaign.

While the money was being counted, Haiti was struck by the earthquake. Seacoast sent $25,000 to Water Missions International, a Charleston-based charity that deploys water purification systems internationally. Surratt said the "Hope Epidemic" drive will provide more financial assistance to Water Missions, continue to advocate on the approximately 850 million people worldwide who don't have access to clean drinking water and work to help quake victims in Haiti and residents in several African villages.

Drinking water and food are not the only items needed in Haiti; medical equipment is just as essential.

And a Charleston-based nonprofit, Portlight Strategies, is arranging deliveries of crutches, walkers, splints and other supplies, thanks in part to a $10,000 grant received from the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

Portlight Strategies, founded in 1997, was involved in several disaster responses. It is focused on helping disabled people around the world, according to its chairman Paul Timmons. It has sent two shipments of donated refurbished medical equipment to Haiti and plans to make many more shipments, Timmons said.

HAITI FUNDRAISER

The Charleston Boat Show has challenged the Lowcountry Oyster Festival to see which event can raise more money for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.

Organizers of the two events encourage all Lowcountry residents to participate and show their support. All donations collected during the two events will be given to Water Missions International to provide safe water for disaster victims.

The Boat Show runs from noon today to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Charleston Area Convention Center, Coliseum Drive, North Charleston

The Lowcountry Oyster Festival will be 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 31 at Boone Hall Plantation, Long Point Road, Mount Pleasant.

On the Web: Find out more about the events at thecharlestonboatshow.com and boonehallplantation.com.

HOW TO HELP

Here is a list of organizations accepting donations for earthquake-stricken Haiti:

• Water Missions International is preparing water-purification systems for deployment to Haiti. Anyone who wants to help can do so online at watermissions.org or by calling 843-769-7395 or text "WMI" to 85944, select yes, and a $10 contribution will appear on your next wireless statement.

• To donate $10 to the American Red Cross, text “Haiti” to 90999. The amount will be added to your next phone bill. The organization also is accepting donations through its International Response Fund, redcross.org. You also can donate through the local chapter by calling 764-2323 ext. 355 or make a secure donation online at LowcountryRedCross.org.

• To find out how to help the International Rescue Committee, visit theIRC.org or call toll free, 1-877-REFUGEE.

• To donate to Oxfam’s emergency appeal, visit oxfam.org.uk

• InterAction, a coalition of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations, has a list of agencies responding and how to donate to them. Find it at interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti.

CATHOLIC COLLECTION: Apart from this weekend’s special collection in Catholic parishes, individuals who wish to contribute may send a donation made out to the Diocese of Charleston, c/o Chancery West, 1662 Ingram Road, Charleston, SC 29407, with a memo indicating Haiti Relief. All money received will be used to support Catholic Relief Services in Haiti.

AME CHURCH COLLECTION: The Council of Bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is urging members of the AME Church to send monetary support for health care services and emergency aid. Local congregations are urged to accept donations for the next two Sundays and forward as follows: Donations for Haiti can be made at www.ame16th.com, or sent to the Department of Global Witness and Ministry. For more information, go to ameglobal-missions.org.

FAMILY INQUIRIES: The State Department has set up a hot line for Americans to inquire about family in Haiti: 888-407-4747.