As we are preparing to celebrate the holidays with families and friends, thousands in the Dominican Republic are not so lucky. Little over a month after Tropical Storm Noel devastated their country, leaving over 87 dead and 62,000 displaced by severe flooding; another storm – Olga this past week killed 22 people, displaced 49,000, and destroyed thousands of banana and plantain fields.

Many of the survivors are poor and have no means to rebuild their lives…

The Batey Relief Alliance is preparing a second round of disaster relief intervention to follow the efforts carried out last month, in which over 200 individuals received medical attention and medicines, 500 bags of nutritional food products donated by the USAID’s Food for Peace Program, mattresses, clothing and water. The life-saving operation was supported by the Presbyterian Church-USA’s Self Development of People Program with a grant of $15,765.

We now must raise $20,000 to quickly respond to the basic needs of hundreds more affected.

Won’t you please help these poor victims who are facing critical life challenges…?

Make a tax-deductible gift by clicking ONLINE or mailing in your check payable to Batey Relief Alliance, P.O. Box 300565, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11230. For more information on how to help, contact Ulrick Gaillard in New York at (917) 627-5026 / bra@bateyrelief.org or Maria Virtudes Berroa in Santo Domingo at (809) 540-4947 / bradominicana@codetel.net.do.We thank you for your support!

Dear Friend of the Batey Relief Alliance,

As you read this, thousands of children and families are struggling just to stay alive in Haiti’s most impoverished communities. But you can help them overcome their challenges and thrive … just as you’ve helped the residents of the Dominican Republic’s sugar cane bateyes.

After ten years of success in the Dominican Republic, the Batey Relief Alliance is now working to establish a permanent mission in the neighboring Haiti, where life is even harder … where thousands are stranded with virtually no access to basic medical care, medicines, food, clean water, or sanitation.

As you can see in this photo, Haitian families must scour the landfills each day for clothing, food and other essentials that you and I take for granted.

We cannot let this situation continue!

Thankfully, there is hope

We can save the lives of Haitians living on the edge in rural/urban slums and border communities with the Dominican Republic. Here’s what we must do:

• Control contagious diseases
• Educate the population about preventive health
• Build medical facilities
• Distribute clean water

We are confident of success … but we must raise $250,000 in 2008 to provide these lifesaving services. So we are reaching out to key friends like you to make a one-year financial commitment of $1,200 to help BRA expand into Haiti.

How you can help meet the challenge

You can make your tax-deductible gift in the way that suits you best:
• A one-time annual gift of $1,200
• Two gifts of $600
• Four gifts of $300

You may mail your check payable to Batey Relief Alliance to P.O. Box 300565, Brooklyn, NY 11230. Or make your gift online by clicking on the BRA’S Donate Now! button at www.bateyrelief.org 

Please send your generous contribution today … so that Haitian children and families can have a brighter tomorrow.

Respectfully,
Ulrick Gaillard, J.D.
Chief Executive Officer

P.S. Just as you’ve improved the lives of deserving people of the Dominican Republic, you can bring hope to thousands of children and families suffering in Haiti now. Please send your contribution today.

BUILDING ON SUCCESS IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Why are we so confident we can make a difference in Haiti?

Because you have helped us achieve so much in the Dominican Republic: Success in the Dominican Republic:

The Batey Relief Alliance celebrated an important milestone on October 23, 2007 – its first ten years of success in the Dominican Republic. With your help, we can look forward to another resounding success in Haiti.

Please send your donation today. Return to How you can help meet the challenge