Haitian Philadelphia tent works to provide relief after the devastating earthquake in Haiti – CBS Philly

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Here at home, help is urgently needed after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti over the weekend, killing more than 1,400 people. Organizations large and small are determined to provide relief.

Some are still trying to communicate with loved ones on the island.

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Members of the Haitian Temple of Philadelphia are still trying to comprehend the devastation of their country.

“It’s tough,” said Dr. John Mitchell. “It is a poor country. There is a lot of suffering.”

We’re not there,” said Deacon Gilbert Ovid, with the Haitian Tent of Meeting in Philadelphia. “But this is our place. This is where we were born. This is our country.”

Deacon Ovide donated care packages through his organization GOIFHE to the Bethel of Solon School in Cayes, Haiti, where the earthquake struck on Saturday morning.

“They’re in survival mode,” said Deacon Ovid.

The death toll has now reached more than 1,400 people.

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On Monday evening, Patrick Latouche checked in with his in-laws. His father-in-law is safe, but his family says they have lost everything.

“I’m talking about the school, the church, and his house,” he told Tosh. “Something I spent over 20 years building and destroying overnight, or in less than two minutes.”

The Haitian community is praying that this is not a repeat of what happened in 2010 when an earthquake killed 200,000 people.

“It looks like Haiti can’t take a break,” said Michel.

In the meantime, this group is looking forward to help from afar. They are preparing to collect donations during Sunday service.

When Latouche told his sister-in-law, she responded with humility.

“Help isn’t just for her family, it’s for the community,” she told Toush. “Because for people, it’s very difficult.”

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Click here to see how you can help earthquake survivors.

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