Donations, Supplies Begin Journey To Haiti

Some of the items Central Florida residents have donated to help Haiti were shipped out Wednesday. Seminole County's Harvest Time International has packed six containers with more than 200,000 pounds of donations and the shipping process is expensive.

It costs about $4,000 to get just one semi load to Haiti, and with Harvest Time International sending six semis on Wednesday, the total price is around $24,000. The organization is now asking for help to cover the expensive shipping costs. The first truck driver pulled into the receiving area at Harvest Time International at 8:00am Wednesday. Inside, crews were ready to load the trailer with forklifts full of supplies desperately needed in Haiti.

VIDEO REPORT: Donations Begin Journey From Sanford To Haiti

George Suarez is one of six drivers contracted to help deliver the 200,000 pounds food and supplies and he doesn't speak English very well, but knows how he feels about being part of the massive operation.

“I feel good because it will bring help to the people of Haiti. Need the food, the water,” Suarez said.

The drivers are taking, 85,000 bottles of water, 30,000 pounds of food, 4,000 tarps, 70,000 pieces of soap, sheets, towels and baby supplies.

The first stop will be Port Everglades where the supplies are loaded onto a cargo ship headed to the Dominican Republic and then put on another semi truck that goes to Haiti.

Eyewitness News asked Harvest Time International director, Andre Smolinksy, whether Wednesday morning's earthquake aftershock will delay the process.

“It will take a couple of days anyway to get it from the Dominican Republic to Haiti. They have to have time to make sure they can receive the products,” Smolinsky said.

Sapho Vatel is from Haiti, and she's one of the volunteers who is helping sort through all the donations that are still coming in because the agency will continue collecting them for future shipments they're already planning.

“I got tired of you know looking at the people in need, looking for aid, supplies, food, things like that. I said, ‘Hey, its time to stop watching and go do something,’” Vatel said.

Harvest Time International is also planning to send first aid items, more food and water to a refuge camp housing 25,000 Haitians by plane on Thursday and Friday.

Previous Stories: January 19, 2010: Haitian Orphans Stop In Sanford On Way To New Home January 18, 2010: Haitian Evacuees Arriving In Central Florida January 18, 2010: Sanford Group Reaching Out To Haiti In Big Way January 18, 2010: DCF Helps Haitian Children Arriving In Florida January 18, 2010: Central Florida Organizations Helping Haiti Recovery January 17, 2010: Local Organization Sends Medical Supplies To Haiti January 17, 2010: US Rep. Meek Arrives In Haiti To Help With Relief January 15, 2010: Athletes, Leagues Stepping Up To Help Haiti January 15, 2010: Six Local Doctors Headed To Haiti To Help