Community members are volunteering at the AFYA Foundation to prepare medical
supplies for people in Haiti following the devastating earthquake there.
News 12 is told items like gauze, tweezers and surgical supplies are being
shipped.
The Yonkers-based foundation gathers the medical supplies from hospitals across
the region to send to areas hit by natural disasters.
AFYA Foundation’s last visit to Haiti was in 2010 when another earthquake hit.
CEO Danielle Butin tells News 12 she learned a lot since offering assistance a
decade ago to help them mobilize faster.
Currently, over 2,500 pounds of medical supplies are en route to Haiti.
Supplies were packed over the weekend by volunteers, and JetBlue is
transporting them from John F. Kennedy International Airport free of charge.
Butin says she’s in contact with doctors on the ground in Haiti, where at
least 1,400 people are dead and 6,900 are injured.
"The need is unimaginable. One doctor
called us and said we are out of gloves…the most basic supplies,” says
Butin.
For ways to support the AFYA Foundation, visit its
website to learn more.