Here's an update on how you can help the relief efforts in Haiti. Our office has been inundated with calls and requests for more information about how they can help the victims of last Tuesday's devastating earthquake in Haiti. Canadian Baptist Ministries and The Sharing Way have set up a special fund called "Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund" which has been approved by CIDA for a matching grant, dollar for dollar. They have specific guidelines that individuals and churches must follow in order to be eligible for this matching grant.

Here is the criteria as listed on the CBM website [1]:

The Government of Canada has established a Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund and will match donations (up to a maximum of $100,000 per single donation):

• made by individuals;
• made by groups such as schools, faith-based organizations, clubs, social groups, businesses, incorporated entities or charitable organizations, if the money is raised from individuals for the purpose of responding to the earthquake in Haiti;
• made to a registered Canadian charitable organization that is receiving donations in response to the earthquake in Haiti;
• specifically earmarked by such organizations for the purpose of responding to the earthquake;
• made between January 12 and February 12, 2010.

As an individual, if you want to make a donation that will be eligible for the matching grant, visit www.cbmin.org [2] to donate and include a notation in the comments section that the money is for the "Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund"or send a cheque made out to Canadian Baptist Ministries with a notation specifically for "Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund" as a notation on the cheque and mail it to:

Canadian Baptist Ministries

7185 Millcreek Drive

Mississauga, ON

L5N 5R4

As a church, there are two ways you can donate in order to qualify for the CIDA grant:

• The church can collect individual cheques from people within the church/community and send the cheques in to CBM at the address listed above along with the names and addresses of the people sending the money in if it is not clearly stated on the cheques.
• The church can also collect money (cheque, cash or other) from individuals within the church/community and send the money in to CBM as a lump sum along with a list indicating the individual donors names, addresses & amount given.

Please note: Money sent in from churches cannot be drawn from their existing budget or resources not specifically raised for the relief efforts in Haiti in order to qualify for this matching grant. The money will still be accepted and used just not eligible for the grant.

Visit these sites for more information:

www.cbmin.org [2]

CIDA [3]

Thank you for your support!