Manatee mobilizes to help Haiti

MANATEE — Charitable organizations throughout Manatee County began accepting donations and prepared to mobilize Wednesday as members of the local Haitian community tried, often in vain, to contact loved ones in the aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake.

Officials at local chapters of the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities awaited word from national headquarters about what help they can provide, even as donations began pouring in. ShelterBox USA swiftly mailed off 200 boxes of supplies early Wednesday.

Tracy Vanderneck, the financial development director at the local Red Cross chapter, said her organization received a steady stream of walk-in and telephone donations Wednesday.

“It has been a great response,” she said. “People are really wanting to help the people of Haiti.”

Meanwhile, Haitians frantically phoned and sent e-mails in an effort to find out the fates of relatives and friends.

State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota mathematics Professor David Pierre tried unsuccessfully to get in touch with three sisters and a brother in Haiti. They live near the Port-au-Prince airport and in Delmas, a suburb of the capital city, he said.

“I have a terrible headache now,” Pierre said Wednesday afternoon as he listened to the one Haitian radio station he found still broadcasting on the Internet. “The fact you can’t get in touch with anyone is killing me.

“I was thinking of leaving here and going to Haiti, but I know I won’t be able to do anything to help.”

Pierre, who has lived in the United States since 1999, is the faculty adviser for SCF’s Haitian Club. He plans to convene a meeting as soon as possible to discuss what students can do to help. Many of the club’s members have family in Haiti.

Congregants of Church of the Cross in Bradenton spent Wednesday praying for Patrick and Barb Lataillade, missionaries the church has supported for about 15 years.

The Rev. Stan Pavkovich said the Lataillades’ home in Port-au-Prince collapsed Tuesday. Both were rescued from the rubble, but doctors were struggling to stop Barb’s bleeding early Wednesday evening. The Lataillades lived in Bradenton briefly and attended Church of the Cross before moving to Haiti, Pavkovich said.

“The first thing I did this morning was Facebook them,” said Pavkovich, who said he learned of their rescue from Internet reports and a Haitian pastor he knows. “It was mind-boggling. I’m still processing it, just like everyone else.”

The United States vowed to help Haiti with a massive rescue and humanitarian effort. U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, said the aid is necessary both for Haitians and their relatives who live here.

“My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti — and with many of my constituents who have family and friends there,” Buchanan said. “I will support the administration’s efforts to ensure that federal assistance is available to support vital rescue and relief efforts.”