After years of mistaken association with MANNA FoodBank and Mission Health, Mission Manna has changed its name to Consider Haiti. However, the nonprofit’s desire to help the Haitian children remains the same.
“Haiti is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere, but it’s just a 90-minute flight from Miami. From here it only takes about three hours to get there, but it feels like it’s such a world away,” says Todd Kaderabek, the chairperson for the organization’s board of directors.
Every year, Consider Haiti volunteers take two trips to the Caribbean country. While there, these volunteers provide Haitians with medical care and clean water, along with goats, rabbits and trees to help families become more self-sustainable.
And when a 7-point earthquake struck the country two years ago on Jan. 10, Consider Haiti was a digital lifeline to what was happening on the ground. But the need in Haiti continues.
To meet these needs, the nonprofit recently expanded its sustainable nutrition program. This program distributes goats, rabbits, plants and trees to families. The goal is that the families will use these resources to create sustainable sources of food and income.
However, Kaderabek emphasizes that Ashevillians do not need to jump on a plane to make a difference. In August, the organization will hold its first annual Hotter Than Haiti 10K. The race, sponsored by Asheville Outdoor Center in West Asheville, runs along the French Broad Greenway and Hominy Creek.
“As much as I love going to Haiti, we’re ultimately trying to make ourselves obsolete there,” Kaderabek says.
For more information about Consider Haiti, visit their website, or view the video below.
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