Disaster Relief Headed for Haiti Earthquake Victims

Press Release by Michael Bodine

WJCL-TV The Coastal Source/Fox 28 News is partnering with Horizon International Medical Mission, the City of Tybee, and Savannah Country Day School to get 15 doctors, nurses, and aides to Haiti by February 28th to March 7th.

The emergency trip will be led by Dr. Kennedy Okerre, head of HIMM. HIMM is headquartered in Savannah, and he maintains an office in Rincon. He is a former Memorial Health doctor. Tybee’s Julia Pearce joins the group as a nurse. Both Okerre and Julia appeared on WJCL-TV Fox, Coastal Source news telling viewers about their mission.

Space has been provided in the City Hall lobby for donations by citizens of emergency supplies such as blankets, medical wraps, canned food, clothes, syringes, old prescriptions, over the counter pharmacy items, and masks. All such items will be moved as needed to a secure location until the mission’s departure to Haiti.

WJCL has also set-up a truck in the front yard of the station for folks to contribute. Savannah Country Day is asking its students for help by bringing in goods and doing odd jobs for cash. Dr. Okerre is also asking for contributions for air fare and accommodations through the Red Cross.

Tybee’s Michael Sullivan can be reached at 921-2222 in the WJCL newsroom for updates on this mission, or visit http://www.thecoastalsource.com.

There are a number of other local avenues for making donations to help earthquake victims in Haiti including Saint Michael’s School 912-786-4507.  The Red Cross is a great destination for cash contributions – they accept donations right on their web site, www.redcross.org.  The City encourages donations to any and all these efforts! Please don’t delay in providing whatever help you can. The list of suggested disaster relief contribution items can be found on the City’s website at
http://www.cityoftybee.org.