Cholera Outbreak Confirmed in Haiti, Relief Supplies En Route

Coconut Creek, Fla. (Oct. 22, 2010) –To combat Haiti’s deadliest health problem since the catastrophic earthquake, the South Florida-based nonprofit Food For The Poor continues to install water purification systems and distribute critically needed supplies to residents of Haiti’s rural Artibonite region.

“Less than 48 hours after the first cholera cases began arriving at hospitals, Food For The Poor deployed and installed five solar powered water filtration units that each can purify up to 10,000 gallons of clean water a day,” said Daniel Rouzier, who is coordinating Food For The Poor’s crisis response in Port-au-Prince. “We will have another five water filtration units installed by the end of the day tomorrow. We are in constant contact with priests and pastors that we partner with in the Artibonite region and Water Missions International is installing the units for us and are doing a tremendous job.”

This weekend, Food For The Poor will have a total of 10 solar powered water filtration units operating in the region between Petit Reviere and Desdunes. Approximately 1 million people reside in the affected region. In Haiti, where people and animals share the same water sources, cholera can quickly spread.

“Where Food For The Poor has installed water treatment systems prior to this crisis we have not heard of a single reported case of cholera,” said Rouzier. “There is a great deal of fear in Port-au-Prince. People are quite worried that cholera cases will begin to appear in tent cities close to Port-au-Prince.”

“The situation in Haiti is serious. The people of Haiti need help, and they needed it ‘yesterday,’” said Robin Mahfood, Food For The Poor’s President/CEO. “We have shipped supplies, and we will send more but these people need everybody’s help.”

Critical items being sent are:

1) Medicines, including antibiotics and oral rehydration salts. These will be airlifted.
2) Hygiene kits with soap, toothpaste and other personal care items to help prevent spread of disease. The distribution of prepositioned supplies in the Port-au-Prince distribution center has been initiated. Approximately 31,000 personal care and hygiene kits will be shipped from the Coconut Creek distribution center. These containers left the loading docks on Friday.
3) Blankets for more than 46,600 people will be shipped from Food For The Poor’s Coconut Creek distribution Center starting Monday.
4) Gatorade and Pedialyte.

View a video message from Food For The Poor’s President/CEO Robin Mahfood on YouTube.

To help Food For The Poor send supplies, please make a donation.

Food For The Poor, the third-largest international relief and development organization in the nation, does much more than feed millions of hungry poor in 17 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. This interdenominational Christian agency provides emergency relief assistance, clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and micro-enterprise development assistance, with more than 96 percent of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor.

For more information, please visit www.FoodForThePoor.org.

Contact:
Kathy Skipper
Director of Public Relations
954-427-2222, ext. 6614
[email protected]

Jennifer Leigh Oates
Public Relations
954-427-2222, ext. 6054
[email protected]

Wanda Wright
Public Relations
954-427-2222, ext. 6079
[email protected]



Why Support our new Pilot Inititaive

A Mercado Global handbag isn’t just an accessory—it’s a meaningful gift that represents hope and resilience. When you shop on our website you're making the statement that poverty isn't inevitable.

Every purchase helps create a stable economic environment within impoverished communities, which can lead to food security and reduce dependency on aid. It’s an investment in breaking the cycle of poverty through fair trade practices that uplift entire communities.

Each handbag is a unique piece of art, handcrafted by skilled artisans who draw on traditional techniques passed down through generations. This supports cultural preservation while giving artisans a source of pride and financial independence.

Empowering Women Through Sewing Flora Handbag

Flora Petite Crossbody in Turf Moss

The Flora Petite Tote is a square silhouette trimmed with leather piping and paired with structured leather handles. The detachable leather strap means you can carry it comfortably over your shoulder or remove it to wear in hand for an on-trend look.

Price: $128

SHOP NOW

Flora Petite Clutch in Lavender Maple Empowering Women Through Sewing

Flora Petite Clutch in Lavender Maple

The Flora Petite Tote features a square silhouette trimmed with leather piping and paired with structured leather handles. The detachable leather strap means you can carry it comfortably over your shoulder or can be removed to wear in hand for an on-trend look.

price: $128

SHOP NOW

Empowering Women Through Sewing Pilot

Mini Lily Wristlet in Cream Soda

Featuring a leather wrist-let and zipper pull, our Mini Lily conveniently and stylishly stores your essentials. Keep in your handbag as an organizer and remove for a chic night look!

Price: $58

SHOP NOW

Handbags are ethically crafted, prioritizing fair labor practices and sustainable production. With each purchase, you’re helping prove that we can tackle poverty through sustainable community development.

Buying a Mercado Global handbag provides sustainable income for artisans in marginalized communities, directly helping them support their families. By working part-time, artisans can make up to $8 a day, which is enough to lift themselves out of poverty over the course of a few months of engagement.

By shopping with us, you’re supporting a test initiative designed to demonstrate that we can build a sustainable, closed-loop system between our micro-enterprise programs and an online marketplace. If the test is sucessful we'll be able to scale up our programs.

Choose your gift amount

$500 $300 $150 $75

SPACER

Choose your gift amount