St. Anthony Parish will be collecting donations after every mass this week, and beyond, to support their Sister Parish in Haiti, Ste. Anne d’Hycynthe, following the destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew.

The church’s Standing with Haiti Committee recently returned from their fifth  visit to the mountains above Petit Goave, about 25 km outside of Port au Prince. Parishioners, led by Pastor Jack Schrum, brought school supplies and other support for the brand new eight-grade elementary school they helped Ste. Anne build and which opened last month.

The devastation that their group escaped by a day or two has instead hit the people like a hammer. The road up the mountain, already more a path than a highway, is now impassable, and according to their contacts and Ste. Anne is completely cut off. Food is also running low and most of the homes destroyed. The group has not yet heard of any deaths and the school building, the sturdiest structure there, is serving as a life saving refuge.

Over the years St. Anthony Parish has established a system to make sure donations get to the people in need, rather than middlemen. If you would like to make a donation to help the people of Haiti please contact St. Anthony’s Parish at 425-255-3132 or bring your donations to the church after mass this weekend.