Samaritan's Purse asks Canadians to support sending disease-fighting hygiene
kits to Haiti

Each kit - with option to add personal note of encouragement - will help a Haitian family

CALGARY, Feb. 16 /CNW/ - Samaritan's Purse is inviting Canadians to make a vital one-to-one connection with victims of Haiti's earthquake by donating the $30 cost of a personalized hygiene kit that will help a Haitian family avoid disease while living in crowded temporary structures as Haiti is gradually rebuilt.

Canadians can donate to pay for a hygiene kit through the Samaritan's Purse website at samaritanspurse.ca, and include a personal note of encouragement to the Haitian individual or family who receives it.

"Millions of Canadians have been deeply touched by the tragedy in Haiti," said Fred Weiss, Executive Director of Samaritan's Purse Canada. "They know the needs there are enormous and long-term, and they want to play a personal part in helping Haiti. These hygiene kits offer an opportunity to assist a Haitian family in a very personal way, while also meeting Haiti's pressing need to prevent the spread of deadly diseases."

Each hygiene kit will meet established international standards in terms of its contents. It will include a month's supply for a family of five of bathing soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, feminine napkins, laundry soap, and dishwashing detergent.

Samaritan's Purse will buy the kit contents in bulk and assemble them at the Christian organization's Calgary warehouse. Volunteers - including many who process gift-filled shoe boxes each year during Samaritan's Purse's annual Operation Christmas Child campaign - will prepare the hygiene kits for shipment to Haiti.

The 7.0-magnitude earthquake that hit Haiti on Jan. 12 killed an estimated 150,000 people and left more than one million homeless. Samaritan's Purse has responded with a wide range of disaster assistance including food distributions, community water filtration systems, temporary shelter materials, medical supplies, dozens of volunteer medical and surgical staff, plus barge loads of heavy excavating and construction equipment.

"Samaritan's Purse, with more than 30 years of experience in providing disaster relief and post-disaster reconstruction, is committed to helping Haiti over the long term," Weiss said. "We are praying for the people of Haiti, and we are blessed to bring help and hope to them on behalf of Canadians. We invite Canadians to partner with us, through the assembly and distribution of these urgently needed hygiene kits, or by making a monthly donation in support of the long-term needs in Haiti."

Support Samaritan's Purse in its relief and recovery work at 1-800-663-6500 or www.samaritanspurse.ca.

About Samaritan's Purse Canada

Samaritan's Purse Canada is an international Christian relief and development organization working in about 70 countries to provide aid to victims of war, disease, disaster, poverty, famine, and persecution. The Calgary-based charity also operates the well-known Operation Christmas Child program that sends gift-filled shoe boxes to needy children around the world each year, and the Turn on the Tap initiative that raises funds for life-saving BioSand Water Filters in the developing world. Go to www.samaritanspurse.ca for more information.

For further information: Media Inquiries: Martin Silbernagel, Communications Advisor, Samaritan's Purse Canada, 1-800-663-6500 or [phone] or [email protected]