There was someone that posted on the seed exchange named Brenda Cooper that makes regular trips to Haiti with her husband Michael. She requested seeds for Haiti under the user name Haitihelper (about a year ago I think) but her post was removed I assume because she didn't offer anything in exchange. I did a google search of her name because I wondered if she might have been in Haiti during the earthquake. Apparently she wasn't because I came across a news article telling about a planned trip in a couple weeks to help with medical needs. She doesn't have an email link on her member page but she has posted her address on the web. Michael & Brenda Cooper 1749 S. Dick Creek Rd. La Fayette, GA 30728 Brenda - 678-986-6287 I also found this address but the newsletter it was on was from 2005 so maybe they moved ?? Michael & Brenda Cooper 877 Moores Ferry Rd SW Plainville GA 30733 coopring05@aol.com I hope she posts here again when they are ready to work on their garden project again in Haiti. What a great way to help the people there become more independent. If we could find out for sure that the Brenda that posted here is the same one in the article, I think it would be nice to send them some seeds when they're ready. Has anyone been in contact with her? Here is a link that might be useful: Local medical team at work in Haiti

By now I am sure you have all heard of the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti yesterday. I am a long-time volunteer with a hospital in Haiti. So as to not break any Gardenweb rules, if you are interested in making a donation to our nonprofit hospital for disaster relief in Haiti, please contact me at cfipp at yahoo dot com and I will send you information on how you can help. Please keep all the people of Haiti in your prayers. Carol

Maybe in Haiti it is different and they will make repairs, but we are told that it is very rare for a garment to be lengthened or mended. We normally just put a 2 inch hem. We try to use generous amounts of fabric in the skirts so they are good for playing because in some countries they don't let the girls wear shorts or pants. We do sometimes put lace and trims, and we use cute fabric sometimes, but mostly we strive to have sturdy, long lasting clothing, that can be washed easily and will last a long time. I make sizes 2-12 shirts but I make them longer than what you buy in the store. Some of those kids are tall and skinny and may wear a small size for a long time, if it is long enough. Mostly they ask us to make short sleeve shirts, but if I have a heavy piece of knit, I make long sleeved shirts and they use them as pajama tops. That is what I am making at the moment and I think I have 6 or 8 more cut out and then I will be back to short sleeve shirts and I have some of them cut out as well. My one friend that I mentioned earlier has never had children so she loves making these little dresses and she does a great job. I have another friend that sews a little, so I make a tee-shirt top for her and she adds a skirt. They like to get that type dress because it just pulls over the head and doesn't have buttons, snaps, or zippers to wear out. I mostly make very simple clothing. I have a picture of some we did year before last that will give you an idea. I did the shirts and two of the dresses and my friend did the ones that look like they have suspenders. These are not the cutest ones we have done. Sometimes I have good fabric to work with and other times I squeeze a size 2 out of a remnant that I may have paid fifty cents for. Sometimes I have a big piece donated that I may get six or more shirts out of. It doesn't matter if they are alike since they go all over the world. At first I bought almost all of the fabric, or already had it, but then as people started to see what we could do with it, they started cleaning out their sewing rooms, or in some cases went to the store and purchased fabric that they liked. One time I found a really good piece of fabric at a Joplin Walmart on the $1 table (not common) and I think I bought 20 yards of it. It was about half a shopping basket full. LOL It has been a fun project, but sometimes I get tired of it and stop for awhile, then something happens somewhere in the world and it gets me going again. The first year I tried to keep track of what I made, but I lost count after 60 dresses. I don't keep records but I would guess that I personally have made 300 garments in the last four years. I could donate money, but I think I can make the same amount of money go a lot further when I sew, and in addition I have all the donated things that I can also use. One day, a lady who quilts brought me all the things that she had bought and decided not to use in quilts. I think we got about 40 skirts out of that donation. My neighbor called me the other day and asked if she could give me some fabric. I think it was 36 yards total and I haven't even started on that yet. It isn't tee-shirt knit and is mostly solid colors, so I will have to come up with something new for it....but I will. I think some is flannel so it will probably become night gowns. A lady that lives in Marietta donated some money to my friend in Blackwell who bought fabric with it and made dresses to bring to me. Now that is covering the State of Oklahoma from one border to the other. We have been amazed at the generousity. Here is a link that might be useful:

I am heartbroken for these people and what they are going through. In the very best of days, staying alive was a struggle for them. What a fearful thing this must be. While watching a live broadcast last night, there was a lot of gunfire in the area where many of these people were gathering. How terrifying! Doctors Without Borders is group I donated to. I know, for a fact, that many of these groups have high percentages of donations that go to administrative costs.