Bahamas Habitat

Fire Destroys Haiti Communitere Workshop

Haiti Communitere, formally Grassroots United is an organization with deep roots in the local Haitian community and the international aid community. Bahamas Habitat has a strong history with Haiti Communitere in times of disaster response and long-term development. Bahamas Habitat aids in providing transportation for supplies the organization needs in order to function.  Please read Haiti Communitere’s press release found at the conclusion of this message to learn about the fire that happened on the evening of  May 3rd, 2012.

We feel this tragedy deeply. Much of what we came together to transport for the last three years was trapped in this fire in addition to much more that came from other organizations – medicine, tools, training devices, emergency supplies, etc. The workshop is depended upon daily by the local community.  We believe in the goals this organization strives to realize and want to be of help now in their time of need.

Bahamas Habitat Supporters – Call to Action!

Pilots – take the list that Haiti Communitere compiled to replenish the resource center to your local community and ask them to fill your plane.  Before going to Home Depot, look in your garages and sheds first, give only what you would give as a gift, not discards.  View Home Depot online (log in with email address: info@haiti.communitere.org and password: haitifire; once logged in click on “My List” button on right-hand side). Donations purchased here will be shipped to KFXE and flown to Haiti when there is support to do so. Take care by paying attention to what is wished as we need to always take cues from those with whom we are serving, the community to whom this is given.

Notify us by EMAIL that you are delivering the supplies to Port au Prince and a crew will be able to meet you and unload the supplies. If you can fly your supplies only to KFXE that is still very helpful…let us know.

Non-Pilots – Recruit a pilot, organize those in your community to fill their plane with the instruction given above or, go to Haiti Communitere’s Wishlist through Home Depot and purchase supplies we can deliver (log in with email address: info@haiti.communitere.org and password: haitifire; once logged in click on “My List” button on right-hand side).
These donations will be shipped the address in Ft. Lauderdale.

Banyan Air Service in Ft. Lauderdale, FL (KFXE) will be our depot center and we will direct pilots who can carry more supplies through KFXE. Our Relief Pilots will receive a discount on fuel from Banyan as they are always so kind to us in situations like this.  For now, we need you to gather supplies, fill your planes and join in the relief efforts.

Pilots may receive a tax receipt for their use of their plane and operating costs by submitting a Trip Receipt once the flight is made.

Financial Donations are needed NOW for this relief response.

We could not function without the consistent support of so many.
By Check Mail to: Bahamas Habitat, Treasurer, 103 Dumbarton Court, Cary NC 27511.

Questions – Email (cameron@bahamashabitat.org)

———————————————————————-

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Fire Destroys Haiti Communitere Workshop -
HC Calls for Community Support

On the afternoon of May 3, 2012 a devastating fire broke out in the Haiti Communitere workshop. Fortunately, no one was injured, and the fire was extinguished before it spread. The workshop burned to the ground, destroying over two years of collected tool donations, five 40 foot tool containers, building supplies, medical supplies, and multiple projects in progress, totaling over (more…)

Source: The BBC

Bahamas Habitat Hurricane Watch

Tropical Storm Irene has turned into a hurricane – the first of the Atlantic hurricane season – over Puerto Rico.

Haiti, where hundreds of thousands of people still live in tents after last year’s earthquake, is in Irene’s projected path, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

It is next set to hit the Dominican Republic, and may also hit Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas in the US.

Irene has maximum sustained winds of 75mph (120kmh), said the NHC.

That puts it just above the official strength of a hurricane. At 09:00 GMT it was centred about 25 miles (40km) west of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moving west-northwest at around 12mph.

Haiti, which suffers from extensive deforestation and poor infrastructure, is particularly vulnerable to the heavy rains Irene is expected to dump.

In June, more than 20 Haitians were killed by mudslides and flash floods.

The country is also still struggling to recover from a devastating earthquake in January 2010, which officials said killed as many as 230,000 people, leaving more than 1 million homeless.

According to the International Organization for Migration, some 634,000 Haitians still live in camps; other estimates put that figure at 375,000.

Bahamas Habitat volunteers should be alert to calls for assistance related to this storm.

Mission: Water Purification Mission, REBUILD Globally, Dr. Tiffany Keenan, Cap Haitien Health Network, GrassRoots United

Route: KDKX-3A1-KORL-MYEF-MTCH-MTPP-MTCH-MTPP-MTCH-MBPV-KFXE-3A1-KDKX

Mission Dates: June 5-10 2011

After over two months of not flying to Haiti, I was excited to be going back. Rainy season began with Hurricane season opener on June 1st. I flew from Knoxville to pick Cowboy up on June 5th getting to see David Robertson and others at the Cullman airport who are an encouragement to Bahamas Habitat and me personally. We flew as far as Orlando, FL to meet with REBUILD Globally and celebrate Katharine Zimmerman’s birthday. A minor maintenance issue arose with the back of the copilot’s seat taking its last push broke on the way from Cullman to Orlando. Thankfully Monday morning Showalter’s mechanics were able to repair the issue in time for us to continue to Haiti.

REBUILD Globally is present in Port au Prince, Haiti focusing on community development by providing employment to locals. Its board of directors and State-side operations are based in Orlando. In Port au Prince the organization is employing locals to recycle tires and make sandals for profit. Sales are made by online sales and to the local community in Haiti (mostly tourists and ex-patriot aid workers). A supporter of REBUILD is Dick Batchelor, and he made the donation of a hydraulic press for the shoe building. Complementing this delivery with the offer by the Gilardi family and their Navajo to fly a load to Haiti, Dick and the shoe press were going to fly in company with us to Port au Prince. Due to mechanical issues, the Gilardis were unable to fly along and Dick Batchelor planned to ride in the Baron with us to Haiti. He changed his plans and ultimately went commercially and the shoe machine will now be on its way to Haiti this week with volunteer pilot Jerry Smith. (more…)

During 2010 Bahamas Habitat continued to seek ways it could best serve Haiti. The organization explored providing in-country air support while developing a program to deliver water purification systems. In addition, Bahamas Habitat has developed close partnerships with several other similarly minded aid organizations. One is Remote Area Medical based in Tennessee.

On November 16th 2010, Bahamas Habitat volunteers, Jon Snyder and Reid Larson, flew Jon’s Piper Arrow to Haiti to conduct in-country assessments, flight missions and participate in the Medor mission on behalf of Bahamas Habitat.

Jon and Reid joined a team of parachutists, led by Colonel Dick Stoops and Mr. Stan Brock of Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps, to jump into a remote mountain valley and establish a medical clinic, then build an airstrip to serve as a medevac point for the village and its surrounding areas.

NBC Dateline did a full documentary on the Medor mission. Watch these videos and you’ll simply be amazed.

Bahamas Habitat wishes to acknowledge the spirit and courage of Jon Snyder and Reid Larson for their participation in this amazing mission. You guys exemplify that special Bahamas Habitat “A-Team” spirit and determination! Well Done!

Bahamas Habitat will continue to pursue our best means of making an impact in Haiti. Our Water Purification missions are continuing each month and making a tremendous impact. If you wish to volunteer or get involved let us know.

This report was just posted on the NBAA website highlighting the work that Bahamas Habitat is doing to deliver water purification systems to Haiti to stem the Cholera epidemic. Click to hear the Audio Inteview

PRESS RELEASE

BAHAMAS HABITAT RESPONDS TO THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC,
TRANSPORTING WATER FILTRATION SYSTEMS TO SAVE LIVES

December 2, 2010 — Bahamas Habitat (www.bahamashabitat.org) announced their continued efforts to save lives in response to Haiti’s repeated disasters with the latest outbreak of Cholera.  Under the coordination of Bahamas Habitat, volunteer pilots are transporting water filtration systems that are being installed and implemented along with partner organization SIFAT (Servants in Faith and Technology) to provide thousands access to clean drinking water.

The Cholera epidemic has reached over 1,700 deaths as of yesterday according to the United Nations.  Cholera, a disease associated with over-crowded places with poor sanitation and lack of clean water, results in massive loss in bodily fluid causing dehydration and death.  Even before the Cholera outbreak there was a tremendous need for water purification systems.  Just a week before the October 21^st outbreak, Bahamas Habitat transported representatives of SIFAT to install water purification systems for over 10,000 people in just four days.  The Bahamas Habitat – SIFAT partnership has since returned and provided the opportunity of clean water to more than 24,500 people. (more…)

Bahamas Habitat is continuing our relief efforts in Haiti with a focus on helping with the current challenges and in ways that make a sustainable difference. The Cholera outbreak has created a whole new challenge. Bahamas Habitat has responded with a program to delivery water purification system that can provide with each delivery disease free drinking water for thousands of people on a sustainable basis.

One of our Bahamas Habitat “A-Team” pilots, Dr. Richard Mcglaughlin, (aka Dr. Rebar from our original Haiti video) is just back from a medical mission in Haiti over Thanksgiving and filed this heart wrenching report. If there is any question in your mind that the Cholera outbreak is serious enough to warrant our attention, this should help give the appropriate insight. (warning this report is graphic)

Haiti, round 5:
Love in the Time of Cholera

Cholera is new to Haiti, but I treated quite a bit of it in Bangla Desh- in 1982 of course, but how much can things change? It’s biblical in its dimensions. Probably from that psychotic book of Revelations, where the beast comes out of the ground, kills so many, and they lie dead in the streets for three and a half days, the populace stepping over them, afraid to touch them even to bury them. I went down in the 22 again last Monday, came back Sunday night. Cameron King from Bahamas Habitat was my handler. At 23, she’s a seasoned pro at this- she has enough contacts to seamlessly change course and plans midflight. So I stuffed the plane to the gills with supplies from (more…)

We are continuing urgent missions to Haiti to deliver water purification systems and stem the cholera outbreak that is killing hundreds of people each week. In addition, we have been granted a $50,000 Challenge Grant for the construction of the Zion Children’s Home Project and we must raise the $50,000 by the end of December!

We have launched our year end fund raising effort entitled: Christmas at Camp Campaign. Here is what we need you to do…

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! - If you have been a participant on a Bahamas Methodist Habitat or Bahamas Habitat mission we need you to be an Ambassador to offer your friends, family and associates an opportunity to support the mission. The secret to our success is for everyone that has been involved in the mission to use our online system to reach out and request pledges of support from their network of friends and associates. You know our motto: “Many Hands Make Light Work!”. Please watch this video and register to help us spread the word!

We need your help to spread the word!

MAKE A DONATION – If you just want to make a personal donation then please Watch this video on how you make a personal donation. How to Donate to the Bahamas Habitat Christmas at Camp Campaign

Please pledge your support today!

ORGANIZATION RECOGNIZED IN MULTIPLE CATEGORIES

Distinguished Volunteer Pilot -
Bahamas Habitat Volunteer Pilot, Mr. Gene Schmidt

Outstanding Achievement in Public Benefit Flying -
Bahamas Habitat

Public Benefit Flying Teamwork Award  -
Bahamas Habitat, NBAA & Aero Bridge

The Bahamas Habitat Team Receives Multiple Awards
Left to Right: Henry Knowles, Frank Moses, Gene Schmidt, Steve Merritt,
Abraham McIntyre, John Armstrong, Matt Hansen, Cameron King,
Jim Lee, and Sam Frasier

September 17th, 2010 Washington DC – Since 2003, the Public Benefit Flying Awards presented by the National Aeronautic Association in conjunction with Air Care Alliance have honored organizations and individuals who are committed to flying in order to serve others.

On September 16th the National Aeronautic Association presented at their Above and Beyond Presentation the Public Benefit Flying Awards at the National Capitol building in Washington DC.

This year one organization, Bahamas Habitat, was recognized in multiple categories for the 2010 National Public Benefit Flying Awards. The Distinguished Volunteer Pilot award was presented to a Bahamas Habitat Volunteer Pilot, Mr. Gene Schmidt. The Outstanding Achievement in Public Benefit Flying was presented to the Bahamas Habitat organization.

Further, all volunteers of Bahamas Habitat and all organizations that participated in the Haitian relief efforts were also recognized with the Teamwork Award, which was presented jointly to Bahamas Habitat, NBAA and AERObridge (previously CARE). The Distinguished Volunteer Award was presented to Justin Ogden, Captain, Civil Air Patrol, Southwest Region, Arizona.

Gene Schmidt responded to Bahamas Habitat’s call for pilots at the beginning of the Haiti earthquake disaster and proceeded to fly a portion of every week for over a month and a half in support of the mission delivering supplies and helping to extract people from the hardest hit areas of Haiti.

Bahamas Habitat Team Recipients of the
Outstanding Achievement Award
Left to Right: Sam Frasier, Gene Schmidt, Steve Merritt,
Abraham McIntyre, John Armstrong, Cameron King, Matt Hansen,
Henry Knowles, Jim Lee, and Frank Moses

Bahamas Habitat and their 125 plus volunteer pilots like Gene Schmidt, were extensively involved in Haitian relief efforts through the use of general aviation aircraft. The organization responded with a command center in Nassau coordinating hundreds of volunteer aircraft to deliver hundreds of thousands of pounds of relief aid as well as transporting doctors and emergency volunteers to Haiti after the earthquake. Volunteer pilots came from all over the US and Canada to fly with Bahamas Habitat demonstrating the amazing potential available from the public benefit flying sector.

NAA Presents Bahamas Habitat, NBAA and AERObridge the
Public Benefit Flying Teamwork Award
Left to Right: Rol Murrow, John Armstrong, Ed Bolen,
Marianne Stevenson, John Gaffney

“It was an honor and a privilege for me to receive on behalf of Bahamas Habitat, as an organization as well as on behalf of each of our volunteers, these awards of recognition for their selfless service. Those of us that served know ‘its not about us’. I was pleased that we had the opportunity to take a moment during the presentation to remember those that we served and those that are still suffering. I am so proud of each and every one that served and that was recognized by these awards.”

-John Armstrong, President & Chairman, Bahamas Habitat

BAHAMAS HABITAT RECEIVES 2010 NATIONAL PUBLIC BENEFIT FLYING AWARDS PRESENTED BY THE NATIONAL AERONAUTIC ASSOCIATION AND AIR CARE ALLIANCE

August 12, 2010 – Bahamas Habitat is honored to announce the organization has been recognized in multiple categories for the 2010 National Public Benefit Flying Awards by the National Aeronautic Association, in partnership with the Air Care Alliance, a nationwide league of humanitarian flying organizations. The two direct awards are Distinguished Volunteer Pilot, Mr. Gene Schmidt, and Outstanding Achievement in Public Benefit Flying for the Bahamas Habitat organization. Further, all volunteers of Bahamas Habitat and all organizations that participated in the Haitian relief efforts were also recognized with the Teamwork Award.

Recipients of the 2010 National Public Benefit Flying Awards include:

•   Distinguished Volunteer Pilot – Gene Schmidt, Bahamas Habitat
•  Distinguished Volunteer – Justin Ogden, Captain, Civil Air Patrol, Southwest Region,  Arizona Wing
•  Outstanding Achievement in Public Benefit Flying – Bahamas Habitat
•  Teamwork Award – All volunteer pilots and other volunteers conducting flights in support of the Haitian relief efforts

Since 2003, the Public Benefit Flying Awards honor organizations and individuals who are committed to flying in order to serve others.

Bahamas Habitat and their 125 plus volunteer pilots like Gene Schmidt, were extensively involved in Haitian relief efforts through the use of general aviation aircraft. The organization responded with a command center in Nassau coordinating hundreds of volunteer aircraft to deliver hundreds of thousands of pounds of relief aid as well as transporting doctors and emergency volunteers to Haiti after the earthquake. Volunteer pilots came from all over the US and Canada to fly with Bahamas Habitat demonstrating the amazing potential available from the public benefit flying sector.

“The honor of the Distinguished Volunteer Pilot Award further expresses our respect and gratitude for Gene’s contribution to the betterment of people’s lives. Gene is the epitome of a servant, one who is always giving of himself uplifting the world around him…creatively too, he finds ways to do all this with an airplane.”
-Cameron King, Aviation and Disaster Response Coordinator, Bahamas Habitat

“This is a prominent award for which Bahamas Habitat is very appreciative. We are honored and grateful to National Aeronautic Association and The Air Care Alliance for this recognition. It is the commitment and genuine caring of so many amazing volunteers that made our efforts this year possible. It is on behalf of each and every one of our volunteers, who give so much, that we acknowledge this recognition and accept this honor. We are hopeful this recognition will extend our reach allowing us to further meet the needs of those in need.”
-John Armstrong, President, Bahamas Habitat

This year the awards will be presented at the invitational “Above and Beyond” Ceremony at the United States Capitol Building on Thursday, September 16, 2010, at 4:30pm.