PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (January 11, 2011) – On Jan. 12, 2010, humanitarian organizations with works in Haiti held their breath as the news started to come in.

"It was almost eerie calm," says Abby Theobald, food relief coordinator, with Feed My Starving Children. "Along with the whole world, we watched with disbelief as we heard what was happening to our neighbors in Haiti."

Theobald and her colleagues—and so many other humanitarian workers like them around the United States—waited for word from their colleagues and partners in Haiti. When the news started to come in, fears were more than confirmed. The earthquake was worse than anyone could have imagined.

"In those early days we knew there was great deal of chaos and suffering," says Theobald. "But our colleagues and partners in Haiti knew they would be there for the long recovery. Regardless of the overwhelming circumstances, they were committed to providing both the necessary resources and hope to those in need."

As they held their breath for more news of unspeakable tragedy, there was only one thing they could do. They had to keep working—their mission in the very poor country just became a lot more difficult and complicated.

However, there was some good news. Since Feed My Starving Children—and its partners like Salesian Missions—were already in Haiti long before the earthquake, they were in a good position to respond quickly and effectively.

"Because we were already working in Haiti and our partnership with Salesian Missions had been established for quite some time, the logistical process for procuring food aid was easily put into motion," says Theobald. "In addition, our trust in Salesian Missions' capability to critically assess the situation with their in-country beneficiaries and effectively distribute food aid in Haiti made for a quick response."

Collaborative partnerships such as this one, along with embedded programs in Haiti, were essential in the early days of disaster aid and the many months since the earthquake a year ago.

According to Feed My Starving Children, its Haiti distribution partners are serving one-third more people due to the earthquake—both children and adults. They have not seen their need decrease, and they expect this higher level of need for some time. The Minnesota-based nonprofit provided nearly 58 million meals to Haiti 2010.

"Feed My Starving Children's ability to reach those in greatest need is made possible by working with caring and capable ministries like Salesian Missions—whether in Haiti or in other countries we serve around the globe," says Matt Muraski, global operations director for Feed My Starving Children.

While some humanitarian organizations and many people have left the country, Salesian Missions will continue its work for the people of Haiti as it has since 1935, says Jaime Correa-Montalvo, director of the Salesian Missions Office for International Programs. "Salesian Missions is an integral part of the Haitian infrastructure—operating schools, feeding programs, health clinics in the poorest areas. Many of the food and other relief items sent to Haiti were secured, stored and distributed using Salesian infrastructure and knowledge."

Salesian Missions has a partnership with Feed My Starving Children whereby 40-foot containers of fortified rice meals are shipped to Salesian sites around the world. Feed My Starving Children provides the food and Salesian Missions takes care of the costs and arrangements of shipping each container from the Feed My Starving Children warehouse to the destination country. Salesian Missions also works to help identify where greatest need is at the time. Through this partner effort, four total containers of food were sent to Haiti after the earthquake, according to Jessica O'Connor, Salesian Missions property and logistics officer. Each container contained 270,864 meals.

The earthquake caused the port in Port-au-Prince to be closed, adding to the challenge in the delivery of relief supplies. Salesian Missions operates in more than 130 countries around the globe. Luckily, one of those countries was the Dominican Republic. They were able to ship supplies to a Salesian Missions warehouse where they were safely secured and repackaged with other relief items to make survival packages for families. Then, the Salesians (escorted by the Dominican Army) delivered the relief packages to Salesian facilities for distribution to needy families.

"Their consistent presence and commitment to the people of Haiti allows Feed My Starving Children food to be used most effectively as well as leveraged for the improvement of other necessary programs which are focused beyond relief efforts and rather on the rebuilding of lives," adds Theobald.

ABOUT THE FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN / SALESIAN MISSIONS PARTNERSHIP:

The partnership began in early 2006 when the first 40-foot container was donated to and shipped by Salesian Missions to Sri Lanka. Through the years, as Salesian Missions has determined beneficiaries in need of Feed My Starving Children food, almost 60 containers of more than 15 million meals to more than 20 different countries have been donated, shipped, and received by those in need. The Salesians were providing Feed My Starving Children food to OPEPB, a school in Port-Au-Prince, prior to the earthquake. When the earthquake hit, Salesian Missions, along with many other Feed My Starving Children partners, were ready to respond. Donations are still needed and can be made by going to SalesianMissions.org and FMSC.org.

(Special note: Salesian Missions has launched ProgressInHaiti.org to provide news and information to the public.)