Who we are

Tents to Haiti is the result of a new partnership between two organizations in the United States, a group in the Dominican Republic, and two organizations in Haiti. Representatives of the U.S. and Dominican groups traveled to Haiti shortly after the earthquake to bring supplies to our Haitian partners and friends. After extensive meetings with leaders of the grassroots organizations in Haiti with whom we have been in relationship for over ten years, it became clear to us that the best way we can focus our relief efforts at this point is to get as many tents to Haiti as possible.

In The United States
The two U.S. based organizations are both located in Wisconsin:

Bryan Sirchio (the Bryan on the video) is one of the leaders of Haiti Partners MCC .  Bryan has been working with grassroots groups in Haiti for close to twenty years.  Please visit the Haiti Partners MCC website (www.haitipartnersmcc.org) if you would like to know more about the different aspects of this faith-based outreach to Haiti.  Tents to Haiti is under the overall umbrella of Haiti Partners MCC, and donations to this effort will be tax deductible through Haiti Partners MCC’s non-profit status.

2. Julie Johnson ( Julie on the video) is a member of the SE Association United Church of Christ Haiti Partnership Team. Julie has been traveling to Haiti and working with various groups there for ten years. The SE Association team represents UCC churches from the Southeast Wisconsin area and is partnered with an organization in Haiti called CONASPEH (see below).

In The Dominican Republic
Historically, relations between the Dominican Republic and Haiti have been complicated at best and often very strained and at times hostile. One of the beautiful things that is happening now however is that Haitians are receiving a great deal of aid and good will from many in the DR who are reaching out to their Haitian neighbors in this time of tremendous heartache and need. As one of our Haitian colleagues told us, "the first groups to arrive with food and water and help were people from the Dominican Republic. We will be forever grateful to them."

Because it is extremely difficult to get supplies through the Port au Prince airport at this time, Tents to Haiti would not be possible with our partners in the DR.

Max Levine & Verenice Berroa are a couple who live in the Dominican Republic and are helping to coordinate shipment from Santo Domingo to Port Au Prince.  Verenice Berroa was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and prior to the earthquake has been working on programs to help foster solidarity between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.  Max Levine started working as a volunteer in Santo Domingo to help coordinate logistics and support the Haiti Earthquake rescue effort through such organizations as Red Cross, Santo Domingo & Center for International Disaster Information (CIDI).  His experience identifying and negotiating with Dominican suppliers and vendors has helped streamline costs and time to procure.

In Haiti
The two partners in Haiti who will be receiving and distributing the Tents to Haiti tents are SPARE and CONASPEH.   They are both headquartered in Port au Prince.  SPARE stands for Sponsorship Program Aiding Relationships and Education.  SPARE is described in detail on the Haiti Partners MCC website (www.haitipartnersmcc.org) .

CONASPEH stands for The National Spiritual Council of Churches in Haiti.  It is made up of 6,700 churches, and is an umbrella organization for Protestant churches and associations throughout Haiti. CONASPEH was established in 1986, and seeks to be an advocate for its member churches with programs all aimed at improving the lives of the poor by making it possible for them to live a life of dignity and respect

Approximately 2,500 CONASPEH member churches were in the earthquake zone and affected by the earthquake, including 128 churches in Cité Soleil alone, which is one the poorest  areas.  CONASPEH is responding to the disaster utilizing their seven established Regional Centers in the area affected by the earthquake – in Carrefour, Petionville, Fontamara, Delmas, Leogane City, Petit Goave City, and Cité Soleil.