Students and staff from Prairie Christian Academy donated over $4,000 to assist with relief efforts in Haiti after the earthquake.    

On Monday, January 18, PCA secondary school librarian Glenna Rothfus shared about her adopted brother, Mark Honorat's organization, Haiti Arise, that has been working in the capital city of Port-Au-Prince since 19YY. Three days later at the next secondary school chapel, staff and students gave cash and checks totalling $1881.84. In the days between, PCA's high school Student Council, which had already planned to sell chocolate bars and candies over the lunch hour, decided that all proceeds from the sale of snacks would go towards Haiti Arise. In total, the "Haiti Hut" snacks resulted in an additional $480 being raised.     Then on Tuesday morning (January 26), the monthly elementary school Celebration Chapel took up on offering to assist with relief efforts for the earthquake damaged country. The generosity of PCA students, staff and parents led to another $1717.72 being donated for Haiti Arise.    

"Our desire is to see students developing the character of Christ. The spirit of generosity demonstrated in these offerings provides tangible evidence of the desire to demonstrate the compassionate heart of Jesus. We respect the work of the many organizations who are assisting in the earthquake relief in Haiti. Yet we are especially glad to see this money go to a ministry like Haiti Arise that has a clear focus on sharing the reason behind their acts of love, the Lord Jesus Christ," comments PCA's Christian Education Co-ordinator Steven Ibbotson.    

Donations given to Haiti Arise will also be matched by the Government of Canada, as this is one of the organizations accepted for fund-matching by our federal government. To find out more information about this organization, visit www.haitiarise.org. Prior to the January 12 earthquake, Haiti Arise was involved primarily in an educational ministry that provides vocational training in areas such as carpentry, mechanics, or welding to Haitians alongside their Bible school education. Their first graduating class in 2008 saw 45 students complete the program. Haiti Arise's long-term vision was to develop a children's home, however this become an urgent need and top priority in light of the the number of children left without parents due to the earthquake. The vocational training centre withstood the earthquake though it was damaged and is currently being used by Samaritan's Purse as one of the bases for their medical and relief efforts. 

Picture caption: Mark Honorat of Haiti Arise ministries shares in PCA Secondary Chapel on February 4. Mark also shared at a special assembly in the elementary school in the afternoon.