Although hard to imagine, this year marks the 50th consecutive year that the Walk for Haiti will take place on Good Friday — April 18, at our usual location — the outdoor track at the Peter Torigian Senior Center, 79 Central Street in Peabody. The walk begins at 9 a.m. and usually concludes at 11 a.m. Walkers are encouraged to come at any time and to walk as many laps as they wish. The purpose of the event is to raise awareness of the situation in Haiti and to provide financial assistance, primarily to the children of Haiti.
For more than a year now, the inhabitants of Haiti have been daily besieged by relentless violence – killings, rape, theft, kidnapping, and a total disruption of daily living – including severe food insecurity, a collapse of health care, displacement of over one million Haitians, confinement o their houses, school closings, and extreme poverty due to the inability to leave their houses to work. In short, a sense of total fear and danger pervades the capital city of Port-Au-Prince at all times. Government and police protection are woefully lacking. Presently, the main cause of this chaos throughout the entire country is the presence of gangs, which have intensified in strength and number. Recent statistics indicate that there are approximately 200 gangs with about 50% of them made up of young people, including children.
More than 800 soldiers from Kenya have landed in Haiti to help quell the indiscriminate, relentless attacks. As one gets further away from the capital, life is a little better, but still very difficult, even in the back country village where we concentrate our efforts.
Our organization, Faith and Concern, Inc. continues to support as many children and their families as contributions allow. We focus on providing education and a breakfast program for about 250 school children each day. In Haiti, education is seen as the one way to break the cycle of poverty. It is a great source of price to the children, and their hopes for the future. One hundred percent of every dollar collected is safely and securely sent to known, trusted leaders in Haiti.
We are always very grateful for the support given in the past. Please gather with us in this Jubilee Year and consider asking a friend to join you as together we can make an important difference in the lives of many people. For further details or to sponser a walker, you may contact Gail Bowlds at 978-535-1431 or Edith Burns at 781-598-1838. Donations may be sent to Faith and Concern, Inc., Wildewood Drive, Peabody, MA 01960.
