Relief for Haiti

Joan and Dale Stewart of McCook box relief supplies bound today for Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest country, shaken to its very core by a 7.0 earthquake Jan. 12 and aftershocks of 5.0, 5.9 and 6.9 ever since. The Stewarts' Chief Motel has acted as a collection point for items needed most by Haitian survivors: food and bottled water, clothing, over-the-counter medications, bedding and blankets and pillows, towels, diapers and wipes. Each of the 171 bagged sanitation kits includes a bar of hand soap, toothbrush and toothpaste, comb/pick, shampoo, a hand towel and a bottle of water. A McCook dentist donated toothbrushes and toothpaste for the kits. The Stewarts have also collected about $5,000 in monetary donations. "It seems the ones with the least are so often the first in line to give," Joan said, explaining that a woman brought in a jar filled with pennies, apologizing that it was all she had. "A young boy brought in what had to be his allowance," Joan said. Dale said, "I've always known there are good people in this country. Their generosity makes me glad to be from here." The donations will be delivered to the Littleton, Colo., office of Christian World Outreach, which has worked in Haiti for 30 years. The Chief will continue to accept items for Haitian relief, for a second trip to CWO in Colorado. Those making donations are asked to stop first in the motel office for directions to the warehouse.