It’s been nine months since the devastating earthquake hit the island nation of Haiti on January 10 of this year. With all the news coverage and aid that was pledged to the country, over one million Haitians still remain homeless today. According to the Associated Press only two percent of the rubble has been removed. Recently a cholera epidemic has struck Haiti causing the country to spiral into a further state of distress. What is saddening is that only 15 percent of the aid pledged by countries and organizations around the world has reached Haiti since the earthquake- none of that is coming from the US.

That is why the faith-based organization Virginias 4 Haiti has stepped up to provide help in any way they can for the Haitian people. There were already a lot of orphans in Haiti before the quake and now there are even more. Virginias 4 Haiti are focusing their current efforts on bringing some smiles to the kids who are most affected by the tragedy with the Toys 4 Haiti project. 

The organization’s goal is to collect 10,000+ new or slightly used cuddly soft toys. They are also collecting gently used or new flip flops for the children. The project is running until Dec 5^th.

So this holiday season, help support the effort by donating any cushy soft toys (that don’t require batteries or electricity) or flip flops and turning them into the following drop-off locations:

LaDifference in Shockoe Bottom

Richmond Flying Squirrels office at the Diamond

Any Capital Ale House Location

SkateNation in Short Pump

Richmond Ice Zone on Southside off Johnston Willis

Frame Packaging Solutions in Mechanicsville

To learn more about Virginians 4 Haiti and other ways to help, visit the organization’s website.