Posts written by Adam Sarbin

An Open Letter to Our Friends

A recent letter mailed to friends and colleagues of Peter…but just as meaningful to all friends and supporters of Project Starfish-Haiti:

Dear Friends & Colleagues of Peter,

I am writing this letter with the understanding that many organizations and causes are vying for your financial support, especially at this time before the end of the year. I am writing to you, not because our cause is any more worthy than the others you are hearing from, but rather, because of your connection to Peter Whitehead, and because the dream of creating a better way to deliver sustainable healthcare to the deserving people of Haiti was something he was passionate about and committed to, even in his waning days.

I am pleased to inform you that, together with our partners in western New York, we have raised nearly half the funds required to completely finish the Peter Y. Whitehead Memorial Clinic. Our building fund balances total nearly $225,000 as of this communication. The majority of these funds (nearly 90%) have come from our partners who never even knew Peter, but they heard of his passion and commitment to this cause and shared in our desire to dedicate a permanent clinic in his memory. I encourage you to recall Peter’s life and how he may have impacted your life. No donation is too small, but as you know, a project of this size will require substantial funding.

We expect ground to be broken on this project after the first of the year and will update all those interested via Facebook and our website. It is our wish to maintain momentum on this project with no substantial pauses in its completion.   We need your help to see Peter’s dream, a dream he shared with Project Starfish-Haiti, become a reality.

Please visit our website, www.projectstarfishhaiti.net, to see how easy it is to make your tax-deductible donation. If you have already done so, please accept our most sincere gratitude!

Best Regards and Happy Holidays,

Adam and all of us at Project Starfish-Haiti

Until Next Time Ayiti

We did enjoy a great meal and our time with Josi and his family last night but the children are young so I walked them up the road early so they could get home before too late.  When I returned, we gathered on the roof one last time and relaxed as the cool breeze picked up. We had some interesting conversation with members of another group working in Haiti…and then the rain began again.  It actually came down in near biblical fashion for nearly an hour, keeping some on the roof longer than planned.

For those who remember our very first trip after the quake, it was reminiscent of the flooding rainstorm in intensity, if not duration.  I know this allows residents to fill their water collection systems but only hope it does not cause dangerous mudslides and flooding.  I was relieved to know that Josi and his family arrived home safely before the storm began.  Read More

A Drenched Departure

Last night after our final delicious supper on the island, we made one last trip to the local watering hole, where we spent time with our friends and danced a little too, but soon the “Big Boss” gave us the high sign and we were on our way home.  But before we could rest, we had to finish the night with one last trip to the roof for our own private dance party.

It wasn’t long before the week’s work and heat caught up with us and we descended the ladder for the last time to turn in.  We awoke to another cloudy and cool morning, followed by a short rainfall…just enough though to prevent the truck from taking the luggage to the beach, so we all loaded up and did a bit of our own mudding…  Read More

Last Day on the Island

So I never did get my cool rain on the roof after clinic, but we had a delicious meal of pork, legume, and rice with black bean sauce.  After dinner we quickly alphabetized the records and MacGyver-ed a filing system…there’s nothing that can’t be done with a Leatherman tool, eh Russ?  Read More

Point Est – A New Adventure

Today’s clinic was held in a small fishing village at the northeast point of the island, which we reached by boat after driving to the port in Madame Bernard, which was an adventure in itself…we like to call it Mudding with Mario (our driver is Jil André, aka Mario).  You see it rained heavy last night requiring the skills of an accomplished driver to reach the port.  Read More