The Herald-News - News Story

It's been two weeks since Haiti's devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that has claimed an estimated 200,000 lives, and the world has watched with helpless horror as the deaths and heartbreaking photographs add up.

The destruction may be an ocean away, but some Rhea County businesses and churches have felt the tragedy personally and are rolling up their own sleeves to send aid.

Christie Smith, a hairstylist at downtown Dayton's Market Street Hair, felt a particular connection to Haiti since her oldest son, Elijah, is half Haitian. Like many who had spent hours in front of their televisions wishing they could do something to help with relief efforts, Smith wracked her brain to come up with a way to do her part.

That's when the idea came.

Smith approached the co-owners of Market Street Hair, Marcie Thurman, Lea Heard, Kara Massengale and Brenda Riley, and asked them to donate the salon's space on a Saturday, when the business is usually closed. They gave her the go-ahead, so Smith and her fellow hairstylists have been busy planning ever since.

On Saturday, Jan. 30, Market Street Hair will host Haircut for Haiti. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., all proceeds from haircuts will go to CARE International's Haiti relief fund and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Visit www.care.org and www.clintonbushhaitifund.org for more information on these organized relief efforts.

Adult haircuts at Market Street Hair will cost $25 for women and $15 for men. Children under age 12 can receive haircuts for $12.

"It's a perfect day to come get your hair cut and styled, all in the name of helping the people of Haiti in their time of need," said Smith.

Other Rhea County citizens have come together to send aid to Haiti through church organizations or online relief aid Web sites.

Dr. Bill Ketchersid, Mission Chair at Dayton's First United Methodist Church, has led numerous mission teams to Haiti over the years, linking arms with Chattanooga's AMG International.
Ketchersid is friends with Haitian pastor Rodne Romeus, who leads a church in Grand Bassin, a town about 80 miles north of Port-au-Prince. Romeus called the church requesting food and medical supplies to care for the displaced earthquake victims fleeing to Grand Bassin.

Ketchersid's church, working with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), is collecting funds to support the earthquake victims of Port-au-Prince. Checks can be dropped off or mailed to First United Methodist Church on Market Street in Dayton at any time.

In addition to sending financial support, UMCOR is gathering health kits that can be put together for about $12 each. Anyone wishing to donate health kits needs to drop them off at First United Methodist Church in Dayton by Sunday, Jan. 31.

What to include in a UMCOR health kit:
(place items in a sealed, one-gallon plastic bag)
   1 hand towel (15" x 25" up to 17" x 27", no kitchen towels)
   1 washcloth
   1 comb (large and sturdy, not pocket-sized)
   1 nail file or fingernail clippers (no emery boards or toenail clippers)
   1 bath-size bar of soap (3 oz. and up)
   1 toothbrush (single brushes only in original wrapper, no child-size brushes)
   6 adhesive plastic strip sterile bandages
   $1 for toothpaste (UMCOR is purchasing toothpaste in bulk to be added to health kits before shipping to ensure the product does not expire before it is sent.)
   $1 per kit to cover shipping costs

Important Kit Assembly Information:

All items included in kits must be new.

All emergency kits are carefully planned to make them usable in the greatest number of situations. Since strict rules often govern product entry into international countries, it's important that kits contain only the requested items-nothing more.

Please DO NOT include any personal notes, money or additional materials in the kits. These things must be painstakingly removed and will delay the shipment.

Complete two packing lists-one for your records and one to put on the shipping box. Paste the shipping label and packing list on the outside of each box you send to UMCOR. The packing list helps the depot to quickly process kits.

Elisabeth Hollingsworth can be reached at elisabeth.hollingsworth@rheaheraldnews.com.