Wish list for HAITI

Andre is leaving for Haiti on March 8 and I hope to follow two weeks later. If you can contribute any of these items on our wish list, or help out with some cash, that would be great. Please attend our next fundraiser on March 6 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Louden Nelson Center for a dinner, slide show, and silent auction. Suggested donation is $20 or bring some food to share, and come prepared to bid on dozens of wonderful items. If you'd like to donate any auction items, please call me at (831) 426-0154, or send an email to chelseamaya@gmail.com.

Tents
Camping air mattresses with foot pump
Portable water-filtration system
Water purification tablets
Flashlights (rechargeable, wind-up or solar)
Rechargeable AA batteries with charger
Tarps
Mosquito netting for beds
Small hand tools, such as hammers, pliers, mortar spatulas, hand trowel, screwdrivers, hacksaw Soccer balls (deflated)
Jump ropes
Big lightweight suitcases or army duffel bags
Costco-sized cashews
Costco-sized almonds
Peanuts
Powdered milk
Large cans of tuna
Instant soups (not in styrofoam)
Raisins and other dried fruits
Protein powder with whey
Trader Joe’s packaged corned beef hash
Children’s vitamins
Kotex (sanitary pads)
Conditioning shampoo
Hand or body lotion
Soap
Toothpaste and toothbrushes
Light blankets like Mexican serapes or airline blankets
Cell phones and chargers

On American Airlines international flights, each passenger can take two 50-pound suitcases, a 40-pound carry-on, and a day pack for free. We can also take up to three extra 50-pound suitcases for $100 each. The most important item that all his relatives want are tents. I found an interesting article, entitled "Homeless Haitians Want Tents, Get Tarps."

There's a company in Aptos, CA called Shelter Systems. They recently sold 3,000 dome tents to the U.N. for Haiti. I left a message and sent an email to this company today. I'd love to take some of their dome tents with us. They claim to be the strongest for wind and rain. Andre's family said they're expecting heavy rains tonight. I just don't know how the hundreds of thousands of homeless Haitians will survive the hurricane season this year.