With the disastrous news from Haiti vividly bringing human tragedy into our living rooms and on our computer screens, it’s understandable that many feel helpless. Shocked.

We wonder what we can do to relieve the suffering. People are texting donations to the Red Cross. But they understand the mass exodus of people from the capital to the countryside is sending hundreds of thousands into rural regions equally devastated, with little prospects for food and clean water.

The good people of the southwest metro area would like to do more. This is why churches of eastern Carver County are organizing a benefit for Haiti, that will send them not only our financial resources, but also our love. Our hearts.

The benefit is called “Hearts for Haiti,” and it is being held on Sunday, Jan. 24th, from 2 to 3:30 p.m., in the new Chanhassen Senior High School’s auditorium, 2200 Lyman Blvd., Chanhassen, MN 55317 Phone: (952) 556-3500.

Tickets for the benefits: $20 donations for adults, and $10 for children 12 and younger. Proceeds from the benefit will be split between Feed My Starving Children – which has a long on-going presence in Haiti – and to relief services among the villagers of Bouzy, Haiti.

The benefit concert entails musical contributions from a variety of local and metro area performers, all volunteering their time, talent and hearts for Haiti. They include: Robert Robinson, Momoh Freeman (Jazz Gospel pianist), Tim Frantzich (heard often on “Prairie Home Companion”), Jamie Moore, Jerry Steele, Joanne Wintroath, and a musical contribution from Holy Family Catholic High School.

Also featured are the personal stories of Bonnie Steele, a member of Guardian Angels community who travels to Bouzy, Haiti four times a year with groups from St. Joseph the Worker in Plymouth.

Her friends in Haiti are keeping her apprised of the devastation. She has inspiring stories to share about Haitians from before the earthquake. And she currently lets our Haitian brothers and sisters know that they are not alone. That we are sending our love, our help, our hearts.

In addition to donations from benefit tickets, free will offerings will be accepted for funds that would go directly to the villagers of Bouzy, Haiti, located in the southern peninsula of Haiti where refugees from Port-au-Prince are fleeing.

All organizations, all schools, all societies, all religious communities, all civic leaders, all people who just plain care are welcome. Tax deductible contributions to the food relief effort should be written out to “Hearts for Haiti”, and sent to Guardian Angels Church and School, 215 West Second Street, Chaska, MN 55318.

And do please keep the Haitian people in your prayers, in your thoughts, in your hearts. We hope that every participant leaving the benefit will be inspired to do even more for Haitians.
Questions? Rev. Gordon Stewart, Shepherd of the Hill, www.shepherdofthehillchurch.com (News page), info@shepherdofthehillchurch.com ~ Rev. Mike Eder, Chaska Moravian Church, chaskamoravian@embarqmail.com, (952) 448-4000; Fr. Paul Jarvis, Guardian Angels Church and School, pjarvis@GAchaska.org, (952) 227-4000.