All of us involved in the YMCA are deeply saddened by the tragic earthquake in Haiti. The Haitian people are suffering a crisis of a magnitude no one can comprehend. On the evening of the earthquake, Gwenael Apollon, General Secretary of the Haiti YMCA, reported that he, his family and YMCA staff survived, but that YMCA operations had been severely impacted.

Working in collaboration with the Red Cross, Action Churches Together and other relief and emergency agencies, YMCAs around the world are responding to the urgent basic needs of those displaced by providing food, water, medicines, blankets, and in the longer term, care and psycho-social counseling.

 The West Suburban YMCA has made a donation to the YMCA World Service on behalf of its staff. If you would like to join us and support our efforts in Haiti, please donate to YMCA World Service by visiting www.ymca.net/worldservice. It is important to specify "Haiti Earthquake Support" in the "Comments/special instructions" box at the bottom of the online donation page to ensure immediate designation of your contribution.

Updates on the YMCA’s efforts will be posted as they become available. For more information, please contact the YMCA of the USA International Group at (800) 872-9622. We ask for your support, hope and prayers for the Haiti YMCA and the people of Haiti