By Helen Klein
One local organization is taking a different approach toward helping Haiti.
Looking ahead, the Flatbush-based Newkirk Area Neighborhood Association (NANA) is amassing canes, crutches and walkers — for both adults and children — to send to the devastated country to help injured residents who have lost limbs.
To that end, the group — which has earmarked $500 of its own money for the project — is asking members of the public to contribute money or supplies that can aid those with injuries impairing their mobiity.
“The sky’s the limit here, because there’s a need for it,” emphasized Mavis Theodore, the group’s president, who told this paper that NANA members are “hoping to get 1,000 sets of crutches and 1,000 canes to start off.”
NANA member Sandra Harris “came up with the idea” for the project, said Theodore. “She was watching TV and noticed that there were so many amputations going on. So, she asked, how are these people going to get around?
“It’s just a devastating situation, especially for young children,” Theodore went on. “There are so many children losing limbs. And, right now, the people there can’t even think about buying crutches. The immediate thing is food and shelter, so we decided to try to alleviate some of that stress.”
Supplies can be dropped off at Flatbush Development Corporation, 1616 Newkirk Avenue; at Vox Pop, 1022 Cortelyou Road; or at Theodore’s apartment building, 1818 Newkirk Avenue, addressed to Theodore.
Checks should be made out to FDC, with Haiti relief noted in the memo, and sent to FDC, 1616 Newkirk Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11226.
NANA is not collecting wheelchairs.
