WTMD Listener Donations to Haiti Rescue Response Fund Exceed $15,000

Thanks to everyone who donated to Doctors Without Borders through our online pledge form and phone lines on Tuesday.

Listener contributions exceeded $15,000 and will make a dramatic difference in the lives of people affected by this devastating natural disaster.

Throughout the drive, we spoke with a few individuals with first-hand experience with the crisis and relief effort. Click on each person's name below to hear the complete interview.

• Alec Bersch, Towson University student volunteering in Haiti as part of Hearts with Haiti  
  

• Bob Little, Baltimore Sun reporter on the USNS Comfort. 
  
  
• John Rivera, Director of Communication, Catholic Relief Services
  
  
• Lowell Melser, WBAL reporter on the USNS Comfort. 
  
  
• Sabri Ben-Achour, WAMU correspondent on the USNS Comfort. 

Hearts with Haiti Photos

Alec Bersch a Towson University student affiliated with Hearts with Haiti spoke with us today to describe the situation in Port-au-Prince. Bersch also shared some of his photos.

Hearts with Haiti, whose primary mission is to support the vision and ministry of the St. Joseph Family in Haiti, lost one building and suffered severe damage to another.

To help the St. Joseph's Family rebuild, please consider making a donation at http://www.heartswithhaiti.org.


All photos copyright Alex Bersch, 2009.

The remains of a burnt body in Petionville.

A collapsed home in Port-au-Prince.

A neighborhood of people cling together. The sign reads, "We Need Help..."

The exterior of St. Joseph's Arts Center

Rubble strewn across the floor of the Arts Center.

A hole in the exterior wall of the building.

Debris in the Alley.

WTMD Asks You to Support Doctors Without Borders

Over the past few days we've seen the untold devastation caused by the earthquake in Haiti. Americans have responded generously, and today we’d like to ask you to make a contribution to Doctors Without Borders' Haiti Rescue Response Fund.

Doctors Without Borders is committed to bringing quality medical care to people caught in crisis regardless of race, religion or political affiliation. They recruit and place qualified medical personnel in countries where the need for medical attention is great.

Their teams are working to provide surgery and basic care to as many patients in Haiti as possible, but the need continues to outstrip available resources.

WTMD listeners understand music can change the world; today we need more than music. We need you to support Doctors Without Borders.

Tune in all day Tuesday as we feature music and stories from Haiti and the Caribbean. And learn more about Doctors Without Borders at wtmd.org.

Sincerely,

Stephen Yasko
General Manager

Help Wyclef Help Haiti

No surprise, Wyclef Jean has jumped right in and jetted down to Haiti to help his countrymen, women and children in the wake of that catastrophic earthquake.

Over the years, the former Fugee has become a tireless advocate for his homeland, raising awareness together with the United Nations.

Now, he has created the "Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund." It's been so popular on Twitter, that it's crashed several times today. At last check, it was working.

Never shy to show, not only the poverty and blight in Haiti to raise awareness, but the triumphant spirit of its people, here's s Wyclef video showing that and the land's lyrical language.