On October 4, 2016 Hurricane Matthew, a powerful Category 4 storm, made landfall in Haiti, leaving a path of destruction in its path. Over a million people in the south of Haiti experienced hurricane force winds, and 200,000 homes were severely damaged. Basic infrastructure was impaired, and over a million people were in need of aid.
Just over a week later, the Rinaldi Foundation, supported by Salesian Missions, Misiones Salesianas, Don Bosco Mission, and Don Bosco Mundo, began distributing emergency relief in the form of food kits to residents affected by the storm. Using the Salesian community in Les Cayes as a distribution point, 2,650 food kits were distributed over the following three months. The recipients of the program received spaghetti, milk, oil, sugar, and other staple items in order to assist them through a very difficult time.
Operating after the hurricane proved to be a logistical challenge, and we are proud of the hard work of all those who helped make the project a success. Staff and volunteers were mobilized from three other Salesian communities, and many put in extra hours. It was necessary to work hard to acquire bulk quantities of food immediately after the hurricane, fix a broken truck, and purchase new tires for a difficult journey to the south. Thank you to all who made the distributions possible!
