For a group of West Shore residents, the work they do abroad is all about the kids.

B次元官网网址淭here is something thatB次元官网网址檚 special about Haiti B次元官网网址� even with all of that destruction and challenges, thereB次元官网网址檚 this life thatB次元官网网址檚 so wonderful to observe,B次元官网网址� said Langford Fire Chief Bob Beckett.

Children at the Baby Jesus of Prague and the Divine Hands orphanages in Port-au-Prince have captured his heart and those of the many others that have travelled with him to Haiti.

Beckett, also a Rotarian, will be leading a team on his 15th trip to Haiti. He will be joined by other Westshore Sunrise Rotary Club volunteers Rick Fisher and Hilary Groos, along with Saanich Coun. Leif Wergeland and Gazette reporter Katherine Engqvist when they depart for Haiti on Friday (Oct. 28).

But the purpose of their trip has changed due to the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew earlier this month. Originally, the team was planning on being in Haiti at that time, but Fisher, owner of Glenwood Meats in Langford, couldnB次元官网网址檛 be away from his shop that close to Thanksgiving.

Now, the team will assess the needs B次元官网网址� both immediate and long term B次元官网网址� of those two orphanages. The hope is that there will be enough funds to send all of the children to school B次元官网网址� something the orphanages couldnB次元官网网址檛 afford to do B次元官网网址� while also being able to stockpile enough dry goods to get them through the winter.

B次元官网网址淔ood supplies are next to none,B次元官网网址� Beckett said, adding that malnutrition is a growing concern for at least one of the orphanages. But addressing food supplies isnB次元官网网址檛 as simple as a quick trip to the grocery store. B次元官网网址淣othingB次元官网网址檚 easy down there,B次元官网网址� Fisher said, adding, B次元官网网址渁ll the plantations are destroyed.B次元官网网址�

If they are able to procure the sizeable amount of food needed, keeping it secure will also be a challenge. There are reports coming in of people overturning trucks to steal the food being transported. B次元官网网址淭hey have nothing to start with anyways and what little they had is then wiped out,B次元官网网址� Fisher said. B次元官网网址淧ictures really donB次元官网网址檛 show a fraction of what it is B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 much worse than it shows.B次元官网网址�

The Langford team will also carry on with the original goal of the trip, which is looking into purchasing the land the Divine Hands Orphanage sits on. Not only would the move save rental costs, it would allow that money to be allocated to other needs.

To do that they will need to work closely with United Nations representatives and RCMP officers in the country. B次元官网网址淭hey have a genuine interest in the well-being of the kids down there B次元官网网址� and all Haitian people,B次元官网网址� Fisher said of the two contingents, adding the work Rotary and the City of Langford do wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be possible without them. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazing what they do down there.B次元官网网址�

ThereB次元官网网址檚 also a group of international police officers that have taken a special interest in the orphanages. On their days off these officers will check on the children. B次元官网网址淓very Sunday they go there and fork out money of their own,B次元官网网址� Beckett said. However, with the current situation, these Sunday visits have become a little less frequent, creating an even greater demand, he said.

That demand is something the City of Langford is well versed in and is why the City has been sending monthly donations to the Baby Jesus of Prague Orphanage since 2010. B次元官网网址淚magine how vulnerable these children are,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Lillian Szpak. B次元官网网址淭o think of empty tummies on kids is the worst thing to imagine.B次元官网网址�

While a lot of the process and stability theyB次元官网网址檝e made in recent years has now been undermined by recent events, Szpak noted, B次元官网网址測ou have to start somewhere, when you think of how huge it is.B次元官网网址� She added, B次元官网网址淚 think it takes a very special person to go to volunteer down there.B次元官网网址�

But Beckett was quick to point out they couldnB次元官网网址檛 do what they do without the support of the West Shore community. B次元官网网址淭he timing is perfect and the generosity weB次元官网网址檝e seen B次元官网网址� the funds have really started to come in,B次元官网网址� he said.

After the hurricane, Fisher put out a small donation box by the cashiers at Glenwood Meats. Less than a week later, his staff were blown away by the amount of donations that had come in.

Donations are also being collected at the Langford fire halls and through .

B次元官网网址淵ou give me a dollar and that goes to the kids,B次元官网网址� Fisher added, noting donations do not go to covering the teamB次元官网网址檚 airfare and travel costs.

Through the generosity of local individuals and groups, Beckett said, B次元官网网址渨eB次元官网网址檙e going to be able to make a huge difference for these orphanages.B次元官网网址�

But even knowing that, Fisher said, B次元官网网址渋tB次元官网网址檚 hard to leave (Haiti) B次元官网网址� you donB次元官网网址檛 which trip is going to be your last.B次元官网网址�

And as, Beckett said, there will be a last time.

The group is trying to help these orphanages and individuals shift their focus away from their immediate needs and more toward long-term plans. But as Szpak noted, B次元官网网址渉ow can you when youB次元官网网址檙e starving?B次元官网网址�

Fisher tried to put that into context for those that havenB次元官网网址檛 travelled to a place like Haiti before. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a difficult thing B次元官网网址� Canada is the land of opportunity, you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it. In Haiti itB次元官网网址檚 really difficult,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know if the country itself will ever change.B次元官网网址�

West Shore community has big reach

After the earthquake back in 2010 that devastated Haiti, Coun. Lillian Szpak said Langford council members wanted to do something.

B次元官网网址淲e realized there was an orphanage full of children that needed our help,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really still very much a Langford project along with Rotary. We donB次元官网网址檛 want to forget these kids.B次元官网网址�

Making sure these children arenB次元官网网址檛 forgotten as the aftermath of the earthquake slowly faded from headlines has been a priority for the City and the team of Westshore Sunrise Rotary Club volunteers that regularly travel to Haiti to check on the two orphanages they now support.

B次元官网网址淭his really belongs to our community and itB次元官网网址檚 everyday people that are stepping up,B次元官网网址� Szpak said.

It was a sentiment echoed by Langford Fire Chief and Rotarian Bob Beckett. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 many ways to answer a need. Not everyone needs to go to Haiti.B次元官网网址�

He noted people putting something back into their community is the first step and nodded to the Rick Fisher and the work his company, Glenwood Meats, does to support local groups and organizations as well as the projects in Haiti.

While volunteers worked to rebuild the Baby Jesus of Prague Orphanage in Port-au-Prince post-earthquake, Beckett said they were referred to as the Langford team and not identified by their country of residence like the others they were involved with. Szpak added B次元官网网址淟angford is a caring community, IB次元官网网址檓 very proud to say that B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 a privilege to be able to help.B次元官网网址�

Watch the Gazette in coming weeks for more stories and reactions from a country that was recently devastated by Hurricane Matthew.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com