Last year, Ballardite Tracey Higdon volunteered at a medical clinic in Haiti through the non-profit Friends of the Children of Haiti (FOTCOH). This was long before the devastating earthquake of January 12, 2010. Now, she tells us, “They more than have their hands full there.”
Higdon is on the left with a line of incoming patients behind her.
“Since the earthquake I have been racking my brain, trying to figure out how best to be of help to the people of Haiti,” Higdon wrote in a letter to her friends. She’s a business owner with a background in exteriors, not the medical help the clinic could traditionally use.
The clinic does some work outside because of the air-borne illnesses.
“On March 26th I intend to head in-country to manage the repair and re-painting of the clinic. One of the last standing in clinics in the region, this 10-year old concrete building will soon deteriorate if we don’t properly seal and repaint it now,” the letter continues. A photo of the clinic when it was first completed is here.
“A blitz of patients,” Higdon says.
Higdon is trying to raise $6,000 for the trip. This money will cover Higdon’s travel, supplies, and hire labor in Haiti. The head of FOTCOH, Dick Hammond has given her the green light to hire a team of workers to help get the building back into shape, which will give a little boost to the economy. Higdon knows the team of workers she will hire and tells us that each one of them has lost their home.
Red hair is an early sign of malnutrition.
You can make a donation to help Higdon get back to Haiti through this PayPal account or attend the upcoming fundraiser at The Leary Traveler (4354 Leary Way NW) on March 8th from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. You can contact Tracey through this email: tracey2haiti@gmail.com (Thanks Noele for the tip!)