I ran into a referral to the
Haitian Community Help and Support Center, Springfield, Ohio.
[ https://haitiansupportcenterspringfield.org ]
(1530 S Yellow Springs St., Springfield, Oh 45506]
Check them out for their services, PayPal account, etc.
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I was blown away by the profiles of the four officers:
Viles Dorsainvil – President
He has a bachelor’s degree in Governance and International Relations (GIR) at Queensland University in Haiti. He has a Diploma in Ministerial Studies and a Master of Divinity at the United Theological College of the West Indies in Jamaica. . . .Based on my faith in Jesus-Christ, I have always relied on this biblical verse found in the gospel according to Saint Luke 22:27, “But I am among you as one who serves.”
Reginald Silencieux – Vice President
Married and father of three children. He is a civil engineer, Lawyer, communicator, and theologian. Senior Pastor of the First Haitian Evangelical Church of Springfield and First Haitian Evangelical Church of Columbus. . . . As a Pastor, serving people at my church and the community at large is an obligation. If you say you are a follower of Jesus-Christ, there is no way that you will not have a heart to serve.
Lindsay Aime – Treasurer
He has a bachelor’s in law. He has served as Coordinator ‘Rebati Sante Mantal’ (Rebuild Mental Health) for 6 years. This organization is based in the USA and Haiti. . . . I have to Springfield for more than 5 years and I have been supporting Haitians in various ways especially with their language barrier since I am bilingual. . . . My background as a pastor’s son has given the ability to interact with people and give the services they need with respect and dignity.
Rose-Thamar Joseph – Secretary
She has taken undergraduate classes in Social Work at the Haiti State University and has a Diploma in Administrative Assistant . She worked for more than 6 years at American Red Cross as Operations Administrative Assistant (Haiti). She is currently a Student in Social Work at Clark State Community College. For me, Community Services is vocational,
“I’ve always wanted and enjoyed helping people. This is one of the reasons that I have chosen Social Work as major in college. Being part of this big project and being able to help my fellows Haitians and any other immigrants is like my dream becomes reality. I know that we have a long road ahead, but my commitment is bigger than any obstacle. My motto is simple ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'”
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When I was in North Carolina, I met a few Haitian immigrants who came to Charlotte by way of the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services. (They later re-located farther north, where there was a larger Haitian community.) They seemed like admirable young men, looking for a better life.
The story of people such as them coming to a town to work in the factories that needed workers, reminds me of my Grandpa Weninger at the beginning of the 20th Century — coming to Akron, Ohio; speaking only German; living in the German-speaking community; going to a German-speaking church; working in the tire plants of Akron.
And also serving in the US Army during WW I (speaking mostly German!)
Fast-forward 125 years, and the Weningers were the parents of a WW II WAC; with 3 or 4 WW II Vets as Sons in Law; other veterans, teachers, accountants, policemen, pastors, etc in the next generations.
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As Ronald Reagan (!) said:
Our nation is a nation of immigrants. More than any other country, our strength comes from our own immigrant heritage and our capacity to welcome those from other lands.
Bruce The Cameron 