Humanity First: MoverMoms Kick-0ff ‘Hope and Soap’ Collection for Haiti

Since Humanity First has many established relief teams in Haiti, they will be able to deal with the logistics of distributing the soap and blankets to the most needy. 

File Photo: A Humanity First roadside service center.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | US Desk
Source/Credit: Connection Newspaper
By Susan Belford |  January 28, 2011

Moms gather to make a difference.

"The difference between life and death in Haiti is now a bar of soap." This quote from The Washington Post article of Jan. 12, 2011 describes the horror of the cholera epidemic in impoverished Haiti. More than 3,000 people have died of this disease — and thousands more are expected to die. With over a million Haitians living in unsanitary tents and ingesting unhygienic food and water, the infection is rapidly spreading. Bars of soap are one solution to help alleviate Haiti’s devastating problem.

MoverMom Salma Ali of Potomac read the Post’s article and was troubled and touched that the bar of soap so many take for granted can make a difference.
She immediately contacted her fellow board of directors (she serves as chief inspiration officer) and the group commenced a "Hope and Soap" collection from Jan. 20 until Feb. 14 (Valentine’s Day). They are aiming for 2011 bars of soap for Haiti.

However, they have had such a tremendous response to their campaign with Girl Scout troops, schools and communities wanting in on the collection — they will most likely exceed their expectations. MoverMoms is also requesting donations of gently-used blankets to send with the soap. In addition, the group will hold a bake sale "Cookies and Cake to Combat Cholera in Haiti" on Jan. 29, 1-5 p.m. at the Westbard Giant in Bethesda.

One of the problems MoverMoms encountered was the logistics of transportation and distribution. They are partnering with Humanity First, a relief organization working in Haiti. This group will support the collection by handling the shipping and distribution. Since Humanity First has many established relief teams in Haiti, they will be able to deal with the logistics of distributing the soap and blankets to the most needy.

MoverMoms was the brainchild of Rebecca Kahlenberg of Bethesda. Over coffee at Starbucks in 2007, Kahlenberg and Ali decided to spend time with their friends while performing community service. Ali said, "Our goal was to make service easy for moms, to model a behavior of volunteerism for our children, and to make a difference. Our motto is ‘Having fun with a purpose.’ We have learned over the years that together, we can make a difference and can do it right now." They began by contributing meals to the NIH Children’s Inn once a month. Now they have a service activity bi-weekly and have grown to almost 200 members.

Other community service projects include "Treats for Troops," "Muffins for Moms" and "Desserts for Dads." When a crisis occurs, they provide whatever is needed from warm coats to food baskets. Their philosophy is if everyone contributes just a little, the project becomes an overwhelming success accomplishing more than they ever dreamed. In its first year, this group collected left-over Halloween candy to send to the troops; they drove a loaded station wagon to their partner, "Boaties Boxes" in Wheeling, W. Va. This year they delivered a truckload of candy which was used to fill 11,000 stockings for those serving overseas.

MoverMoms is currently organizing a trip to El Salvador for July 2011. The moms will work in a maternity clinic, teaching pre-natal care, nutrition, hygiene and parenting skills. Many of the members’ children will accompany their moms. They will spend their days helping in a school with Salvadorean children.


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