Help me help Haiti

I'm writing today in remembrance of the catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake which claimed 230,000 lives exactly one year ago. Sadly, much of Haiti appears exactly as it did only days after the disaster last year. 1 million Haitians remain homeless and 80 percent are unemployed.

I recently read this article about the reconstruction, or lack-thereof, and it truly broke my heart. While the recent political crisis and cholera outbreak have gotten a lot of press, Haiti is hurting in many other ways.

As you know, I'm planning to travel to Haiti next week to take part in relief efforts. My organization, All Hands Volunteers, has been on the ground in Léogâne, the epicenter of the earthquake, since only days after it occurred last year. They've already constructed three schools and are in the process of creating hundreds of life-saving bio-sand water filters, which, for only $100 USD, can provide clean, safe drinking water to an entire family for more than 10 years. All Hands has also instituted a cash-for-work program, paying Haitians to clear rubble and help rebuild.

As part of my support efforts, I'm also collecting donations. This is where YOU can help! You can make a tax-deductible donation today at http://allhandshaiti.kintera.org/emilyvantassel. These funds go directly to All Hands to support Project Léogâne. Every dollar counts! So clean out your couch or your change jar and give it to a good cause. For the small price of one night's bar tab or a week's worth of morning lattes, you can make a difference. See your hard-earned money doing good work through the pictures on this blog and at All Hands flickr and youTube pages.

Thank you in advance for your love and support, I'm surely going to need it! And thank you from All Hands as well!