Tulsans Help Keep Relief Efforts Alive In Haiti

By Dan Bewley & Scott Thompson, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- A Tulsa woman doesn't want the world to forget about the struggles in Haiti. Rebecca Hackworth is leaving for the earthquake stricken country on Thursday.

Two-hundred thousand people were killed following January's earthquake in Haiti and another 500,000 are still homeless. The massive earthquake saw relief efforts from around the globe, including Oklahoma volunteers.

"It's just heartbreaking," said Rebecca Hackworth of the United States Foundation for the Children of Haiti.

Rebecca Hackworth is president of the United States Foundation for the Children of Haiti. She and six other Tulsans are about to leave for Haiti.

"We can have two 50-pound bags, so we're each going to have them, so 700 pounds of stuff is leaving Tulsa and going with us in the morning to Haiti," she said.

Hackworth's foundation operates a hospital, three orphanages, and three schools in Haiti. All total it's helped more than 1,000 Haitians since the earthquake.

This weekend's trip is bringing basic supplies, like light bulbs or towel hooks to restock their hospital.

Hackworth says even though it's been four months since the earthquake, the devastation is impossible to miss.

"And just miles and miles of people who are homeless and taking showers in the streets with a hose and just really living pretty difficultly," Hackworth said.

Hackworth says relief in Haiti is starting to dwindle, and she hopes Oklahomans continue to show support for the country and continue to reach out and help those in need.

"We just can't forget, for the sake of the kids, for the sake of the families, for the sake of so many there who are trying to put their lives back together," said Rebecca Hackworth, President of the U.S. Foundation for the Children of Haiti.

"We just can't forget."