Dr. Jim Morgan, founder of Lamp For Haiti which funds a free health clinic in Port-au-Prince, has returned to Montclair after a week in the quake-ravaged slums of Haiti’s capital.
With all commercial flights into Haiti suspended, Morgan flew into Santo Domingo in the DR, where he connected with US AID personnel orchestrating transport to Haiti for medical personnel. Morgan and several other physicians were helicoptered into Port-au-Prince.
“We felt tremors everyday,” he says. “People were sleeping on mattresses outside.” Morgan says his trip had three objectives: to provide leadership and support for his staff, to maintain a presence in the community, and to re-open the clinic. Mission accomplished all around!
Cite Soleil, the slum where the clinic is located, is a dicey neighborhood, Morgan explained. “For two days after the quake, we had zero security. The UN peace keeping patrols had left the area to help out at the UN mission. My staff was threatened by poor locals who were feeling desperate.”
“I knew it was very important for me to help the clinic regroup – we couldn’t let our mission be turned around, and I knew security would come back. Of course, it didn’t hurt that I brought cash to pay salaries to the staff,” says Morgan.
One of the first tasks he tackled was bringing more water to the community, by paying to fix up an old American milk truck that could transport drinking water. “We paid the mechanic, driver, and bought the fuel.” Now there are two water trucks serving the neighborhood. Read a full account of his experiences on the Lamp For Haiti website.
While Morgan was away, Montclair mom, Amy Barnett, demonstrated how the power of one can make a tremendous impact. Barnett quickly channeled her empathy for the quake vicitms of Haiti, to organize last weekend’s fundraiser for the Lampa Clinic. With the help of friends and the generous participation of Egan & Sons pub who provided the venue, she collected $3,700 in donations, which she presented in a check to a very appreciative Dr. Morgan. Amy writes “that is NOT counting Egan’s $ contribution, and includes some money we collected at school. I’m also still expecting a few more checks from people. In addition, I would have to estimate between $5,000 – $6,000 in medical supplies and medications. I’m probably looking at at least a thousand bucks worth of Ibuprophen right now.”
Local fundraising efforts continue…West Orange mom, Michelle Cadeau, recently founded Heart Haiti. Read how she’s put her heart into helping people in Haiti, on Barista Kids.
– above left, Amy Barnett with Jim Morgan’s wife, Ellen Cunningham, MD
I covered the fundraiser the was held at Egan’s last Sunday…so many people were there to support and help..
I interviewed Dr. Cunningham, Dr. Morgan’s wife, and the promoter, Amy Barnett, as well as Sharon Egan…all a great story.
With luck, I hope to air that segment in a future episode of Inside Montclair…I say with luck, because the station has all but stopped airing shows produced by the public…I’ll keep you posted.
Kudos to Morgan, Barnett, Cadeau and everybody who has contributed.
(Could it be any more confusing, though — head’s up, Annette!–how much money was raised? With the help of Egan, she collected $3700, which doesn’t include Egan’s contribution… d’oh!)
I meant with the help of Egan’s she was able to hold the fundraiser. I’ll make that clearer.
That’s great news all around. I’m always in awe of people who, without hesitation, put their lives on the line to help others in such dangerous nightmare situations. It is the true meaning of courage.
Wayne- sorry to hear that the station is not airing material produced by the public.
(BTW:It would be nice to know the total amount raised since the headline uses the phrase “fundraising success”.)
Kudos to Dr. Morgan–way to step in and do meaningful good in a place where it’s got to be quite tough to do that right now.
It’s really wonderful to see a local community get together and pull together resources so quickly for a local resource in Haiti. Shows how relatively small groups of people can accomplish difficult things quickly.