Kansans Rally for Haitian Earthquake Victims

January 13, 2010

By Rebecca Gannon

(WICHITA, Kan.)

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. It is about an 1/8 the size of Kansas, with a population of 8 million.

Many Kansans have donated to people there in the past. They are reaching out to them again.

Last month, thousands of people filled the El Dorado Civic Center to pack meals for Haitian school children. In all, Numana, Inc and the thousands of volunteers packed more than 285,000 pounds of food. But that food now has a new purpose -- it is now for everyone. By Friday, it will feed people who now have no food, no homes, and possibly no family.

"Things are desperate in Haiti," repeated Rick McNary, the president of Numana, Inc.

This summer, we introduced you to Kay Self. A Newton nurse collecting flip flops to put on the feet of Haitians. Many phone lines are down, and she cannot contact her friends. All she can do is watch for new images on the news.

"I just want to cry when I think about it," she said. "I'm actually looking for flip flops in the rubble. It's just a very personal thing to me."

She continued, "Anything I could do, I would like to do. I don't know what to do."

But Rick McNary with Numana has a plan of action: "We need as many people as we can."

"Help us package the food that's going to be sent, which will actually be in those hands -- and the tummies -- of those devastated people."

Organizers say they will be filling food again at the El Dorado Civic Center again. It will go from Friday to Saturday, noon until 10 o'clock both days.

They hope to ship that food and get it to Haiti by early next week -- and into the mouths of people who really need it.

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