Haitian Relief Services
Haitian Relief Services (HRS) is a small non-profit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) in Minnesota, with its headquarters based in River Falls, Wisconsin. Operating solely through the dedication of volunteers, HRS ensures that all donations directly support programs in Haiti, distinguishing it from other nonprofits.
For over two decades, HRS has been led by two compassionate individuals: Captain Pat O’Malley and Dr. Curt Larson. Captain O’Malley, a retired American Airlines Pilot, established HRS in 1997 and served as its president until 2023. Dr. Larson, an Emeritus Physics Professor at the University of Wisconsin River Falls, previously held the role of HRS's financial officer until 2023. Both gentlemen now serve as board members.
Mission Statement
Haitian Relief Services is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for the people of Haiti, starting with those in Ganthier. Capt. O’Malley, flying American Airlines into Haiti, and Dr. Larson, witnessing Haiti's conditions firsthand on a Food For the Poor mission trip, have both seen the extreme poverty endured by Haitians. They, along with several other dedicated board members, volunteer to fulfill this mission. Despite the daunting task, they are inspired by the "Starfish Story":
As a young child walked along a beach at dawn, he noticed an old man ahead of him picking up starfish and tossing them into the sea. Catching up with the man, the child asked why he was doing this. The old man explained that the stranded starfish would die if left in the morning sun. “But the beach goes on for miles and there are thousands of starfish,” exclaimed the child. “How can you alone make any difference?” The old man looked at the starfish in his hand and then tossed it safely into the waves. He turned to the child, smiled, and said, “I made a difference to that one.”
This story captures the attitude needed when facing seemingly endless poverty. Our approach is to connect those with means in the River Falls community with those in need in Haiti. Through generous donations, we bridge the gap, blessing both donors and recipients.
Projects
Ezekiel Village
In 2002, Ezekiel Lutheran Church, working in cooperation with six additional River Falls, Wisconsin churches and the nonprofit, Food For the Poor, led a project to fund twenty five houses and the associated bathrooms in Ganthier, Haiti. The project was funded by donations and the houses were completed and dedicated as “Ezekiel Village” in 2004. Donations were collected locally and funds were transferred using the nonprofit status of Food For the Poor. All construction design, engineering and labor for Ezekiel Village was provided by local Haitian people. The well-constructed buildings were undamaged in the 2010 earthquake and the 2016 Hurricane Matthew.
Ganthier School
In 2006 the River Falls churches, again led by Ezekiel, began a project to build a 650 student elementary school - high school in Ganthier. The first floor was built processing all donations and fund transfers through the nonprofit Food For the Poor, and was completed and in 2008. The second floor was completed and the school was dedicated in 2010. All donations and fund transfers for the second floor were processed through the nonprofit status of HRS. All construction design, engineering and labor for the school was provided by local Haitian people. The well-constructed building was undamaged in the 2010 earthquake and the 2016 Hurricane Matthew.
Ezekiel Village Water Cistern
A 12,000 gallon water cistern was constructed, in cooperation with the United Nations, for the people of Ezekiel Village in 2010. Drought conditions in Ganthier have made the availability of water problematic, but a project is underway to connect this cistern to a more reliable source of water.
Pillowcase Dress Project
On our September, 2015 trip to Haiti, we brought along 300 lbs. of clothing to distribute at two schools, one in Ganthier and the other in Gressier. The clothing was sewn in the Pillowcase Dress and T-shirt Shorts project, led by women of Ezekiel Lutheran Church, with contributions from our community and four additional communities. In 2016 this project produced 400 lbs. of clothing that was distributed in December to the same two schools. This project is a good example of how our community has supported the work of HRS in Haiti. Fr. Emmanuel Sainteliat is the priest in the Gressier parish. He was the parish priest in Ganthier when we built the school there, so we know him well. The 2010 earthquake devastated the Gressier parish and he was moved to that parish to lead its rebuilding. While our first commitment is to Ganthier, we try to help the Gressier school when we have sufficient funds to do so.
Hurricane Matthew Relief
The October 2016 Hurricane Matthew devastated the Gressier, Haiti parish. Because of our relationship with Fr. Emmanuel Sainteliat, we responded to the hurricane by raising and sending $15,350 to Gressier. These funds were used to purchase emergency food and home repair construction materials.
Galette Chambon Orphanage
The need for orphanages in Haiti was increased by the devastating earthquake of 2010. In 2018 Haitian Relief Services, with funding from the Servite Sisters (Servants of Mary of Ladysmith, Wisconsin), Ezekiel Lutheran Church and the River Falls community, funded the construction and furnishing of an orphanage in Galette Chambon, Haiti. The orphanage was completed in 2019. The facility has beds for 14 boys and 14 girls. The children attend the local school and receive an education.
Galette Chambon Health Center
The need for Health Centers in rural Haiti, where travel is difficult, is particularly critical. A local health center can provide education and treatment that is quickly available for everyday medical emergencies. In November of 2020 Haitian Relief Services, with funding from the Servite Sisters (Servants of Mary of Ladysmith, Wisconsin), Ezekiel Lutheran Church and the River Falls, Wisconsin community, began the construction of a Health Center in Galette Chambon Village of Ganthier Commune, Haiti. The Health Center was constructed as a second floor to the orphanage that was completed in 2019. Electrical power for the health center and the orphanage is provided by a solar panel system located on the roof of the two-story building. The two photographs below show the completed Orphanage (1st floor) - Health Center (2nd floor) building, and the solar panel system located on the second-floor roof. In the future we hope to add many more photographs of the Orphanage – Health Center project, but the sociopolitical unrest in addition to COVID has made travel to Haiti impossible for us for the past two years.
Clean Oil Farming
At this time, HRS energy is focused on fund raising in three areas: financial support of (1) the school constructed in Ganthier Village, (2) the orphanage and (3) the health center constructed in Galette Chambon Village, all of Ganthier Commune, Haiti.
Future considerations include the development of an economic base in the Ganthier area. A proposal for a clean-oil farming plan, “A GROWIN Project to Develop the Economy of Ganthier, Haiti”, has been developed and is described in the “GROWIN Proposal”. This farming plan, if funded, would have a very favorable, sustainable, and long-term impact on the economy in Haiti. The project would begin in the Ganthier area, but in the long term would produce resources enabling its continued expansion outward from Ganthier. We envision this project to be developed in a farming cooperative model so that ownership would reside with the local Haitian farmers. Donors of means, who are looking to “help the less fortunate” rather than “invest for personal gain” are invited to donate to get this project going.
Download GROWIN ProposalContacts
Joy (O'Malley) RichardsPresident
joyomalley@hotmail.comJeanette JuettenTreasurer
jeanettejuetten@hotmail.comPat O'MalleyAt-large Member, Founder, and former President
Curt LarsonAt-large Member and former Treasurer
curtiss.o.larson@uwrf.edu
Donate
We offer 3 method for donation: