Del. church on Haiti recovery efforts: “We always have to help each other”

Recovery efforts are underway to help Haiti, where officials say at least 108 people have died as a result of Hurricane Matthew.

The deadly storm has left more than 1,500 homes flooded, affecting roughly 2,700 families including Clermite Thibeau’s.

Thibeau, a Laurel resident, has lived in the United States for 25 years; however, she says most of her family still lives in Haiti.

“We have to send money to them, and we have to send food, and it’s hard to talk to them, because when you try to call them, it’s like you hear them on the phone, they can hear you and then sometimes you can’t even get through to them,” explains Thibeau.

As authorities and aid workers continue gauging the extent of the deaths and damage in the impoverished country, the call for relief has reached national attention.

“Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world, already suffering from a range of previous disasters, has been hit really hard by this storm, and we anticipate that they are going to need substantial help,” President Obama told media Wednesday.

The call for help is being answered by the Delmar Haitian Church of the Nazarene, where Thibeau attends.

Starting on Sunday, the church located on Hideaway Lane will start collecting items to donate. Thibeau says money, clothes and non-perishable foods will be shipped to Haiti.

The most recent storm is its largest humanitarian crisis since an earthquake in 2010. Thibeau says the church collected items to donate then, as well.

“If you have your own kids, you don’t have anything to feed them, how would you feel?” she asks. “It doesn’t matter, like…you’re a christian or you a non-christian, we always have to help each other.”

We’re told the church will accept any donations even if you are not a member. Donations can be dropped off at their location on 36926 Hideaway Lane in Delmar.