On Tuesday, January 12, 2010, a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti near the capital of Port-au-Prince. The damage to homes, schools, hospitals and other buildings was extensive and the number of injured or dead is estimated to be in the thousands.

UCP Wheels for Humanity responded quickly by providing 100 wheelchairs to Direct Relief International, 65 wheelchairs to Operation USA for immediate air shipment into Haiti, and has reached out to its other international disaster relief partners. After the initial needs have been assessed, UCP Wheels for Humanity is prepared to ship more wheelchairs and ambulatory aid equipment to Haiti.

In addition to delivering chairs through our relief partners, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation has given UCP WFH a $10,000 grant to provide wheelchairs in Haiti.

Help is still urgently needed for the millions of people affected by the disaster, especially for the most vulnerable – children and adults with disabilities, and victims of the earthquake who have become permanently or temporarily disabled.  Over the next few weeks and months the need for ambulatory aid will be heightened.

UCP Wheels for Humanity has worked in Haiti for several years with partners such as Direct Relief International, Food for the Poor, Healing Hands for Haiti, Missionary Flights International, and Operation U.S.A.

Natural disasters that destroy human life and property only exacerbate economic strife, especially in the developing countries we serve, and make it increasingly important for us to continue our mission of providing dignity and freedom through mobility.

Now, with your gift, you can help us immediately provide wheelchairs to the children and families devastated by the earthquake and aftershocks in Haiti.

We are so grateful for your support. Our thoughts are with the children and families devastated by the earthquake in Haiti. Please help today.