The devastation left by Hurricane Ike in Haiti has led many associated with the WaterWorks 2011 program in Fort Lauderdale to donate money and supplies to the country. For the past three weeks, employees worked closely to manage an in-office hurricane relief effort to raise money and donated canned and packaged goods for the victims in Haiti.  

 

“Knowing the situation in Haiti, we knew we needed to get local help for the Haitian people,” explained Natacha Brea, one of the hurricane relief organizers whose parents are Haitian Nationals. “It felt good to see America place a national spotlight on the situation in Haiti and to be a part of the overwhelming support the Haitian people received from the U.S.”

 

Pierre Marcellus, CH2M HILL Project Consultant working as WaterWorks 2011 Construction Program Manager, agrees.  “My mother’s home was damaged during the storm and the homes of many of my cousins were destroyed,” Marcellus said. “It is a very difficult time for them because they lost everything including the roads and the bridges to travel.”

 

Marcellus said it took him days to make contact with his family and to help them; so, he knows how important such donations are for many other Haitian families who really need assistance as well. With the food and money raised through WaterWorks 2011, several families can receive assistance in the devastated areas.    

 

In addition to Brea, members of the ADCOM subcommittee for the WaterWorks 2011 Haitian Relief Hurricane Effort included Stacey Smith, Angela Thayer, and Sheanita Williams who culminated the event by commenting, “When people are in need, people do care. They do help. And I was pleased to see it at the office.”