Haitian Americans worry about relatives and friends in Haiti amid violence
Published in News & Features
Others are trying to help as well.
Louis Wilkenson’s nonprofit, Give to Haiti, has worked in Haiti for about 15 years, supporting farmers and education.
Wilkenson, a Haitian American who lives in Lawrenceville, has sent money to relatives and people he knows in and around the capital. Because of the gangs, there’s no way to send food or medical supplies since some flights have been suspended and it’s hard to get items into the port.
His nonprofit has sent money that is used to buy grains and crops to sustain farmers.
And it isn’t always easy.
The Rev. Frantzner Samedi was born in Port-au-Prince and came to U.S. in 2007 to further his education.
Samedi, who serves as co-pastor of First Haitian Baptist Church in Douglasville and Bible Baptist Fellowship, has cousins, aunts and uncles in Haiti.
“It’s getting worse by the second,” he said. “I spoke with a friend yesterday who is in hiding. He lost everything.” The gang tried to recruit his friend. When he declined they burned down his home and everything in it.
“He fled, by God’s grace, and his family was able to flee,” he said.
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