HOW CAN YOU HELP

Make a Monetary Contribution
Monetary donations are in the greatest need at this time.  Contributions can be made in cash, check or money order, payable to the City of North Miami, and note Haiti Relief Effort in the memo section.  The North Miami City Council approved to donate $25,000 to the fund.  Our fundraising efforts will benefit the Red Cross at this time.  Other local governments have pledged to donate as well. 

Donations are currently being accepted at:
North Miami City Hall, Cashier window, First Floor
776 NE 125 Street
7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Monday - Thursday.
(Our offices are closed on Fridays)

Donation guidelines:  Be careful to whom you give your donations; always check to make sure they are legitimate, with a solid track record able to deliver donations to those that are in need.  Visit the Center for International Disaster Information for more guidelines on donations.

HeART TO HeART FOR HAITI AT MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART

Free Art Therapy Outreach Program for Children and Families Affected by the Events in Haiti on Saturday, February 13, 2 – 4 p.m.

 (North Miami, FL) - The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) invites children, and their parents or guardians affected by the events in Haiti to HeArt to HeArt for Haiti, a special afternoon of art-making on Saturday, February 13, 2010 from 2 to 4 p.m.  Admission to this special program is free.  All ages are welcome.  The Museum of Contemporary Art is located at 770 NE 125 Street in North Miami. For reservations and information, call 305.893.6211 or visit www.mocanomi.org.

MOCA instructors will guide participants through exercises designed to encourage expression, exploration and healing.  Children will explore texture in clay, play freely with paint, discover ways of expressing feelings and emotions, and relax mind and body with music.  Creole-speaking instructors will be present.  MOCA Executive Director and Chief Curator Bonnie Clearwater stated, “Art can serve as a great tool in helping people who are affected by catastrophic events.  We want to extend the resources of MOCA’s HeART to HeART program to children and families in our community who have been so deeply impacted by the events in Haiti.”  MOCA is working in partnership with the City of North Miami and is reaching out to local centers, churches, schools, and organizations in the community.

Part of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s education programming, HeART to HeART works closely with children, teens and adults with physical, mental, and emotional challenges through partnerships with Jewish Family Services of North Miami and Miami-Dade County Public Schools Exceptional Student (ESE) program.  HeART to HeART is a unique, year-round program that consists of workshops and tours of MOCA exhibitions and hands-on art activities designed to improve social, cognitive and motor skills. Individualized art activities for all types of learners aim to build self-awareness, self-esteem, and positive attitude.

HeArt to HeArt is made possible by Bank of America, Dade Community Foundation, The Fine & Soffer Foundation, and the City of North Miami.  Sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts. With the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners.  HeArt to HeArt is funded by the Children’s Trust.  The Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendum to improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County. 

The Museum of Contemporary Art is located at  770 NE 125 STREET, NORTH MIAMI, FL  33161  305.892-6211  www.mocanomi.org

Donation Drive for Delmas, Haiti - North Miami's Sister City - Deemed A Success
Thank you South Florida!  Our donation drive for our Sister City - Delmas, Haiti – is now over.  The drive was so successful that we were able to fill three large shipping containers that are on their way to Delmas.  Special thanks to our partners in this effort:  Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Radio Coin, WLQY 1320 AM and the many volunteers and donors who made it all possible.

Miami-Dade County – Donation Drive Locations
Beginning on Sunday, January 17, all Miami-Dade County Police and Fire Stations, as well as County Libraries and local public schools will serve as drop off sites for the collection of much needed supplies to send to the people of Haiti. At this time, we are asking that donated items be limited to:

• Nonperishable food
• Water
• Gloves of all types
• Surgical masks
• Camping tents

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue – North Miami Locations for Donations
Station 19
North Miami West
650 NW 131 Street
North Miami, Fl 33161

Station 20
North Miami East
13000 NE 16 Avenue
North Miami, Fl 33168

Station 22
Interama
15655 Biscayne Boulevard
North Miami, Fl 33160

For more detailed information on drop off sites, residents can call 3-1-1 Contact 305.468.5954 for additional information.
Other Donation Sites Hosted by Local Governments in Miami-Dade County – Visit the following link for a list of sites and hours of operation: http://www.miamidade.gov/oem/library/list-cities.pdf

Stop Hunger Inc., a not-for-profit agency in North Miami, is collected canned food items, Monday –
Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.  Call ahead to schedule large donations as they may be able to pick-up. 
Free shipping is provided to all donations to Haiti.
Food donations will be received at Stop Hunger, Inc. located at:
12050 NE 14th Ave #2
North Miami, Florida 33161
For details, call Stop Hunger directly at 305.891.8811

Grief Counseling Available
Grief counseling is available in partnership with Family Corners, Inc. for those in South Florida that
have suffered a loss as a result of the tragedy, or just trying to cope with the uncertainty of a loved ones whereabouts.  To make an appointment, please call Family Corners at 786.507.3279.  

Volunteers Needed for Grief Couseling Program
Students, practicing professionals and retirees with a background in social work or psychology are needed as volunteers to assist with the grief counseling program.  Please call Soeurette Eloi or Martine Saint-Aime of Family Corners at 786.507.3279.

 Additional relief effort programs are in the planning phase and will be announced as they become finalized.  For interview requests with North Miami officials, please contact Pam Solomon, Public Information Officer at 786.255.8839 (mobile).