By Beth David, Editor
Fairhaven Lumber is continuing its long tradition of helping out the people of Haiti through donations to the Haitian Health Foundation.
According to John Kalife, the company has been donating for decades. The HHF concentrates its efforts in the greater Jeremie region.
In the past, Fairhaven Lumber mostly donated funds to the HHF. This year, the company is sending building materials. They have already sent two trucks and plan on sending at least one more, for a total of about $12,000 worth of materials.
This year, the help is especially needed, as Jeremie was the region hit hardest by Hurricane Matthew.
“That’s what kind of spurred us on to do it,” said Mr. Kalife. “About 85% of houses in Jeremie were destroyed in Hurricane Matthew.”
The lumber is pressure treated and plywood only. Mr. Kalife said that Haiti has a serious termite problem, so regular wood is not used for buildings.
The plywood will probably be used for walls, flooring, and roofs. The pressure treated wood will be for anything near the ground.
Retired doctor Jeremiah J. Lowney, a Connecticut orthodontist, who has traveled to Haiti to provide free dental care since 1982, started HHF, and worked with Mother Theresa and her order in Haiti.
Dr. Lowney is originally from Fall River, said Mr. Kalife.
The materials go to the HHF office in Norwich, CT, where they are then transported by the organization to Haiti.
To learn more about HHF visit, www.haitianhealthfoundation. org/
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