Rising food prices across the globe threaten nowhere more than Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world and the poorest in the western hemisphere. Years of an unstable economy, illiteracy of more than 50 percent of the country's people, and unenlightened political leadership have left it in shambles. 

Reuters News reported today, April 23:

"Acute hunger and the rising cost of living could send a new wave of boat people from Haiti, where rising food prices set off deadly riots two weeks ago and drove the prime minister from office, officials and analysts say."

"In the small town of Montrouis, about 50 miles (80 km) north of Port-au-Prince, desperate Haitians say they will seize the first opportunity to take a boat toward the U.S. coast to escape the misery that plagues Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest country."

See the full story at http://www.reuters.com/article/americasCrisis/idUSN4M218228

But members of a Minnesota non-profit organization are doing what they can to build up the Haitian population and help the country of Haiti.

To market, to market. Rural folk travel for miles to the Saturday market, where they try to sell and buy.

Chanhassen resident Jeff Baumer is involved with this group- Haiti Outreach and was in Haiti last December to help build a home there for a Haitian family.

Haitian kids: These children lived near the home that Baumer and his group helped build in Haiti.

Click on the attached sound file to hear Jeff talk about why he got involved.  Click on the following Web link to watch a Haiti video by Haiti Outreach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtSkUIL6Pcw

The group has a free informational spring luncheon and fundraiser scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, from noon until 1 p.m. at Bayview Event Center in Excelsior. RSVP 612-929-1122 by April 21.