Hitchhiking to Haiti

One invention that dates back to the dawn of civilization stands between millions of homeless Haitians and roughly 3,500 pounds of donated goods at Kinston’s Holloway Community Center.

This everyday device is the wheel and volunteers of a local relief effort organized by resident Selena Hines are looking for 18 of them to get the supplies, consisting of clothes, shoes, and food, to the Caribbean country that suffered mass destruction from a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on Jan. 12.

“We need more boxes, tape, magic makers, and someone with an 18-wheeler,” said Champ Burton, who has assisted Hines in executing the drive. “We are stuck now. We are well overstocked and do not know where to go from here.”

The two have been collecting donations for the past month and began advertising the event at the end of January through word-of-mouth and pamphlets.

Burton estimates the contribution has accumulated 200 loads of items, 15 to 20 pounds each.

“Champ and I felt we could help the community give Haiti something they needed,” Hines said. “I was in the flood (of 1999) and know how handy items like these can be, even if they are hand-me-downs.”

Burton, a coach at the center on North Myrtle Avenue, was surprised by the response.

“I thought if we could get 10 loads, that would be good, but we just got stormed,” he said.

At the moment, volunteers continue to categorize and box the items. Transportation still remains a question.

“We just don’t know how we are going to get it to Haiti,” said Hines, who is trying to coordinate shipment of the goods through the American Red Cross and local churches. “I know there are others collecting. If they could just swing by and get what we got, that would be great.”

Two teenagers who play on Burton’s recreation team came out to help organize the donate items, which covered the baseline of the Holloway Community Center gymnasium.

“By giving those in Haiti these clothes, it lets them have something to wear on their back and shows someone cares,” 16-year-old Marquis Williams said. “I imagine it is tough over there with no clothes, food, or stable home, and with that, simple acts of kindness can go a long way.”

Williams’ friend Chris Hall, also 16, agreed.

“It is good to help those in need,” Hall said. “If something like that were to happen here, we would want others to help us.”

Wesley Brown can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wbrown@freedomenc.com.

If you would like to help package items donated to the Haiti relief effort or have any ideas of how to get the supplies shipped, contact Event Coordinator Selena Hines at 252-525-0127.